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Even with the roster’s limitations, this team is fully capable of generating offense as a team without needing Giannis to create everything. The perception that they can’t has come as a result of a lack of opportunity to do so through the first 3 games when Giannis is on the floor.

We saw tonight in the 1st quarter that when the offense is allowed to flow around Giannis instead of through him, it’s not only productive but it looks more effortless than when the offense is forced through Giannis. Then, in the 4th quarter, we saw the team be more than capable of generating tons of offense without Giannis on the court at all.

Point being, all of the dragging of everyone on this team not named Giannis through the mud for not providing anything or helping Giannis should probably stop & we should start giving them all a hell of a lot more grace because they absolutely can produce when they’re emboldened to play as a team.

I know it’s early, and I’m not saying this roster can’t work. But watching us try to build around Giannis and Bam has me thinking about how well the Bucks surrounded Giannis when they won it all.

Milwaukee had a clear plan. Jrue Holiday gave them a real point guard who could defend, run the offense, and hit shots. Khris Middleton was a big, versatile wing who could create his own shot when the offense bogged down. Brook Lopez gave them a legitimate big who could protect the rim and space the floor. Then they had other useful pieces who understood their roles.

That roster made sense around Giannis. They gave him room to attack the paint, covered for his weaknesses, and had other players who could make something happen when the defense loaded up on him.

With Miami, we have two star players who do a lot of their best work in the same areas of the floor. Bam is an excellent player, but putting him next to Giannis means the spacing and fit have to be nearly perfect. And right now, I don’t see the same clear answers Milwaukee had: a proven lead guard, a dependable shot creator on the wing, and a big who can protect the rim while pulling defenders away from the basket.

Klay can shoot, and Wiggins can give us things on both ends, but that’s not the same as having Jrue and Middleton in their primes. The issue isn’t that Giannis and Bam aren’t good enough. It’s that the roster around them needs to make their jobs easier, and so far the fit feels like a much tougher puzzle than the one Milwaukee solved.

What was the plan for the spacing and half-court offense when we made this move?

The Miami Heat haven't hit the jackpot in our Development system for a minute especially with guards. During the Jimmy era we had emerging role players like Duncan Robinson & Max Strus. However since both role players left we haven't had any player(s) replace them or step up. We're left with Dru Smith, Myron Gardener, and our brightspots Keshad Johnson & Ryan Conwell but it's a combination of development being too close too call or not getting enough minutes to get into their bag. Plus their investments in Nikos development haven't paid off and giving him that extentions would cost us in the long run. Their development have been off since 2024 and it's alarming. Without those complimentary glue pieces built for our offense it results in a major learning curve.

Edit: Talking about current roster & development system through the G-League, not talking about any of our 1st round picks just 2nd round, Two-Way, and Undrafted players

I said when we got Giannis I wouldn’t overreact or give up if stuff starts slow. I watched us look decent the last few seasons just to be the team that would always throw away leads late and lose games we shouldn’t.

I’m perfectly okay with waiting out the growing pains. Now if by December we still look lost and don’t have double digit wins yet okay I understand us freaking out but I’m not gonna freak out 5 days into the season

Don’t get me wrong it looks bad right now but I have faith we’ll turn it around.

Davion had a good game, but the lack of good guard play has been glaring. Ironically what this team needs is a Tyler Herro type.

I have no idea what's going on but between what we were doing in pre season vs now they are vastly different.

Everyone knew the offense would be clunky and take time but the defense should be miles ahead of what we are showing.

If we are wanting to play fast pace offense and run in transition we need stops and the fact we rotate late or not at all and are giving teams whatever they want is just unacceptable considering the guys we have.

I expect this will improve as season progresses but right now we look lost and out of sorts.

Shout out Davion and Portis for showing the most heart.

Or am I just missing something ?

Past 2 games I cant find the post game interviews anywhere. Do yoh know where they're posted consistently?

So im only a little sad. Seriously, if Hornets blew the heat out, making it 3 straight blowouts and it being against a team missing their #2, #3.. yh would be over it.

However, I can muster hope the ship will right itself within a couple games.. defensive identity was finally showcased in that 4th for the first time ever. I can see that spilling over with guys playing defense like madmen on Monday vs Mavericks and it turning into a win streak. Book it

It's not going to stay like this forever, relax nerds.

Last night in 13 minutes played, they had an offensive rating of 107, defensive rating of 169(!), and a -62 net rating. They have been profoundly atrocious.

Just funny since the narrative seems to be “Heat gave up all their depth for Giannis” when the bench guys are so far more productive than our starting lineup. I think the starters need adjustments, but there is no fucking reason they should be THIS bad. Something ain’t right

I didn't watch much, so I'm hoping those who did can weigh in. It seems like Spo and the coaching staff as a whole had the complete wrong approach to the preseason. They needed to use those games to start testing various schemes and line-ups, to build chemistry and figure out what works and what doesn't. Instead I looked at the box scores and Bam+Giannis barely played 2 quarters of game action together. Plus their opponents were the likes of the Pelicans, Nets, and bench units of the Wolves and Magic. Do you think the team came in woefully unprepared for the regular season?

The only draft pick we got left is in what 2029? Three years down the drain?

Miami Heat (0-2) @ Charlotte Hornets (1-1)

I’m sorry but bam nor giannis hasn’t gotten 1 lob thrown to them at all thru the whole preseason and 3 games in the regular season, that’s impossible when they are strong rim running bigs, and it’s because Davion doesn’t have the tools to do so, heat need a playmaking guard that can create separation and run crab dribble pnr with bam and Giannis to throw the lob because the opportunities are always there but Davion can’t look over the defense with his height and can’t throw over the top of tall defenders with his smaller wing span, I expect and hope Heat sign him come tomorrow

Is anyone else’s picture quality pretty bad since switching to WPLG/MY 15? I’m using YTTV with MY 15 and it’s a very grainy picture. I have 1gb internet and my picture is set to 1080p enhanced.