1 00:00:02,359 --> 00:00:07,200 What is krack alacking hardwink Ox listeners, I am Dan Valley coming at you 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:12,480 once more without my fantabulous co host Adam Promo. It is time to wrap 3 00:00:12,599 --> 00:00:18,399 up our NBA Team look Ahead series, the thirtieth and final team, the 4 00:00:18,559 --> 00:00:23,320 Miami Heat. I have brought on Alanna to Howur from five Reason Sports. 5 00:00:23,399 --> 00:00:27,000 She is a podcast host over there. She's a co host of the Field 6 00:00:27,039 --> 00:00:31,480 the Heat podcast does a fantastic job with that. Follow her on Twitter at 7 00:00:31,519 --> 00:00:36,320 Alanna to Howard that's at a L l A n A t A c h 8 00:00:36,399 --> 00:00:40,039 a u e R. We have a great conversation about all things in Miami. 9 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:45,039 She almost sold me on them wasting a roster spot emphasis on wasting on 10 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:48,920 your donus Haslam. But before we get started, I just want to remind 11 00:00:49,079 --> 00:00:53,359 Employer Beg continue pleading with everyone to keep raiding, reviewing, and subscribing to 12 00:00:53,399 --> 00:00:57,359 Hardwin Knox wherever you get your podcast. That is the best way to help 13 00:00:57,439 --> 00:01:00,359 us out in the charts. If you've been listening to this podcast while and 14 00:01:00,359 --> 00:01:03,719 have not done that on iTunes, especially whether or not you use iTunes, 15 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,760 we asked that you head over to iTunes search Hardmon Knox. Throw us that 16 00:01:06,799 --> 00:01:10,200 five star rating and also write or review those help us out a ship ton. 17 00:01:10,519 --> 00:01:12,840 If this is your first time listening to the podcast because you're a huge 18 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:17,480 Miami Heat fan, or just curious about the Miami Heat, or you've stumbled 19 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:22,680 upon us completely, utterly, randomly, without a cause, welcome, consider 20 00:01:22,719 --> 00:01:26,560 throwing us that permanent subscription. We cover the entire MBA at large and are 21 00:01:26,599 --> 00:01:32,719 pleasantly sub mediocre and only modestly insufferable about it. Follow us on Twitter at 22 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,359 Hardwood Knox. Follow us on YouTube go to YouTube dot com search Harder Knox. 23 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:38,120 We come up the team look aheads for all the other squads twenty nine 24 00:01:38,159 --> 00:01:42,280 aside from the Heat are up there as well. In addition to our landing 25 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:47,239 page at MBA math follow us on Instagram at Hardwood Underscore Knox. With all 26 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,359 of the housekeeping notes out of the way, let's talk some Miami Heat with 27 00:01:49,799 --> 00:01:55,439 five reasons sports is Alana to how our Alanna. Thank you so much for 28 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,840 jumping on the Hardwood Knox podcast to talk some Miami Heat with me. This 29 00:01:59,879 --> 00:02:02,519 is the final team look ahead that we're doing. The thirtieth team. They 30 00:02:02,519 --> 00:02:06,000 were debuting on Wednesday this week so I thought they were one of the teams 31 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,639 I could leave for last. I'm excited to dig into the Miami Heat first 32 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:13,639 and foremost, though, how are you doing. I'm doing great, And 33 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:15,599 I love that you saved this for last, like saving the best for last. 34 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:21,000 I feel like you're bringing good vibes already to the Miami Heat. Anyways, 35 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,599 Look, you've never appeared on this podcast before too, so we just 36 00:02:23,599 --> 00:02:24,599 had to make sure that, like we book ended it with a first time 37 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:28,759 appearance. And the Heat I think are going to be like the team that 38 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,840 pisses off opponents the most of any other team, just looking at their projected 39 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:35,280 starting five. So it just feels like a fitting ending to this. And 40 00:02:35,319 --> 00:02:38,199 there there's like when I was going through the outline to send you, I 41 00:02:38,199 --> 00:02:40,639 feel like I didn't have enough interesting questions but the team itself because there's so 42 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:46,280 many known quantities on it. But the team itself is just polarizing as hell, 43 00:02:46,319 --> 00:02:49,560 which honestly is so on brand for me as a human being, Like 44 00:02:49,599 --> 00:02:52,400 I feel like I'm a very acquired taste. So the fact that now the 45 00:02:52,439 --> 00:02:54,919 Miami Heat have the roster they do and it's just a bunch of dogs, 46 00:02:55,000 --> 00:03:00,560 like I'm just so excited for the season to start. What if we have 47 00:03:00,599 --> 00:03:04,479 to start here Kyle Lowry, which was somehow they got the deal done like 48 00:03:04,479 --> 00:03:07,479 two seconds into free agency. That's really quick work without having to agree to 49 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,479 anything beforehand, that has been in like the ether for months. It's funny 50 00:03:10,479 --> 00:03:14,479 how that was just such a given that he was going to Miami. Would 51 00:03:14,479 --> 00:03:16,159 have been your impressions of his fit so far, and even just looking beyond 52 00:03:16,159 --> 00:03:21,240 that, like what is just the biggest element or addition