The Miami Heat are only two days into camp, but the pace is already turning heads. Giannis Antetokounmpo has noticed it, too, saying he is adjusting to Miami’s “insane” pace, according to Ira Winderman. He also called it “everything that I expected and more.” and added, “I just want to leave my mark.”
With that kind of energy in the building, the lineup combinations become the fun part. Five days ago, Jonathan Ramlakhan laid out what he believes the starting five will look like once the regular season begins. From there, the real question is which other groupings can maximize the Heat’s speed, spacing and defensive pressure.
One version starts with Davion Mitchell, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Mitchell has already found a fresh lane in Miami, shooting a career-best 44.7% from three in the previous season, then following that up this past season by hitting 39.5% from deep on 3.5 attempts per game.
He also reached a career-high 6.5 assists per game. The defensive reputation is there, but the offensive growth matters here, especially in an up-tempo system.
Thompson still brings the kind of shooting that bends defenses even if he is no longer the same two-way force from his prime. Injuries limited him last season, and he only started eight games. He dealt with an adductor strain last offseason and never looked fully comfortable in Dallas, a rebuilding team, but he still shot 38.3% from deep on high volume.
Wiggins was Miami’s most consistent player last season and gave the team a steady night-in, night-out presence. He may not be the point-of-attack defender he once was, but this setup lessens that burden.
He also won’t have to handle the ball much, which is not his strength. He was one of four Heat players who shot better than 41% last season.
Then there is Giannis, who changes everything. The offense is going to run through him, and the floor around him is built to punish teams for loading up. One-on-one defense against him is not an option, so opponents are left choosing between protecting the paint and staying glued to the shooters.
Bam gives the group its backbone. He remains the captain and heartbeat of the team, even if he does not have to shoulder the same offensive load he did last year.
The Heat do not need another 83-point game from him, but they do want more steady production. Defensively, he helps make the whole thing miserable for opposing offenses.
From there, the bench options create a lot of flexibility. Pelle Larsson looks like a natural first substitution, likely coming in for Thompson.
He has already made a strong impression on Giannis, who said, “Pelle is effing good. I didn’t know.
I did not know” The two have already built chemistry in practice, with Giannis finding him for multiple dunks off ball movement.
Tim Hardaway Jr. is another piece who could enter at the same time for Wiggins to keep him fresh. He shot 40.7% from three last season in Denver on 6.9 attempts per game, and he brings enough shooting to matter without being a liability defensively.
Bobby Portis also fits into the mix. The veteran and former teammate of Giannis is reportedly in excellent shape at camp, and his ability to stretch the floor would be a real plus. Bam could be around 30 minutes a night as well, with Erik Spoelstra staggering his minutes alongside Giannis so one of them is always on the floor.
There is also room for Ryan Conwell to earn minutes in certain stretches. He could be used in backup duty next to Dru Smith or slide in for Mitchell with the starters. He has already made noise by beating Thompson in a shooting drill and beating Smith to a loose ball, the kind of stuff that catches Spoelstra’s eye.
Smith brings the usual steady, hard-nosed work. He is the reliable defender who will compete every possession and bother ball handlers.
Simone Fontecchio adds another shooting look, even if his three-point stroke can run hot and cold. When he is rolling, he can really fill it up from deep.
Pelle could also handle more of the ball in this kind of group, similar to what he did for Sweden during the Fiba tournament this offseason.
One lineup idea keeps one of Bam or Giannis on the floor at all times, with Nick Richards supplying size when the veterans need a breather or are dealing with minor injuries. That kind of depth has been missing in Miami for years, and Richards gives them a different look in the frontcourt.
The Heat are still early in camp, but the options are already starting to stack up. With pace, shooting and size all in the mix, the lineup combinations should be one of the more interesting parts of this season.
In Other News...
Heat Rookie Suddenly Has A Real Shot To Impress Spoelstra
Dru Smiths right calf strain comes at an inconvenient time, but Miamis roster depth gives the Heat some flexibility as training camp unfolds. Smith is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks, and the team is likely to take a cautious approach with his recovery rather than rush him back before he is ready.
Ryan Conwell is the player who stands to benefit most from the opening. With a real chance to compete for minutes, he now has a cleaner path to show Erik Spoelstra where he fits in the rotation, and early camp reps could carry extra weight if he makes the most of Smiths absence. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Riley Could Face A Huge Kyrie Decision This Season
The Heats backcourt is already under a sharper lens than usual, and one league report has only intensified the conversation around what Miami might do if the season starts slowly. The team has been linked to Kyrie Irving as a possible way to add another high-end creator, which would instantly change the complexion of a roster that has leaned on balance and toughness for years.
Any serious pursuit would come with a steep price, with Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jovic mentioned as the kind of pieces that could be headed to Dallas in a deal. For now, it remains nothing more than an idea on the board, but Miamis willingness to explore a swing like that could say plenty about how Pat Riley views the Heats margin for error early in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Giannis Already Sounds Changed By What Miami Is Doing To Him
Giannis Antetokounmpos time around the Heat has already given Miami fans plenty to chew on, even before any real games get going. After joining the team for training camp, he talked about how quickly the group plays and how competitive the environment feels, which is exactly the sort of tone Erik Spoelstra likes to set from the start.
Antetokounmpo also made it clear the work is not easy. He said the conditioning program has been a challenge and that Spoelstra is pushing him to get better, but the bigger takeaway was his own sense that being around Miami is changing how he sees the game. For a player already known for constant evolution, that is a noteworthy development, and it leaves open just how much more he can still add to his game in this setting. [Read more 🡒]