Miami Heat Regular Season/Speculation Thread 2021 Part 3

[RexBoyWonder]

I'm trying to think big picture for a sec - why the hell are we having so many issues with this team. We do have some good (even if not great) talent, solid coaching, guys are trying.

I keep coming back to 1 thing - the NBA changed. This era isn't like the old days NBA. The basics of a good team are different :

1) Great defense IS NOT A MUST. All the rules and officiating are favoring the offense BIG TIME. You can't win big with a good defense and a meh offense. You just can't. Offense is just more important, it a lot more realistic to coach and scheme below average defenders into decent ones then it is to make meh offensive players into great ones.

2) 3 pointers are HUGE. We're having a down year from 3 as a team (for a few reasons). That's almost a random factor - some teams will shoot better then other teams despite having similar 3 point shooting talent. We have decent 3 point shooting talent as a team, but not great. Our best players aren't shooting 3's, and our role players aren't very consistent expect Duncan.

3) Biggest single factor is AN ELITE SCORING GUARD/WING. A 3 LEVEL SCORER. Someone you can give the ball to - clear out and watch him drain a 3 pointer, get to the rim or get to the FT line. Jimmy is the closest thing to that we have BUT - he doesn't shoot 3's AND he doesn't have the our scorer mentality, he's more of a well rounded player that can also score at times.

Having that pure 3 level scorer is just HUGELY IMPORTANT for an NBA offense these days. It takes so much pressure off of everyone else. It opens up the game for your shooters and limited bigs, it gives you a sustainable offense in times the ball movement is sluggish, it works against any defense, it wins you close games. We really missing that Alpha scorer that just lives to score buckets. Oladipo isn't a superstar or close to one - but he is the closest thing we have to that 3 level on the current roster.


Basically I think we built a team that is unequipped to consistently win in todays league. We have a lot of good pieces, but it's like trying to bake a cake without any eggs. You can do everything right, but it won't turn out good without that key ingredient.

Instead of trying to force Bam into becoming that crucial pure scorer, or ignoring Jimmy's well-roundedness - we have to add that type of player so everyone else can feed off of him and settle in a role they can excel in. For this season, It's Dipo or bust. Going forward - we have to find a way to get that type of player because no team without that player is going far in today's NBA.

[Bishop45]

Spoiler:

I'm trying to think big picture for a sec - why the hell are we having so many issues with this team. We do have some good (even if not great) talent, solid coaching, guys are trying.

I keep coming back to 1 thing - the NBA changed. This era isn't like the old days NBA. The basics of a good team are different :

1) Great defense IS NOT A MUST. All the rules and officiating are favoring the offense BIG TIME. You can't win big with a good defense and a meh offense. You just can't. Offense is just more important, it a lot more realistic to coach and scheme below average defenders into decent ones then it is to make meh offensive players into great ones.

2) 3 pointers are HUGE. We're having a down year from 3 as a team (for a few reasons). That's almost a random factor - some teams will shoot better then other teams despite having similar 3 point shooting talent. We have decent 3 point shooting talent as a team, but not great. Our best players aren't shooting 3's, and our role players aren't very consistent expect Duncan.

3) Biggest single factor is AN ELITE SCORING GUARD/WING. A 3 LEVEL SCORER. Someone you can give the ball to - clear out and watch him drain a 3 pointer, get to the rim or get to the FT line. Jimmy is the closest thing to that we have BUT - he doesn't shoot 3's AND he doesn't have the our scorer mentality, he's more of a well rounded player that can also score at times.

Having that pure 3 level scorer is just HUGELY IMPORTANT for an NBA offense these days. It takes so much pressure off of everyone else. It opens up the game for your shooters and limited bigs, it gives you a sustainable offense in times the ball movement is sluggish, it works against any defense, it wins you close games. We really missing that Alpha scorer that just lives to score buckets. Oladipo isn't a superstar or close to one - but he is the closest thing we have to that 3 level on the current roster.


