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Game Thread: Miami Heat Month of January Game Thread

Paolo305613

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At some point, Spo needs to be on the hot seat.

What exactly has he done with this group outside of the big 3 years?

He got out of round 1 ONCE without Lebron James

With this group? I don't think many of these guys were on the squad in the big 3 era. He is simply coaching up to the level the roster he was given is capable of. At some point Riles has to invest on improving the team and not just invest on being loyal to certain players.
 

bksballer89

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With this group? I don't think many of these guys were on the squad in the big 3 era. He is simply coaching up to the level the roster he was given is capable of. At some point Riles has to invest on improving the team and not just invest on being loyal to certain players.

He sucks.

There are several coaches who can be better than 2 games under .500 with this group.

I'm sick of him getting a free pass. He's been getting a free pass now for roughly 10 years
 

Paolo305613

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I think what we are all forgetting here is that the Heat sorely missed McGruder -- his absence was felt tonight...
 

Paolo305613

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He sucks.

There are several coaches who can be better than 2 games under .500 with this group.

I'm sick of him getting a free pass. He's been getting a free pass now for roughly 10 years

Putting aside the BS that one of us supports the guy more than the other -- I truly don't think its about him getting a free pass or not. Like I said, he is just doing what he can with the roster he was given to work with.

As for there being several coaches that can be better than 2 games under with this group -- that could very well be true -- but while speculating may be fun, its not our reality.

Like I said, I think the guy we need to put this on the most is Riley. He needs to do more with the roster if we are to get better, more consistent results.
 

bksballer89

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Like I said, I think the guy we need to put this on the most is Riley. He needs to do more with the roster if we are to get better, more consistent results

This I completely agree with. The way the roster was put together was very flawed to be honest.

The contracts he gave out in 2016 and 2017 were awful. The only solid contracts he signed in the last 3 years were Richardson, Waiters, and Winslow IMO.

The money they gave KO, Tyler, Hassan, and JJ were ridiculous for role players and in JJ case, a guy already in his 30's.
 

Paolo305613

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This I completely agree with. The way the roster was put together was very flawed to be honest.

The contracts he gave out in 2016 and 2017 were awful. The only solid contracts he signed in the last 3 years were Richardson, Waiters, and Winslow IMO.

The money they gave KO, Tyler, Hassan, and JJ were ridiculous for role players and in JJ case, a guy already in his 30's.

So , to your point about at some point Spo being on the hot seat ? It has nothing to do with loyalty or anything of that sort . I think Riley realizes the flaws with the roster . He knows Spo is doing the best he can with it .

When Riles decides to make the necessary changes to the roster to get them back on track — THEN little to no excuse for how the team performs .

You mentioned the names and the contracts of some guys.

I will take it a step further , and I know you and others will say I’m hating on him but that is far from the truth — even the minimal contracts of Wade and Haslem have been a determined to this team getting back on track .


Yes, their contracts are cap friendly — which is the work of the organization finding a way to stay loyal and show appreciation for these guys for what they’ve done for the organization over the years .

But let’s face it - for as many special nights Wade gives us — we have also seen the moments where he shows his age — my point is , regardless of how little they are being paid , it’s still cap space and roster spots being taken up by a pair of old timers that could be used on younger players— players that fill a more pressing need .

This is why I keep saying , let’s enjoy the ride of this season . Let it be what it is . Clearly the biggest issue with the team is their cap situation and how that is holding them back from improving roster .

After this season , when Wade and maybe Haslem retires , along with a hr other moves the team will or should make to address their cap situation— they will have the necessary flexibility to improve the team .

Enjoy the ride . Change will come . But I just don’t think they will be able to do much until the off-season. Hopefully this time they will take better advantage of it .
 

Paolo305613

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ASK IRA: Are Heat issues deeper than the lineup question?

James Johnson, no doubt, needs to be the next to be out of the starting lineup . Maybe not out of rotation but certainly out of starting 5.


I remember not long ago how some here vouched for him to start. That ended up being the disaster I expected it to be .

Put Olynyk in to start . Then when Goran returns they are good to go .

Things with the bench will better fall into place from there .

Starting 5 of Goran , Waiters , Winslow , Olynyk and Hassan

Then your regulars off the bench , in no particular order : Bam, Wade, TJ, Richardson, Ellington , DJ Jr , McGruder.

But since the heat are not about using their depth and prefer to cut down the rotation— you can relegate DJ Jr and McGruder to specialist who you only play under extreme circumstances such as the game getting out of hand or injuries / foul trouble.

That’s still a decent 10-man rotation you can do all sorts of things with on both ends on a game to game basis .


Too often the heat beat themselves , outthink themselves with how to do things — you don’t have to be some in-depth with how you do things all the time . They need to simplify things for themselves and good things will happen.
 

bksballer89

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Starting 5 of Goran , Waiters , Winslow , Olynyk and Hassan

Then your regulars off the bench , in no particular order : Bam, Wade, TJ, Richardson, Ellington , DJ Jr , McGruder.

KO and Whiteside are a horrible front court defensively. In this new NBA, you need a 4 who is athletic and can guard multiple positions.

My starting lineup would be :

Dragic
Waiters
Richardson
Winslow
Whiteside
 

Paolo305613

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KO and Whiteside are a horrible front court defensively. In this new NBA, you need a 4 who is athletic and can guard multiple positions.

My starting lineup would be :

Dragic
Waiters
Richardson
Winslow
Whiteside

You are right about that combo defensively.

I just think that is our best 5 to start a game regardless of who the opponent is. I think starting with these 5 leaves the team with "less" holes to worry about to start a game than any other starting 5 combo we've had this season.

But, my stance is still the same on this team and season as a whole -- this team is right at where they should be, if not exceeding expectation with this roster -- and compared to what was expected from this team in general.

Its not the best of days for the Heat but its certainly not the darkest, either.


Here is the latest Ask Ira providing perspective on how past the idea of 'tanking" the Heat are -- and fans need to catch up. Again, its not pretty -- but its not all that ugly.
 

Paolo305613

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Well said from Wade . I’m sure he will get in the game as a reserve .
 

Paolo305613

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Rodney McGruder sighting!

In other news, one of the things that Winslow has improved upon that showed in that basket is not just how physical he is when going to the basket but his body control when doing so. Winslow simply did not have that in previous seasons and it contributed to his inefficiency when shooting/going to the basket
 

Paolo305613

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Good to see K.O. about to get some meaningful minutes again -- of course its due to the Heat being one man down tonight mostly.
 

Paolo305613

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-5 for the Heat giving up 53 first half points.

Its performances like these that should open peoples eyes and realize there is no need to overreact about anything with this team - they are simply not good enough to think a win is guaranteed even against a team with a record like the one Cleveland has.
 

Paolo305613

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Worth noting, Derrick Jones Jr having himself quite a first half. James Johnson? Not so much.
 

Paolo305613

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Great rebound and finish by Hassan there. Need more of that
 

Paolo305613

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Heat turn it up on defense and take a +10 lead into the 4th. Need to put this one away early in the 4th.
 

Paolo305613

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Osman is the next less than stellar player the Heat make look like an all-star. Thankfully the Heat have this one on lock already.
 

Paolo305613

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In true Heat form, they've allowed this to be a game again as the lead is now only 7 -- see? Just cant overreact with this team. They just aren't good enough for them or any of us to think any game is a sure thing.
 
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