Miami Heat basketball has officially tipped off in preseason play. Prior to the Heat’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets head coach Erik Spoelstra previewed an injury report that had Jimmy Butler and Caleb Martin sidelined for the contest. Martin is currently dealing with a knee injury and Butler seems to be resting, with Spoelstra mentioning he’ll be eased into the lineup through the preseason.
The talk of the offseason surrounded a potential acquisition of superstar guard Damian Lillard, with a possible exchange for Tyler Herro. Miami and the Portland Trail Blazers were unable to agree on a deal, leaving Herro in South Beach. All eyes are on Herro heading into the season, with today’s game serving as a great indicator of his leadership.
With Butler out of the lineup, Herro stepped up to the plate starting the game 4-4 from the field with a game-leading 10 points. Star center Bam Adebayo saw limited minutes with a large chunk of the center minutes played by Thomas Bryant. Herro was the lone star of the Heat’s “Big 3” that had lengthy playing time. This could be a chance for Miami’s coaching staff to get a feel for Herro’s leadership ability or just a plug-and-play since he missed time with an injury at the end of last season. He led the team in scoring with 22 on the night.
“He makes it look easy and it’s not easy… He’s able to get to places because of his skill level… It’s a blessing to be able to have him back.”
Another name mentioned in that Lillard shipment was Jaime Jaquez Jr. The rookie out of UCLA has already been in trade talks, despite having never played a minute in the regular season. Jaquez was used as a lineup tool once he hit the floor. Most of his work came inside the arc, finding his rhythm with a couple of midrange shots. He looked like the queen on the chess board, being moved around the bottom of the basket with back cut and post-up action.
“Without getting into the obvious comparison, but they are obvious. He’s watched a lot of tape on Kobe and Jimmy… Most young players are sped up and they’re trying to do everything so fast… He plays with his own pace, plays with patience.”
Sophomore forward Nikola Jovic played just under seven minutes in the second quarter, posting two points, two rebounds, and one block. He didn’t participate in the rest of the matchup and was not on the sideline for the entirety of the second half.
These few names have dealt with a treacherous summer filled with rumors and trade discussions. Each carried a willing poise showing aspects of their game that people weren’t too familiar with. Herro played a vital role as a playmaker, presenting a point guard mentality that’s rare in his case. Jaquez was able to use his body with ease, having the strength to move around bigger bodies, despite it being his first year in the league. In Jovic’s narrow minutes, he served as a contributor on both ends of the floor, being a disruptor on the defensive end with his length. In terms of essential role players throughout the lineup, these three players could play a significant role in telling how deep this team can be this year.