Q: We all kind of know what the big-name players are capable of, but let’s talk about the backup center position thus far and the improvement there. This kid Thomas Bryant, if he continues to maintain that Heat focus and work ethic, could provide some things for the Heat. – Douglas.
A: Which is the ongoing hope behind Bam Adebayo. Thomas Bryant has been active and energetic, which basically is all the Heat require in the 15 or so minutes that Bam sits. But we won’t have a true read until the Heat get their full rotation in order. Because based on how the Heat work into their second unit, it might require more defense in the middle than Thomas has been able to provide over his career. But the showing to this point in the preseason certainly has been encouraging and something for Erik Spoelstra to build on.
Q: Jaime Jaquez Jr. is a natural. He is one of those guys who would be able to step onto a court for any team and contribute. Nikola Jovic confuses me. He is skilled, yet something about his game just seems out of rhythm on both ends of the court. Not sure which way his development eventually goes. – Jon.
A: First, Unlike Jaime Jaquez Jr., who is closer to a finished product at 22 after four seasons at UCLA, Nikola Jovic is just 20. Beyond that, Nikola very much is a unicorn, with his combination of skill and size. Good teams find ways to make unicorns work to their benefit, as the Nuggets have with Nikola Jokic. Other teams fail to maximize the uniqueness, as seemingly has been the case with Kristaps Porzingis in New York, Dallas and Washington. It is on both the Heat and Nikola to make it work. It would be a shame to waste something that unique and rare. But it also could take time.
Q: Why five preseason games? – Carter.
A: Money. The optimal amount would be four. That would allow each NBA venue to have a trial run in their home exhibition opener and then a follow-up dress rehearsal to make sure everything is in order for the regular-season opener. That said, the atmosphere at Kaseya Center was remarkably energized for Sunday’s exhibition victory over the Grizzlies. It was a different type of crowd, with many who otherwise could not get in the door for such ticket locations.