that he's going to 53 00:03:21,319 --> 00:03:23,800 bring that go on draggage did not for them, aside from probably being available 54 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:28,560 for more games. So I am a huge Gorn fan and it broke my 55 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,159 heart. I really thought that there was going to be some way we could 56 00:03:31,159 --> 00:03:35,560 work out to keep them both. I understand why they couldn't, and I 57 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,719 obviously wish him the best. I will say I still think Gorn retires as 58 00:03:38,719 --> 00:03:42,319 a member of the Miami Heat, even if it's just a one year contract 59 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,919 on the line. But there's no question that you know, Kyle brings something 60 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:51,120 way more to the table, and it might not even be xs and os, 61 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,520 although I do think a little bit of that, but just for this 62 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:58,599 particular team and the fit of the guys around him. He is a godsend 63 00:03:58,639 --> 00:04:00,080 to BAM already, I think and again, and I don't like to make 64 00:04:00,199 --> 00:04:03,919 judgments offt preseason. I don't think they're necessarily super indicative of what's to come. 65 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:08,520 But I think what we've seen already his passing alone is crazy. Like 66 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:13,080 I've started just calling him quarterback Kyle because I think it's insane. His vision 67 00:04:13,319 --> 00:04:16,439 is there. I just think he's looking to not only be obviously a score, 68 00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:18,879 but make other guys better. And I think it's really going to help 69 00:04:18,879 --> 00:04:23,519 BAM the Jimmy as well. He's like and I don't know, like I 70 00:04:23,519 --> 00:04:26,480 said before we recorded this, I haven't watched like whole preseason games, so 71 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:29,600 I don't know if they're using him like this. He's very good connective tissue, 72 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:31,720 like Kyle Lowry will scream without the ball on offense as a guard, 73 00:04:31,759 --> 00:04:34,839 which is just absurd. And I think I even saw making it the rounds 74 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:38,879 on Twitter. He fans being impressed, like he's just gonna he's gonna shoot 75 00:04:38,879 --> 00:04:41,600 above the break threes in transition. My Kyle Lowry's just going to do that. 76 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:46,199 So and his personality just makes with Jimmy Butler's personality with also cut with 77 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,920 PJ. Tucker's personality, that is going to be eminently watchable. I guess 78 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:54,160 for fans who are like of not the other team, if you're playing the 79 00:04:54,199 --> 00:04:56,439 Heat, I feel like that's the team that you probably don't want to play 80 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,839 this season. Yeah, And the thing is, I think Gorn's really tough, 81 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:01,439 and I do feel like he fits the culture very well in a different 82 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:04,399 way, but I don't think he was as outspoken in the sense of, 83 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:08,560 you know, now, Jimmy has kind of a partner in crime. If 84 00:05:08,639 --> 00:05:11,639 Jimmy's barking at someone, Kyle's going to be there barking at him too. 85 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,759 And honestly, I don't think anyone but Kyle would bark at Jimmy, and 86 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:16,879 sometimes Jimmy might need that this season. So I do think, you know, 87 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,319 from a fit standpoint, even off the court, he's a really great 88 00:05:20,319 --> 00:05:24,360 addition. I think he can do a little bit of everything. I also 89 00:05:24,399 --> 00:05:27,920 think just the way he's built defensively, he's going to give us a little 90 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:31,160 bit more too. He's up there in age kind of like Gorn. But 91 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:35,439 Gorn's had some health issues that unfortunately have really hindered him. I think, 92 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,639 you know him dealing with his back spasms, he was not as explosive, 93 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:43,279 and I don't think that Kyle, hopefully he's going to deal with anything like 94 00:05:43,319 --> 00:05:45,800 that. So I just think his physicality is going to be huge for us 95 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,000 too. Glad you got like half a year off too last season. Who's 96 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,800 the Raptors just decided they weren't going to try to win games? So maybe 97 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,560 that helps. Did you like the I forgot to ask you this now, 98 00:05:54,639 --> 00:05:58,040 and did you like the PJ Tucker addition or you at all worried about kind 99 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:00,519 of how much he gives back on a fence in the regular season because he's 100 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,879 so low volume, just so low volume. I am so excited for PJ. 101 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:09,439 And I might be the only person in Heat Nation that feels this way. 102 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:14,319 