Facing off against the Memphis Grizzlies to begin their season, the Miami Heat wasted no time in proving that their team’s skill extended well beyond Jimmy Butler. Spoelstra’s minute distribution to younger players made for an entertaining and surprising debut for both the usual and the unsung rookies on the roster.
Following a strong preseason showing by a number of their rookies, the Miami Heat took their 2019-20 season debut and used it as a way to prove that they are more than just Jimmy Butler and Justise Winslow. Going 12 men deep on opening night, Heat coaching staff seized the opportunity to show off the talents possessed by their young talent.
Justise Winslow had a LeBron-esque performance, posting 27,7,7 on efficient 48/50/67 splits, and Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic combined for 33 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists. However, three of the top six scorers for the Heat were also making their NBA regular-season debut, and each player had a different story that made their performance that much better.
Going into the game, Miami’s 13th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Tyler Herro, had high expectations. His preseason numbers clocked in at 14 points per contest, with two assists and 4.4 rebounds to top it off. Though only shooting 46 percent from the field, Herro was devastating from deep, knocking down a staggering 52 percent of his 3’s on 5.4 attempts per game.
He maintained his averages in his debut, logging 14 points with an impressive eight rebounds and two steals. Herro’s shooting ability is well-known as getting his shot off over the other 1s and 2s is effortless, but his 6-foot-5 frame makes guarding the passing lanes and getting weak-side blocks simple.
Miami’s 24-year-old undrafted rookie, Kendrick Nunn, had remained relatively quiet, up until his 40 point duel with the Rockets’ James Harden in their final pre-season game. The former Oakland Golden Grizzly spent the 2018-19 season with the Santa-Cruz Warriors of the NBA G-League, before being signed by the Heat in April of 2019.
While many rookies explode for high-scoring nights in pre-season games, it tends to be a result of the minutes’ distribution favoring players who have yet to make the roster. Nunn immediately imposed his will on Memphis, as he poured in 24 points, two rebounds, three assists, and two steals, all while shooting 56% from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range.
While Nunn’s seniority over other rookies gives him some advantage, he cleverly took his first NBA start as a chance to prove his worth on an intriguing Miami team.
Last, but certainly not least, one of the last players for the Miami Heat who was expected to produce efficiently in the season-opener, Chris Silva. The 6-foot-8 South Carolina forward came into the game in the fourth quarter, and in only 11 minutes, shot a perfect 3-3 from the field (Including a nice alley-oop from Goran Dragic), and 2-2 at the stripe, totaling eight points, six rebounds, and three blocks.
He ran the floor exceptionally well and got back on defense consistently. Where athleticism amongst Miami Heat frontcourt is lacking, there may be a spot for Chris Silva to sneak into the regular rotation.
While the focus from the offseason was unquestionably on Jimmy Butler, Miami’s youth proved their worth in their first NBA regular-season game. If the Miami Heat can come up with wins without Butler, the Eastern Conference has a valid reason to fear the Heat when Butler returns to the court.
Starting the 2019-20 NBA season 1-0, the Miami Heat, hopefully with the additional services of Jimmy Butler, will look to further solidify their spot as an Eastern Conference playoff threat in their next game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday in Milwaukee.