The Heat are off to a 6-1 start to the new season, including wins over four playoff teams from last season: Milwaukee, Brooklyn, Memphis and Dallas.
Count Mavericks coach Jason Kidd among several Hall of Famers who like the Heat’s chances this season, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
“The Heat, I would consider them the best team in the league right now,” Kidd said following the Heat’s 125-110 win over the Mavs Tuesday night.
TNT analyst and Pacers legend Reggie Miller thinks the Heat’s top-ranked defense has made them an East favorite.
“I like Miami’s chances of winning the East because of their defense,” Miller said.
Fellow TNT analyst and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley says the Heat are “for real,” and Shaquille O’Neal thinks the Heat should be a top-four seed in the playoffs, per Jackson.
“You bring in two players that have championship mentalities and championships in Kyle Lowry and P.J. Tucker. Then you bring in Markieff Morris and Victor Oladipo. We all know the culture of Miami, how they play and how they win. They are going to go really, really far. They’re going to have home-court advantage in the first round,” O’Neal said.
Here’s more on the Heat:
- Tyler Herro has settled into his role as sixth man and thinks he can win some hardware this season, writes Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “I just want to win a championship,” Herro said to Chiang when asked to list his goals for the season. “Obviously, Sixth Man of the Year, for sure. Most Improved. I feel like I can compete for those two, for sure.“
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sentinel thinks that Herro might be the most irreplaceable member of the Heat rotation at the moment. Herro set a record for most points off the bench through seven games in NBA history (157), breaking a mark held by Jason Terry. Herro’s hot start has made it so defenses can’t key in on any one player, Winderman relays. “We got a bunch of guys who are really unselfish, a bunch of guys who can go off in any quarter, whether it’s 10 to 20 points in a quarter,” Herro said. “We’ve got multiple guys that can do that. One quarter it may be me, one Jimmy. I think every quarter and every possession teams are on their heels, because they’re game planning for a lot.“
- In a separate story, Chiang spoke to NBA veteran and Miami native Brandon Knight, who is grateful for the opportunity to join the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. “Me growing up in South Florida, it’s a dream even to play here in Sioux Falls,” said Knight. “I don’t take it for granted. This opportunity means the most to me, just growing up watching Tim Hardaway, [Alonzo Mourning], Dan Majerle, [Jamal] Mashburn. Being from down here and having this opportunity, I’m thankful for all the staff, all the management, the owner to allow me this opportunity to come to Sioux Falls and continue playing. It’s a blessing.”
don’t forget steve smith brandon knight. maybe seikaly and rice were before you started getting into ball more.
Now if Spoelstra will only remember who he has sitting on the bench, who he has taken out and put in, who was hot, when the close games against the big time teams come. Too often times in the past, he’s fallen asleep and could use someone to nudge him
IMO the Heat has all the pieces to make a deep deep run, at least ECF. Right now they can beat in a 7 games series any team in the East, im really impressed with Herro this season.
Everybody DREAMS of playing in Sioux Falls…
Only the fortunate actually get to do it.
Herro is having a big year. Heat got depth this yr. Dedmond is only playing 16 mins. But putting up decent numbers. Heat got bigs and depth this yr. Morris, Dedmond, Yurtseven, Tucker, Bam, Okpala. Saw the Mavs gm. Heat looked good. Got their swagger back.