I definitely see his shortcomings and I think he has some work to do, 103 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:18,879 but just his aggressiveness, he automatically bought into the culture, which obviously 104 00:06:18,959 --> 00:06:23,600 is huge for us. I think he fits our identity really well, and 105 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,759 I just think that he is going to do more than people think he's coming 106 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,480 off of a championship. I think he has a chip on his shoulder now 107 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,959 to kind of stay at that level that he was playing at. He still 108 00:06:33,959 --> 00:06:38,120 needs, obviously time to get in a little bit better of shape. PJ 109 00:06:38,319 --> 00:06:40,519 is gonna be PJ at the end of the day. You know, he's 110 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:42,879 built a specific way, but I think he has some work to do that 111 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,519 way. But I think he's going to be a better shooter than people are 112 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,519 giving him credit for too. Yeah, I mean he can knock them down. 113 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,800 I'm just maybe Jimmy can get him to take more like he he doesn't 114 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:56,000 take enough shots even when he's open. The one thing I'm curious about with 115 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,720 them, and I know I actually got the rotation later on just looking at 116 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:01,879 who's behind bam Adebayo, is there a chance that we do see some PJ 117 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,600 Tucker at the four in Miami since there's really like only Dwayne Deadman kind of 118 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:11,639 vying for those minutes. Yeah, I'm curious to see what happens there. 119 00:07:11,879 --> 00:07:15,399 I have been a little bit critical, like openly so SPO over the years, 120 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,319 just because I think his rotations sometimes he gets tunnel vision and he doesn't 121 00:07:18,319 --> 00:07:24,120 necessarily adjust based on the opponent, but even on what's happening in the game. 122 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,240 I think that that could be kind of a secret weapon he could use, 123 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,639 obviously depending on how we're doing and who we're up against. There's also 124 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:36,800 the possibility that, you know, Deadman does not necessarily have as much energy. 125 00:07:38,319 --> 00:07:41,519 He's a little bit older. And also I just think because if his 126 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:45,399 size, he can't necessarily last as long, whereas PJ seems a little built, 127 00:07:45,759 --> 00:07:47,240 more built for that kind of role. So I don't know, it 128 00:07:47,279 --> 00:07:49,560 is going to be interesting to see. I think that's kind of the hole 129 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:55,759 that they need to figure out how to fill. BAM their actual starting center 130 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,920 when you look at kind of how old they skew. Now, like he 131 00:07:58,959 --> 00:08:01,759 becomes even more important because of what he means. Like now like he is 132 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:05,600 the he's the swing star. They have three stars, but like he's the 133 00:08:05,639 --> 00:08:09,199 star that you look at and you can envision getting better. Still, what 134 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:11,839 does the next You know, he sprinkled in more mid rangers last year, 135 00:08:11,839 --> 00:08:13,959 we know what he can do as a passer, we know his value on 136 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:18,759 defense. What does sort of the next level look like for him? You 137 00:08:18,759 --> 00:08:22,360 know, I waver on kind of what I want from BAM in terms of 138 00:08:22,399 --> 00:08:26,319 specifically him taking more threes. I think a lot of people that's what they're 139 00:08:26,319 --> 00:08:31,000 gutting for from him this season, and it'd be great. I don't think 140 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,840 that's something he should limit himself on, but for me personally, I just 141 00:08:33,919 --> 00:08:37,799 want him to look at himself more as the primary scorer. It's not to 142 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:41,679 say that I think he's going to be every gamer he even needs to be, 143 00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:45,440 but I think part of his problem is that he, at least last 144 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:48,519 season, didn't necessarily feel like the guy, and he needs to feel like 145 00:08:48,519 --> 00:08:52,799 that because to your point, his age makes him kind of the cornerstone now 146 00:08:52,879 --> 00:08:56,200 of this franchise. We are on Jimmy's timeline, but Bam is kind of 147 00:08:56,240 --> 00:09:00,360 what we're going towards the future in I think though he's coming in with that 148 00:09:00,399 --> 00:09:03,200 gold medal, and I think already having Kyle and the team is going to 149 00:09:03,279 --> 00:09:05,759 help his mentality that way. So I just want to see him be more 150 00:09:05,759 --> 00:09:07,759 aggressive and really just take ownership of the fact that he is the guy on 151 00:09:07,799 --> 00:09:13,279 the team. IDENT agree with you as you put It'd be nice if he 152 00:09:13,279 --> 00:09:16,240 started shooting threes, but I just want to see him be more aggressive looking 153 