Diego and I have recently analyzed what we can expect from Heat’s appetizers and now let’s look at Heat’s reservations. With the NBA returning in less than a month, the Heat are preparing for their second training camp of the season. With that in mind, here’s how we think reserves will end once the season picks up again.
Note: At this moment, three Heat players have proven positive for Covid-19 on Heat’s roster, the only one who has been publicly revealed is Derrick Jones Jr. We prepared our players’ analysis before these tests.
Derrick Jones Jr. Fighting off the bench for minutes with Jae Crowder and Andre Iguodala, Jones will have a lot to play when he resumes the NBA season. If Crowder or Iguodala hits the corner pointer 3 in a respectable clip in the playoffs, Jones may find himself pushed out of the rotation. To maintain his pivot point, Jones must hit the 3. Miami already has two non-shooters – Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo – who will have plenty of game time. – Diego Quezada
Kelly Olynyk: Kelly Olynyk in the playoffs can be a different beast. He is able to raise the game depending on the game and really make a difference. Although he hasn’t had his best season this year, he’s averaging his lowest per minute average as a member of Heat. Olynyk still has the potential to go out when called. I can’t help thinking about this game against Philadelphia the last time Miami was in the playoffs. He brought heat to that game and he might have some depending on where the heat is. – Brandon Di Pin
Goran Dragic: Dragic had a year of rebound from the 2018-19 troubled injury season thanks to improved offense. He fired 37.7 percent from 3 out of 5.8 attempts per game, a career high. He also made 58.8 percent of his non post up shots on the board this season. But he was sad in defense; according to FiveThirtyEight’s RAPTOR metric, Dragic was Miami’s worst defensive player.
To succeed in the playoffs, Dragic will have to continue to enhance the Miami offense. And Erik Spoelstra will have to hide Dragic’s shortcomings in defense: go to the area, put him on the weaker wing, etc. – Diego Quezada
Tyler Herro: Herro hasn’t played since fifteen games with an ankle injury, but in recent interviews she said she felt “100%”. Prior to his injury, Herro performed as one of the league’s most prolific rookies with an average of 12.9 points, 4 rebounds and 39% from three. The heat is distinguished by the distance from the floor, and Herro’s return should take some pressure off Duncan Robinson and Jae Crowder as the main three point heat shooters.
Herro has proven to be able to hit big shots, remember the Chicago game?
Judging from before the season, he is also one of the toughest workers on the team. So, I hope a healthy Tyler gets off to a great start in the post season when Miami needs him. – Brandon Di Perno
Jae Crowder: Shortly after Miami traded for him, Crowder impressed Heat fans with his 3-point shoot. After shooting 29% from the deep this season with Memphis, he shot down 39% in 13 games with Heat – and with multiple attempts per game. (We should note here: aside from the 2016-17 season, Crowder was not a good 3-point shooter.)
But if Crowder continues his hot shoot when the season picks up again, he will join Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo as solid two-way players. He will lighten Spoelstra’s offensive / defense substitutions he made late in the games. And the Heat will try to keep it in free agency. – Diego Quezada
Andre Iguodala: Iguodala has so far been a disappointment with the Heat. Finals ‘former MVP was the most touted part of Justise Winslow / James Johnson /’ s trade, but at this point he did not prove enough to deserve the deal he concluded with. I really like Andre, and I think he can be a force (especially in defense) but this season he has only an average of 4.4 points and 2 rebounds for Heat, the lowest of his career. I hope that with his experience in the championship he will be able to have some great moments in the post season, because the defense of heat could really use it to the fullest. – Brandon Di Perno
Chris Silva: After getting a consistent backup of big minutes early in the season, Silva came out of the rotation. When Silva will resume the NBA season, he will only receive his number in the event of an injury or foul. If he’s on the field playing minutes without garbage, Silva will have to offer high-energy game explosions. – Diego Quezada
Udonis Haslem: The real OG. At this stage of his career, the value of Udonis is not felt in the field, but in the changing rooms. He is a player coach in all the best ways and, as the only remaining member of all three teams in the Heat championship, he will be the voice needed to overcome this difficult situation. I don’t expect Udonis to see the field much unless there is an outbreak. But there is no doubt that the now old NBA player will be incredibly important for keeping Miami clear and focused on the ultimate goal. – Brandon Di Perno
Gabe Vincent: One of Heat’s players with a two-man deal, Vincent may have a crack entering the rotation next season. If injuries or bad problems to the Miami guards – Kendrick Nunn, Goran Dragic, Tyler Herro – force Spoelstra to play with Vincent, he will have to throw the ball with confidence. – Diego Quezada
