Giannis Antetokounmpo may still be the newest face in Miami, but the fit is already starting to look smoother as the regular season gets closer.
He sat out Friday’s preseason finale, yet his Wednesday performance against Brooklyn was another reminder of why the Heat went after him in the first place. In 24 minutes, Antetokounmpo piled up 20 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, a steal and three blocks.
“Obviously the more I play with my teammates and with the team, I’m getting more comfortable,” he said. “This is my third game.
My teammates, coaches have wanted me to be aggressive, try to make plays. That’s something I’m going to continue to do.
Sometimes it’s going to work out, sometimes it’s not. But I’m having fun.”
The Heat have been adjusting around him, too. Their preseason approach has centered on opening up the floor for his drives, with shooters and cutters spaced around him to take advantage when help comes from the lane.
“We just try to give him as much space as we can,” Davion Mitchell said. “Move without the ball.
Because he also is a really good passer. So he’s going to find you on the open cuts because people are trying to build the wall, so you can cut behind them.
He’s going to find you for an open three. Even sometimes, you don’t even know that you’re open, and he ends up finding you.
So we’re just trying to give him as much space as he needs. Because he just needs two dribbles and he’s dunking the ball.”
Miami also got another strong showing from Ryan Conwell, who kept his preseason roll going Friday night. The rookie guard scored 21 points and handed out seven assists in 29 minutes off the bench. The Heat moved up to take the 22-year-old out of Louisville with the 37th pick, and early returns have made that trade-up look smart.
Over his last three games, Conwell is averaging 17 PPG with 18 assists and just four turnovers.
“I would say just the game slowing down a little bit, being able to process things faster, making better reads, just understanding the game,” Conwell said of his growth throughout the preseason. “That’s really just the biggest thing, just learning.”
Andrew Wiggins, now entering his second full season with Miami, said this has been his “best preseason yet.” Across the four games he played, he shot 60.6% from the field and 46.7% from three-point range.
“I couldn’t tell you why, but I put in the work,” he said. “And the team has been great.
It’s been a really great training camp and great days leading into the preseason games. And I feel like with every game, it’s just been getting better.
The chemistry has been building.”
Bobby Portis, acquired from Milwaukee as part of the Antetokounmpo trade, is being viewed in Miami as more than salary filler. The Heat see real value in the veteran big man, especially after he shot 45.6% from beyond the arc last season and brings familiarity from playing alongside Antetokounmpo.
“He’s a guy that I’ve played with for many, many years,” Antetokounmpo said. “He knows exactly when I have the ball, how I operate, where the open spot will be for him.”
In Other News...
Heat Preseason Finale Exposed A Problem Miami Can't Ignore
The Heats preseason finale in Orlando offered a sharp reminder that even October games can reveal real issues before the games count. The Magic handled Miami 136-115, and the loss came with a lot more going on than the final score, as both teams were forced to navigate a night that turned messy when several players left with injuries and the level of concern around those situations still has to be sorted out.
Miami did not get the kind of clean tune-up it probably wanted heading into the regular season, especially against a Magic group that looked sharp in transition and opportunistic off turnovers. Nikola Vucevic added 13 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes, helping fuel the kind of efficient stretch that made Orlando difficult to keep up with, while the Heat were left to absorb a preseason game that exposed something they cannot afford to carry forward. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Conwell Just Made The Heat's Rotation Decision Much Harder
Ryan Conwell gave the Heat plenty to think about in their preseason finale, finishing with 21 points and seven assists in 30 minutes while shooting 53% from the field and 3-for-7 from deep. He repeatedly showed the kind of guard skills Miami values, creating scoring chances for himself and others and looking comfortable handling a larger offensive role when the game called for it.
The performance also sharpened a decision that was already getting complicated, especially with uncertainty around other players availability. Conwell still has areas to clean up, including turnovers, and his defensive impact remains something the staff will have to evaluate, but he made a strong case for earning early-season minutes and forcing his way into the conversation for a rotation spot. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Backcourt Need Puts An Unexpected Former First-Round Guard In Play
With the Heat still sorting through their backcourt options after a series of roster challenges and injuries, a familiar offseason theme has surfaced again: Miami is looking for another guard who can help stabilize the rotation. NBA insider Jake Fischer reports that Walter Clayton Jr. is on the teams radar, a notable name considering his path from college All-American to former first-round draft pick and then on to Memphis after last seasons trade.
Claytons situation is one to watch because he could become available before the new season through either a trade or a cap move, giving Miami a possible opening to add another ballhandler without waiting for the market to dry up. For a Heat team that has been forced to manage its depth carefully, the appeal is obvious, even if the timing and cost of any deal remain unresolved. [Read more 🡒]