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,000 for his own scoring in general. I would look, if you want someone 154 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:22,279 on this team to take more threes, I'd rather Jimmy Butler took more threes 155 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:24,360 than bam Adebayo at this point. Yeah, and you know, this was 156 00:09:24,399 --> 00:09:28,440 an argument that we were having, I think over on kluch Forner a few 157 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:31,519 weeks back, because everyone was expecting Bam to take more threes. But then 158 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:33,720 you know, people were like, well, what about Jimmy, And that 159 00:09:33,799 --> 00:09:37,000 is a good question. It's never been Jimmy's game necessarily, but I think 160 00:09:37,039 --> 00:09:39,759 that if they both work on it, they can balance each other out. 161 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:43,600 However, you know, in terms of three point shooting, we have Duncan 162 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,480 Pj's there now. Even Tyler, I think, is going to focus on 163 00:09:46,519 --> 00:09:50,759 that too, So I don't necessarily need Bam to put all his stock in 164 00:09:50,879 --> 00:09:52,279 becoming a more of a three point threat. I just want him to be 165 00:09:52,279 --> 00:09:58,159 more aggressive across the board. Jimmy Butler is coming off such a bizarre season 166 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,679 because I think you look at it, what he did, it might have 167 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:01,759 been the best season of his career. It was probably one of the top 168 00:10:01,799 --> 00:10:05,559 two seasons of his career. If it wasn't the absolute best, do you 169 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:07,159 worry about drop off at although at the age of thirty two, and I 170 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:11,159 kind of mentioned it's not even just about the volume of threes. He's just 171 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:15,399 not been that good of a jump shooter in Miami. There was in the 172 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,240 bubble, like you had that stretch in the postseason where he was knocking down 173 00:10:18,279 --> 00:10:20,360 three like just everything, But he really just hasn't been a good jump shooter. 174 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,440 And while that's you know, he has the rim pressure he gets to 175 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:26,120 the line, all the facilitating that he does, it just feels like, 176 00:10:26,279 --> 00:10:28,799 if you're gonna be a power win in this league, it'd be nice if 177 00:10:28,799 --> 00:10:31,120 those fell at a higher clip, or if you were more confident in him 178 00:10:31,159 --> 00:10:35,399 being able to take more of those jumpers. Not even curious, it's to 179 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:39,720 like, what is the reason that threes became like such a tertiary part of 180 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:41,159 his game in Miami, Like you said, they've never been in the crux, 181 00:10:41,519 --> 00:10:46,320 Like there's been a very clear like decline in those attempts since he arrived 182 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:50,080 to the Heat. Yeah, I personally am not worried about drop off. 183 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:56,000 I think Jimmy was absolutely exhausted going into this past year. I think that 184 00:10:56,080 --> 00:11:00,399 between obviously being in the bubble and then not really having much of it season, 185 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,480 then going into what I'm still going to call an Asterix year for the 186 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:05,159 rest of the time, and I don't care who tries to oppose me on 187 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:09,120 this. But also we have to remember he had COVID, and I don't 188 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,799 think that's talked about enough. I know there were some reports that came out 189 00:11:11,799 --> 00:11:15,159 that he lost a bunch of weight. He said he didn't lose that much, 190 00:11:15,159 --> 00:11:18,960 but the muscle mass wasn't there when he came back, and I just 191 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,799 think that it slowed him down. So I'm not really worried about that. 192 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:24,559 I will say, in terms of kind of what his game has looked like, 193 00:11:24,639 --> 00:11:28,120 I think it's definitely going to change up a little bit this season, 194 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:30,320 just with all the new additions. I think the fact that you know, 195 00:11:30,399 --> 00:11:33,240 he now has Kyle and that again hopefully Band's going to be more aggressive. 