Basically I think we built a team that is unequipped to consistently win in todays league. We have a lot of good pieces, but it's like trying to bake a cake without any eggs. You can do everything right, but it won't turn out good without that key ingredient.

Instead of trying to force Bam into becoming that crucial pure scorer, or ignoring Jimmy's well-roundedness - we have to add that type of player so everyone else can feed off of him and settle in a role they can excel in. For this season, It's Dipo or bust. Going forward - we have to find a way to get that type of player because no team without that player is going far in today's NBA.

Winning can't be that important,

You wouldn't trade Bam+Herro for Harden/Steph

You'd prefer Giannis over Harden.

That disturbs me.

But aside from being petty; yea' our window is closing or already closed. Going all in for Lowry/Dippo might've been our last shot at a desperate move before the aforementioned is evident. Especially if Dragic is truly regressing, cause he's too important to the core of this team.

A careful rebuild seems smart. I don't think we'll trade Butler, or Butler will have the shame to ask for another trade, so use him to lead some respectable young teams and recruit some FA's

[SA37]

Ersan Ilyasova with 20 and 5 boards, 4 steals and 2 blocks with 6 threes. Dude was literally sitting there on the scrap heap and he’d have fit perfectly. Plus he’s torched us for years. Why weren’t we interested?? At 6’10” he’s probably considered too tall for us.

I said at the beginning of the season that I would have signed him and he was exactly the kind of player Miami needed because Achiuwa was unlikely to give Miami 15-20 productive minutes.

[HIF]

Nearly dead player has a good game. Heat fans spit on FO.

None of these players turn our team into more than a 4th seed.

[BIRDMAN BIRDMAN]

This sucks man. I'm an optimist myself but I can't blame people panicking right now lol

Jimmy is Jimmy, the good and the bad. Goran is too old and looks to be washed. Herro's growth came off the court with Katya instead of on the court. DRob rather be a podcast boy. Bam is not being aggressive enough as usual. Ariza is doing his best. Iggydolla same with Goran, Achiuwa is rawer than a steak in the supermarket, Okpala is the new Beasley that prob fckd Spo's wife or sumthin, Oladipo is too fragile, Gabe Vincent is always gametime decision every game in the season, Bjelica has been ehh, Dedmon wont play as long as Spo's there cause of his height, Strus is aight but not sure exactly how he would help

Ugh. These all feels like those pre-Jimmy years man. Always hovering around the 7-th-10th spot in the east and might just barely make or miss it. Smh.

[Diakamawatane]

It's disappointing to watch games where they look at each other like "now what?" after a DRob screen fails. Their offense was not this disorganized in the bubble. They may have cut the TOs, but it was replaced with the team being out-rebounded.

I'm still optimistic they'd figure it out... SOON.

[Wiltside]

I feel like the whole team is exhausted. Both mentally and physically. Perhaps the bubble and short turn around time has just burnt these guys out where they can’t get up for games the way they did back in August/September. I guess we’ll never really know.

If we take an early vacation this year, I hope the guys take some time to refresh, while really getting in the gym and refining their games.

[HeatFanLifer]

I feel like the whole team is exhausted. Both mentally and physically. Perhaps the bubble and short turn around time has just burnt these guys out where they can’t get up for games the way they did back in August/September. I guess we’ll never really know.

If we take an early vacation this year, I hope the guys take some time to refresh, while really getting in the gym and refining their games.

I’m sorry, but I’m not buying the tiredness because of the bubble thing. First of all, this team was showing signs of fading last year before the bubble. I keep saying this, but the style of play they have really wears the team out. Second, there’s plenty of players in the past who have had way more active off seasons and were older who played just fine. Third, many of the players on this team gained success at an early age and I think it caused complacency. Duncan, Herro, even Bam have shown no growth this season. Nunn is probably the only young guy who has progressed some.

Riley traded away 1/3 of the roster this trade deadline to shake things up, but I think he’s going to have to make a major move this offseason to pair Yimmy up with players who can win. Gotta ditch the small ball too. Only worked with Lebron.

