Bill Simmons is at it again when it comes to the Heat.
The Celtics-leaning podcaster took another swipe at Miami, and this time he went after the team’s offseason, its defense, and even its playoff chances. According to the remarks, Simmons said the Heat “won’t make the playoffs,” laughed at Pelle Larsson and his extension, said he doesn’t like the HEAT moves, asked who’s playing defense, asked who’s guarding Tatum, and called the HEAT a Play-in Team.
That kind of talk fits a familiar pattern with Simmons, whose Celtics fandom has long colored the way he talks about Miami. The source material points out that he has also admitted at times that the Heat scare him when it matters most, even if he keeps circling back every offseason to doubt them.
The latest criticism centered on what Simmons sees as a weak summer for Miami. He went so far as to say he does not like the Heat’s offseason, though he did note an exception involving Antetokounmpo. Even with that caveat, his overall takeaway was that Miami missed the mark.
The biggest pushback comes on the defense angle. Questioning who will defend for a roster that includes Bam Adebayo, Davion Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins, Dru Smith, Antetokounmpo, and others is where the argument loses steam. The Heat’s identity, at least in the source’s view, is not short on defenders.
Simmons also raised a more reasonable concern about how Antetokounmpo and Adebayo would mesh offensively. That part of the argument has some weight, since there would be details to sort out. Still, the source pushes back on that worry too, arguing Miami has added shooters and has handled similar fit questions before.
The comparison to Jimmy Butler and Adebayo comes up for a reason: people had the same doubts then, and Miami kept finding answers. The source also points to how the Heat repeatedly pushed the Celtics to their limit.
For now, Simmons’ comments are just that - comments. The source’s bottom line is that his take is driven more by bias and wishful thinking than by what actually shows up on the floor.
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Nembhards appeal is easy to understand for a team that values organization and decision-making in the backcourt. He spent four seasons in college and then got his first NBA taste with Dallas, where he earned a standard contract and flashed some playmaking ability. If he does hit the open market, Miami will have to decide whether his upside is enough to make him part of the mix, and whether the fit is right before other teams get involved. [Read more 🡒]
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Wiggins has already shown he can matter on a contender, especially during the Warriors 2022 championship run, when his two-way value helped shape a title teams identity. The question for Miami is whether that version of him shows up often enough to matter over the course of the season, because the Heat do not need a flash of impact so much as dependable scoring, steady defense, and the kind of efficiency that makes the rest of the roster easier to organize. [Read more 🡒]
Heat May Have Given Up More In The Giannis Deal Than Expected
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Now in Milwaukee, Jakucionis appears headed for a bigger opportunity, which is exactly what can make the long view of a blockbuster trade tricky. His college and NBA tape point to a guard who can handle the ball, make plays for others and stay engaged defensively, so the Heat may eventually be judged not just on landing Giannis, but on how much young upside they were willing to include to get him. [Read more 🡒]