The 2024-25 campaign is right around the corner and the NBA pre-season is just about done. In Miami, for the Heat's final pre-season match of the year, Jimmy Butler and company made a statement on their home floor with a third victory in their past four games. While the Hawks are no title-level threat, they are a solid team and a good early test for a Heat squad that's still clinging to title ambitions in the West.
The usually offensively-challenged Heat managed to score 120 points tonight, led by Jimmy Butler who finished with 24 points on 72% and shooting with 5 rebounds and 3 assists in just 20 minutes of play. Tyler Herro, who is set to return after an extended absence, put up 19 points and 5 rebounds in the game as the starting shooting guard.
On the other side, the Hawks put up a decent fight with their new-look roster but with just 10 points from Trae Young, they didn't have enough to keep up with the Heat. They've been painfully mediocre for some time now and after Dejounte Murray's departure this summer, most experts projected a decline for the Hawks this season.
Naturally, it's unwise to draw any conclusions from the NBA pre-season but what we saw over the past two weeks can tell us a lot about might come to pass. At the very least, it's a hint that the Miami Heat are ready to re-take their place as top contenders in the East .
Jimmy Butler Is All Business After Injured Playoff Run
As the star of the show, everything with the Heat starts and ends with Jimmy Butler . Even at 35 years old and coming off one of his worst seasons yet as a pro, we're starting to see that he can still play at an elite level. The 5x All-Defensive star was a pest on the floor tonight and he was setting the tone with his effort both on and off the ball. He finished with 3 steals, matched only by his co-stae Bam Adebayo.
Butler was perfect from three-point range, including a half-time buzzer-beater that helped give his team the edge. His energy and footwork were spotless and he truly looked the part of a man ready to make amends for his mistakes.
Last campaign, despite talking a big game, the Heat struggled to keep up in the standings and Butler couldn't save the day when the season was on the line. In this year's media day, he dropped his usual shenanigans and revealed his heart to win at any cost. A rejuvenated Butler could make a massive difference for the Heat and if he can stay healthy it will have major implications on the NBA title race.
Big Contributions From The Young Core
The Miami Heat recently struck out on big-name players like Damian Lillard and James Harden but they are managing pretty well with their newest young pieces. Against the Hawks, second-year forward Nikola Jovic got the start alongside Bam Adebayo and he played his role well with 5 points, 3 assists, and 1 rebound in 24 minutes.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. was the sixth man off the bench during pre-season and he will be a key man in the rotation going forward. Tonight, he only scored 6 points and 4 rebounds in 13 minutes of play.
There's also 24-year-old Tyler Herro. The young sharpshooter has missed significant time over the past few years but he's back now and ready to deliver his best season yet. If he can step up and develop into a star for the Miami Heat, there's no question they would pose a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference.
Player Chemistry Is At An All-Time High
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has always tried to emphasize a team-first mentality for his players but this season he has them locked in to a whole new degree. The Heat were like a well-oiled machine in the first four preseason games, much different from the sluggish, low-scoring team we knew them to be before.
Somehow, the Heat have developed their chemistry to a point where they are in mid-season form by early October and it should set the stage for a strong start to the season.
Between 'Heat culture' and Spoelstra's expert schematics, the Heat are not going to go down easy and they are going to give a proper fight to whatever team happens to cross their path. Now, more than ever, the players and coaches are locked into a team-first mentality and they are all committed to the quest of bringing another championship to the city of Miami.
After finishing 8th last season with mostly the same roster, faith is low that the Heat can hold up against the NBA juggernauts. But we've seen this team beat the odds before and you can be sure they'll do it again if their main guys can avoid any serious injuries.
Related: The Heat Land Much-Needed Big Man And Scoring Guard In Mock Trade With The Jazz
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