[HeatFanLifer]

Anyone ever notice the Heat always has to out work the opposition? Nothing comes easy for this team, despite often having superior talent. Maybe the only team they don’t have to fight for every rebound and point with is the Celtics.

They rank
23 in team rebound %.
21 in least amount of o-rebs given up per game.
26 in 3 pt%

Sure they rank top 3 in opponent fg%, but that’s cuz teams take more 3’s against them. They rank second to last in league in opponent 3pt attempts. 12th in opponent 3pt%, which is not terrible, but teams know they can fight for that long rebound to beat the team down.

Someone get me a job as a Heat analyst. I gotta have a talk with Spo. No one else on the team seems to be pointing this out. Let an opponent have a higher % shot in the regular season, focus on the rebound. Post-season rules are different.

[DayofMourning]

We just aren't playing good winning basketball. Everybody can't be out shooting jumpers all day. For those who want Bam shooting threes, Butler touched on how important it is to attack and draw fouls. We have to rebound better and score close to the basket.

[DayofMourning]

Precious needs another season but he does show promise. Right now he is so awkward and dribble his way into terrible shots.

Herro needs to find some consistency. His mid range is nice but his long range is spotty.

We need to play inside out. That doesn't mean passing up wide open layups for passes to the perimeter.

[RexBoyWonder]

Spoiler:

I'm trying to think big picture for a sec - why the hell are we having so many issues with this team. We do have some good (even if not great) talent, solid coaching, guys are trying.

I keep coming back to 1 thing - the NBA changed. This era isn't like the old days NBA. The basics of a good team are different :

1) Great defense IS NOT A MUST. All the rules and officiating are favoring the offense BIG TIME. You can't win big with a good defense and a meh offense. You just can't. Offense is just more important, it a lot more realistic to coach and scheme below average defenders into decent ones then it is to make meh offensive players into great ones.

2) 3 pointers are HUGE. We're having a down year from 3 as a team (for a few reasons). That's almost a random factor - some teams will shoot better then other teams despite having similar 3 point shooting talent. We have decent 3 point shooting talent as a team, but not great. Our best players aren't shooting 3's, and our role players aren't very consistent expect Duncan.

3) Biggest single factor is AN ELITE SCORING GUARD/WING. A 3 LEVEL SCORER. Someone you can give the ball to - clear out and watch him drain a 3 pointer, get to the rim or get to the FT line. Jimmy is the closest thing to that we have BUT - he doesn't shoot 3's AND he doesn't have the our scorer mentality, he's more of a well rounded player that can also score at times.

Having that pure 3 level scorer is just HUGELY IMPORTANT for an NBA offense these days. It takes so much pressure off of everyone else. It opens up the game for your shooters and limited bigs, it gives you a sustainable offense in times the ball movement is sluggish, it works against any defense, it wins you close games. We really missing that Alpha scorer that just lives to score buckets. Oladipo isn't a superstar or close to one - but he is the closest thing we have to that 3 level on the current roster.


Basically I think we built a team that is unequipped to consistently win in todays league. We have a lot of good pieces, but it's like trying to bake a cake without any eggs. You can do everything right, but it won't turn out good without that key ingredient.

Instead of trying to force Bam into becoming that crucial pure scorer, or ignoring Jimmy's well-roundedness - we have to add that type of player so everyone else can feed off of him and settle in a role they can excel in. For this season, It's Dipo or bust. Going forward - we have to find a way to get that type of player because no team without that player is going far in today's NBA.

Winning can't be that important,

You wouldn't trade Bam+Herro for Harden/Steph

You'd prefer Giannis over Harden.

That disturbs me.

But aside from being petty; yea' our window is closing or already closed. Going all in for Lowry/Dippo might've been our last shot at a desperate move before the aforementioned is evident. Especially if Dragic is truly regressing, cause he's too important to the core of this team.

