Q: So the shooting is there? – Daniel.
A: Yes, because it was already there. You don’t have a roster with Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Bobby Portis and Andrew Wiggins and not have 3-point shooting. And that doesn’t even include the looks that will be there for Davion Mitchell, Pelle Larsson and even Bam Adebayo and Nikola Jovic when cast alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was an assist machine on Saturday night. The narrative that began when the Heat lost Tyler Herro and Norman Powell quickly was defused with the addition of others in free agency. At this point, any questions about a lack of Heat 3-point shooting is a false narrative. And, yes, Thompson will have his breakout nights just like Wiggins and Hardaway did Saturday night against the Raptors.
Q: Ira, do you think the Heat will have a dress-rehearsal preseason game. Trying to figure out if they’re worth watching. – Neil.
A: It’s always a tough call during preseason, particularly with a coach who tends to prioritize practice and even the game-morning shootarounds. That said, perhaps the least likely of the five exhibitions that we’ll get much in terms of insight could be next Saturday’s home exhibition against the Timberwolves, considering the Heat open their regular season Oct. 21 against Minnesota and might not want to give away much from a strategy standpoint (Who defends Anthony Edwards? How they’ll attack the defense of Rudy Gobert? How Bam Adebayo wants to get even with LaMelo Ball?) Otherwise the exhibitions are against the non-conference Pelicans, the not-very-threatening Nets and against a Magic team the Heat don’t play in the regular season for the first time until Feb. 12, well past the season’s midpoint. Saturday against the Raptors showed Spoelstra will wisely pace his players away from the practice court.
Q: Ira, I have read many articles over the last week as to how several of the Heat players are getting on with Giannis Antetokounmpo at training camp. But it has been all crickets when it comes to anything on Nikola Jovic. What is your take on how he has performed so far in training camp? – Barry, Deerfield Beach.
A: That training camp was closed to the media, so the only perspectives have been what has been said by teammates. As with all things Nikola Jovic, what matters is what happens against NBA opponents. We know he can thrive with Serbia’s national team. We know he can impress teammates during drill work. What needs to be seen is productivity at moments of truth, something that likely can’t be judged until the regular season. And the reality, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis added this summer, Niko first will have to earn his way back in. As Saturday night showed, the opportunities will be there during the preseason.