Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is frustrated by what he has seen from his players during their 2-5 start, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. After finishing with the best record in the East last season, Miami has been plagued by lax defense and poor shot selection, both of which were on display as the team was outscored 71-49 in the first half Saturday by the previously winless Kings.
“Right now, this is about the collective group, how are we going to impact this thing together to impact winning,” Spoelstra said. “If we try to do it any other way, it’s going to lead to an incredible amount of frustration. Anybody that is trying to do it on their own or anybody that is trying to self will it or anybody trying to work any individual goals with this, it ain’t going to work, it ain’t going to work on either end.”
One of the few Heat players who had a good game in Sacramento was Tyler Herro, who scored 34 points, although Spoelstra dismissed it as “not in a winning effort.” Herro, who is adapting to a new role as a starter this season, said the team needs to upgrade its defense, which currently ranks 18th in the league.
“After taking five losses, especially after the first half tonight, it’s time we… lock in and decide what type of team we want to be,” Herro said. “If we’re going to just get in shootouts like in the first half, then that’s the kind of team we want to be. I know we hang our hat on defense, so we’ve got to cover for each other.”
There’s more on the Heat:
- Miami has limited options for roster moves because Dewayne Dedmon and injured guard Victor Oladipo are both under trade restrictions that prevent them from being moved until January 15, Jackson adds in a separate story. He states that outside of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, the rest of the team has little trade value.
- Udonis Haslem saw rare first-quarter minutes Saturday, which shows the Heat’s lack of depth in the frontcourt, notes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. The 42-year-old power forward was actually the first player off the bench, replacing Adebayo after he picked up his second foul. Miami was missing Dedmon, who is suffering from an upper-respiratory infection and a foot issue, and Omer Yurtseven, who is rehabbing an injured ankle, but it appears Haslem might have a larger role than originally expected.
- Jamal Cain, who earned a two-way contract with a strong preseason performance, will be sent to the team’s G League affiliate in Sioux Falls, Winderman adds. First-round pick Nikola Jovic, who has seen limited playing time in three games, may be headed there as well once Dedmon and Yurtseven are able to play.
Butler to the Knicks. It’s not to late Eric. Cash in while you can.
Knicks are back!!! Lmao
duncan and herro for lebron somehow.
Lebron can’t be traded this year since he signed an extension.
Lost fiery PJ while retaining Oladipo is a case study in how investing in risky contracts have unintended consequences.
Harlem is obviously too old. He almost busted another player’s nose with out of control play.
Unrelated. MIA was capped in what they could offer Tucker, and it was about 3 mm short of what PHI offered. VO was resigned with Bird Rights.
Tucker took less so he could look like he got more b/c that’s what mattered most to him. After taxes and everything, he actually ends up with slightly less than he would have got by staying…
That being said, I’m still happy they were able to retain Caleb Martin, who I didn’t think theyd be able to retain. I just wish they would have added 1 of the several possible options available at the 4/5, a lot of which are even still remaining options…or at least use the guys they do have there, like Highsmith. I’m also really disappointed they let go of Darius Days, b/c I thought he could have helped in those spots
Heat need to trade Duncan Robinson and get back a Power Forward.
They didn’t replace PJ Tucker, at all and it shows. Your asking the guards to do to much. Bam hasn’t really stepped up and it’s been so far disappointing.
In order to move Robinson and actually get back something decent your probably going to have to attach a first round pick to him.
Duncan and a first for Jonathan Issac would be a huge win. He’s a really defender, and has upside to be unlocked on the offensive end.
You could drop the first round pick and probably do Duncan Robinson for Davis Bertans straight swap but that’s not really the biggest improvement. It will help fill the hole but doesn’t move the needle much at all.
You could try Pheonix with Jae Crowder having requested a trade. Duncan and a first for Jae Crowder and then in order to make the money work they’d also need to give up 1 or either Shamet, Saric or Craig.
That would be a good deal for Miami but would Pheonix be that interested?
As I keep saying…stop playing these lineups. These are not surprising losses, especially the way they’ve been losing, and it’s going to continue if you keep doing the same things over and over. They’ve been terrible with Herro on the floor. He needs to come back off the bench, and then no point in me parroting the same stuff over continued to say for the last couple of months/the first games of the season. That being said, they’ve been good with Duncan Robinson on the floor, and the same can be said for Strus.
They need help at smallball 5 behind Bam, b/c they cant keep going to Dedmon in those matchups, and that’s why they’ve been so terrible with Bam off the floor this year. Jovic isnt really an option there yet b/c he still needs 2-3 years of learning how to play basketball in general, and is only useful in certain matchups