A careful rebuild seems smart. I don't think we'll trade Butler, or Butler will have the shame to ask for another trade, so use him to lead some respectable young teams and recruit some FA's

1. I wouldn't trade Bam for Harden because no team offered anything close to Bam and because Harden is a lot older.

I was willing to give up everyone besides Bam and Jimmy despite really disliking Harden's game and personality, and that's because I appreciated his skillset as very valuable.

2. I preferred Giannis mainly due to health/age and the character fit with Heat Org, but in hindsight you're right - Harden was the better fit here. His skillset is exactly what we need here next to Jimmy and Bam.

I think a "carful rebuild" is overstating what we need - we just need Oladipo to get back to 90% of his prime or make 1 good trade for a Beal/Lavine type player.

If you add that kind of player to this mix we'll be very good. That's basically what Dragic gave us last playoffs.

[RexBoyWonder]

Ersan Ilyasova with 20 and 5 boards, 4 steals and 2 blocks with 6 threes. Dude was literally sitting there on the scrap heap and he’d have fit perfectly. Plus he’s torched us for years. Why weren’t we interested?? At 6’10” he’s probably considered too tall for us.

I said at the beginning of the season that I would have signed him and he was exactly the kind of player Miami needed because Achiuwa was unlikely to give Miami 15-20 productive minutes.

Kinda mind boggling we didn't have any interest in Ilyasova or J.Parker, we have the thinnest bigs rotation in the league. Not sure what's the thinking there.

[Bishop45]

Spoiler:

I'm trying to think big picture for a sec - why the hell are we having so many issues with this team. We do have some good (even if not great) talent, solid coaching, guys are trying.

I keep coming back to 1 thing - the NBA changed. This era isn't like the old days NBA. The basics of a good team are different :

1) Great defense IS NOT A MUST. All the rules and officiating are favoring the offense BIG TIME. You can't win big with a good defense and a meh offense. You just can't. Offense is just more important, it a lot more realistic to coach and scheme below average defenders into decent ones then it is to make meh offensive players into great ones.

2) 3 pointers are HUGE. We're having a down year from 3 as a team (for a few reasons). That's almost a random factor - some teams will shoot better then other teams despite having similar 3 point shooting talent. We have decent 3 point shooting talent as a team, but not great. Our best players aren't shooting 3's, and our role players aren't very consistent expect Duncan.

3) Biggest single factor is AN ELITE SCORING GUARD/WING. A 3 LEVEL SCORER. Someone you can give the ball to - clear out and watch him drain a 3 pointer, get to the rim or get to the FT line. Jimmy is the closest thing to that we have BUT - he doesn't shoot 3's AND he doesn't have the our scorer mentality, he's more of a well rounded player that can also score at times.

Having that pure 3 level scorer is just HUGELY IMPORTANT for an NBA offense these days. It takes so much pressure off of everyone else. It opens up the game for your shooters and limited bigs, it gives you a sustainable offense in times the ball movement is sluggish, it works against any defense, it wins you close games. We really missing that Alpha scorer that just lives to score buckets. Oladipo isn't a superstar or close to one - but he is the closest thing we have to that 3 level on the current roster.


Basically I think we built a team that is unequipped to consistently win in todays league. We have a lot of good pieces, but it's like trying to bake a cake without any eggs. You can do everything right, but it won't turn out good without that key ingredient.

Instead of trying to force Bam into becoming that crucial pure scorer, or ignoring Jimmy's well-roundedness - we have to add that type of player so everyone else can feed off of him and settle in a role they can excel in. For this season, It's Dipo or bust. Going forward - we have to find a way to get that type of player because no team without that player is going far in today's NBA.

Winning can't be that important,

You wouldn't trade Bam+Herro for Harden/Steph

You'd prefer Giannis over Harden.

That disturbs me.

But aside from being petty; yea' our window is closing or already closed. Going all in for Lowry/Dippo might've been our last shot at a desperate move before the aforementioned is evident. Especially if Dragic is truly regressing, cause he's too important to the core of this team.

