Miami Heat has already played 65 games of the normal season, but coach Erik Spoelstra believes the team’s scenes at Walt Disney World will look like preseason games.
Before resuming the season on August 1 against the Denver Nuggets, the Heat will play a three-game scrimmage program that will begin Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings (8 pm, Fox Sports Sun) at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The other two Miami films arrive on July 25 against Utah Jazz and on July 28 against the Memphis Grizzlies, with Disney players getting back in shape after a four-month break from game action amid the COVID pandemic- 19.
“I think it’s going to be like a preseason,” Spoelstra said during a post-training video conference on Friday evening. “I have already spoken [Jazz coach] Quin [Snyder] is [Kings coach] Luca [Walton] to try to work on some things again, because you have to accelerate so much before you get to that regular season of eight games. We will get so close and we will probably play at all. We will certainly work on some things and also do some evaluation. “
How common is it for Spoelstra to talk to opposing coaches about their matchups days before the game?
“I’ve never done this before, not like this. I ran into Quin in the lobby and discussed this, “said Spoelstra, with both the warmth and jazz at the Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.” Otherwise, I don’t know if we would have it. That’s what makes it a little unique. But everyone is trying to prepare their teams and trying to accelerate, and these three scripts will be important for this. “
Spoelstra made it clear that he plans to use an extended rotation when the season restarts, with 15 of Heat’s 17 players currently with the team at Disney. Center Bam Adebayo (who turned 23 on Saturday) and guard Kendrick Nunn remain far from the team, but are expected to join Heat in central Florida soon.
Even before Heat played its first scrimmage on Wednesday, Miami practices at Disney included a lot of five out of five scrimmage jobs.
“I see a rhythm and conditioning that has yet to happen,” he said. “But I’m encouraged by work and by the boys who compete in five against five.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ Veteran Heat striker Andre Iguodala was thrilled with Heat rookie Tyler Herro after Friday’s practice.
“I had the chance to see Tyler Herro and his huge fan,” said Iguodala. “So, really trying to help him, find a way to help him, because it will be difficult to help him, because he simply listens to everything. He’s a boy you don’t have to tell him twice to do something. It just wants to be truly exceptional. And he wants to be better. So every day I see him, I’m like ‘Whoa, this guy has a lot of potential and really loves the game.’ ”
Iguodala continued: “He simply doesn’t want to be complacent about being really good. He wants to be really good, he wants to be exceptional for a long time. “
▪ The NBA told the teams on Friday that none of the seeding games will be considered for any post-season awards. Voting for these honors – such as All-NBA, Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year – will be completed before the season resumes on July 30th.
In a piece released on May 31, a panel of ESPN NBA reporters and analysts said Adebayo should win the NBA Most Improved Player award.
Adebayo received 53% of the votes in first place from ESPN’s NBA reporters who participated in the survey. When asked who will win the Most Improved Player Award, the panel predicted that New Orleans pelicans Adebayo and Brandon Ingram would be co-winners.
When asked who was to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, the panel voted Nunn third with 28 points, behind Ja Morant of the Grizzlies (166 points) and Zion Williamson of the Pelicans (83 points).
▪ After a week of morning and afternoon practice, Heat began the session on Friday at 18:00. The NBA is opening several three-hour rehearsal windows for each of Disney’s 22 teams.
“I think everything about being in this bubble, it just requires that you are open and flexible to everything, and not be so rigid about your expectations, routine or schedule,” said Spoelstra. “I think it was nice and offer something different when you have different practice times. From my place, I actually found it a little relieved that there are fewer decisions you need to make, in terms of when to go to the gym, when to practice, when to watch a movie. Basically it is provided for you every day. You just introduce yourself. “
Heat did not practice Saturday, but is expected to return to the driving range on Sunday.
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