Tyler Herro, Miami Heat look mightily impressive in preseason debut.
It may have only been one preseason game, but there is not a player that looked better Monday night than Tyler Herro.
In fact, the Miami Heat as a whole looked impressive even without Jimmy Butler (who was held out for rest). But there was something about Herro that seemed different. Again, it was only one game. But one game and one performance that should have Heat fans excited.
On the night, Herro finished with 26 points (9-12 shooting, 3-4 from 3), four rebounds, and four assists in just 26 minutes of action. He was essentially the team’s sixth man and seemed to relish in such a role.
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He also added an impressive block which is not something that was evident through the first two years of his career. On top of his excellent scoring output, Herro looked stronger, quicker, and simply better.
Entering his third season in the league, Herro seemed like a player that was on a mission. And through one preseason game, it’s difficult to question the results.
In addition to the standout game from Herro, the Heat overall looked like a much better team. And after the offseason in which they had, it’s something that many predicted would happen. Even without Butler, the Heat’s offense looked so much better than it did at any point last season.
Of course, perhaps some of that has to do with the fact that every team’s offense looks good in preseason basketball, but it’s become quite evident that Kyle Lowry is going to have a huge positive impact on this team.
And that acquisition is already beginning to pay dividends. Miami was pushing the ball – they did so little of that last season and was a bottom-three team in pace. It’s a concept that is so simple, yet opens up so much more of the offense.
Lowry gives the Heat a true point guard that takes the playmaking pressure off of Bam Adebayo and Butler (when he’s available), and quite frankly that’s not something this incarnation of the team has had.
For as good as Goran Dragic was for the Heat over the past few seasons, he wasn’t the playmaking guard that Lowry is. And that’s OK. The Heat, however, will be better this season in part due to that.
It’s one game. Let’s slow down. But the Heat looks good. And so does Herro.