A careful rebuild seems smart. I don't think we'll trade Butler, or Butler will have the shame to ask for another trade, so use him to lead some respectable young teams and recruit some FA's

1. I wouldn't trade Bam for Harden because no team offered anything close to Bam and because Harden is a lot older.

I was willing to give up everyone besides Bam and Jimmy despite really disliking Harden's game and personality, and that's because I appreciated his skillset as very valuable.

2. I preferred Giannis mainly due to health/age and the character fit with Heat Org, but in hindsight you're right - Harden was the better fit here. His skillset is exactly what we need here next to Jimmy and Bam.

I think a "carful rebuild" is overstating what we need - we just need Oladipo to get back to 90% of his prime or make 1 good trade for a Beal/Lavine type player.

If you add that kind of player to this mix we'll be very good. That's basically what Dragic gave us last playoffs.

I can respect the admission on number 2

But curious, you wouldn't trade Bam straight up for either one of Harden/Steph? And if you would, adding Herro makes it a hard no?

[RexBoyWonder]

Winning can't be that important,

You wouldn't trade Bam+Herro for Harden/Steph

You'd prefer Giannis over Harden.

That disturbs me.

But aside from being petty; yea' our window is closing or already closed. Going all in for Lowry/Dippo might've been our last shot at a desperate move before the aforementioned is evident. Especially if Dragic is truly regressing, cause he's too important to the core of this team.

A careful rebuild seems smart. I don't think we'll trade Butler, or Butler will have the shame to ask for another trade, so use him to lead some respectable young teams and recruit some FA's

1. I wouldn't trade Bam for Harden because no team offered anything close to Bam and because Harden is a lot older.

I was willing to give up everyone besides Bam and Jimmy despite really disliking Harden's game and personality, and that's because I appreciated his skillset as very valuable.

2. I preferred Giannis mainly due to health/age and the character fit with Heat Org, but in hindsight you're right - Harden was the better fit here. His skillset is exactly what we need here next to Jimmy and Bam.

I think a "carful rebuild" is overstating what we need - we just need Oladipo to get back to 90% of his prime or make 1 good trade for a Beal/Lavine type player.

If you add that kind of player to this mix we'll be very good. That's basically what Dragic gave us last playoffs.

I can respect the admission on number 2

But curious, you wouldn't trade Bam straight up for either one of Harden/Steph? And if you would, adding Herro makes it a hard no?

How is that relevant? we know that's a fantasy trade.

You're asking if we should trade a young developing star that hasn't entered his prime yet for a superstar that is exiting his. I guess that depends on the context - what are the following moves? you better win big in the next 2 years if you're making that trade.

If we add Curry and lose Bam and Herro - are we winning the East? we'll have no front court at all.

[SA37]

Ersan Ilyasova with 20 and 5 boards, 4 steals and 2 blocks with 6 threes. Dude was literally sitting there on the scrap heap and he’d have fit perfectly. Plus he’s torched us for years. Why weren’t we interested?? At 6’10” he’s probably considered too tall for us.

I said at the beginning of the season that I would have signed him and he was exactly the kind of player Miami needed because Achiuwa was unlikely to give Miami 15-20 productive minutes.

Kinda mind boggling we didn't have any interest in Ilyasova or J.Parker, we have the thinnest bigs rotation in the league. Not sure what's the thinking there.

The lack of interest in J Parker doesn't surprise me because he doesn't have any experience on winning teams and isn't known for his defense.

Ilyasova, however, is a solid defender, likes taking charges, and has playoff experience. I was actually really surprised Milwaukee let him go.

[AirP.]

I don't know how reliable this person is...

Read on Twitter

[HeatFanLifer]

I don't know how reliable this person is...

Read on Twitter

If this Tweet from the guy was meant to reassure fans, it is having the opposite effect.

[HeatFanLifer]

Can we bring Rony Seikaly out of retirement? Probably would still be our team’s best rebounder.

[carnageta]

Oladipo is done for the year lol.


HeGone