196 00:11:33,279 --> 00:11:37,440 I think his game is going to look more like kind of peak Jimmy, 197 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:41,559 And you know, if he can give us anything close to what he looked 198 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:45,039 like in the bubble during those two three games where he was just kind of 199 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,399 shooting lights out and taking, you know, the bearing of the weight of 200 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:52,080 the team on his back, I think we'll be in good shape. The 201 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:54,639 perception of Tyler Hero definitely veered like too far from reality. I think a 202 00:11:54,639 --> 00:11:58,919 lot of it had to do with that report that the Heat wouldn't includ him 203 00:11:58,919 --> 00:12:01,440 and James Harden trade back. My theory there, as our listeners know, 204 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:05,200 is that the Heat had no real pathway to getting James Harden in the first 205 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:07,600 place, So why not just leave that you're not willing to give up Tyler 206 00:12:07,639 --> 00:12:11,559 Hero so that Tyler Hero doesn't think you're willing to give him up. He 207 00:12:11,799 --> 00:12:13,960 like didn't as the year went on. I think he got some valuable point 208 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:18,720 guard reps under his belt. His pull up three got better later in the 209 00:12:18,759 --> 00:12:22,240 season after the All Star break, he finished better around the basket. There 210 00:12:22,279 --> 00:12:26,519 still seems like there's a potentially really good player in there. I'm wondering if 211 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:28,799 his life gets so much easier with Kyle Lowry here now too. I'm just 212 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:33,720 curious what your expectations are for him leading into two year three and what this 213 00:12:33,759 --> 00:12:37,440 team actually needs from him looking at how the rest of the roster is built. 214 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:39,120 Yeah, it's funny that you use the word expectation, because, to 215 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:41,960 be honest, I think that was his downfall. I just think that Heat 216 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:46,559 fans expected way too much of him. He looked tremendous in the bubble but 217 00:12:46,639 --> 00:12:50,679 again, the bubble was very well suited for the Miami Heat. It's kind 218 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:56,480 of I honestly think that if any team benefited from the bubble the most, 219 00:12:56,679 --> 00:13:01,399 it was Miami. And so I think between the expectation and just he's a 220 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:05,240 polarizing figure. Whether it be just because you know, I don't know, 221 00:13:05,639 --> 00:13:09,039 he's very confident in himself. He has a certain swag to him. He 222 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:13,679 obviously had you know, deals off the court too. People just didn't really 223 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:16,120 like him, and I think that got to his head. And I think 224 00:13:16,159 --> 00:13:18,159 to your point, if you look at the raw numbers, he actually didn't 225 00:13:18,159 --> 00:13:22,679 have that bad of a season. It's just based on the expectation and the 226 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:26,919 fact that he was not very consistent. You know, he's been killing it 227 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:30,399 in preseason. I think the last game he had like thirty some points. 228 00:13:30,799 --> 00:13:33,879 I don't expect that from him. I'm looking at probably sixteen to eighteen points 229 00:13:33,919 --> 00:13:37,320 a game, and I actually think that would be more than enough. I'm 230 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:41,440 looking for, you know, him to bring a spark off the bench and 231 00:13:41,519 --> 00:13:43,679 kind of re energize that second unit. And and I know we're going to 232 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,960 get to this later. I actually think that he should probably be in in 233 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:50,879 those closing minutes because there's just something about him. He has that clutch chain. 234 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:54,279 He lives for those big moments on the court. So I just want 235 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,240 consistency from him. I want, you know, more threes, and I 236 00:13:58,279 --> 00:14:01,399 want the confidence back because that was all so lost. I think around the 237 00:14:01,399 --> 00:14:05,159 trade deadline, when he was starting to get you know, mentioned in trade 238 00:14:05,159 --> 00:14:07,840 packages across the league. Who do you if he's coming off the bench, 239 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,919 how do you sort of envision that second unit chacking out in the sense that 240 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:15,759 I can't imagine like the heater going to stagger their stars. So which star 241 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:20,320 is he going to end up spending the most time alongside? I hope it's 242 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:22,879 Lowry. I think that would be tremendous for him. I also think a 243 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:26,679 lot of it is contingent on, you know, how Depot looks when he 244 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:28,759 gets back. I think everyone can agree that he's definitely the X factor this 245 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:33,279 year, not only in terms of the timeline of his return, but what 246 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:37,840 he's able to do once he does come back. I also think it's going 247 00:14:37,879 --> 00:14:41,919 to be interesting to see Tyler kind of take maybe Duncan's spot in kind of 248 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:46,840 those closing minutes. Duncan is a tremendous shooter, and I think that he 249 00:14:48,799 --> 00:14:52,840 also has the ability to remain calm. But there's just something about Tyler that, 250 00:14:52,919 --> 00:14:56,759 again, he just lives for those bigger moments, and I'd actually rather 251 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:01,879 him close out games. I think also just the method with which he attacks. 252 00:15:01,879 --> 00:15:03,679 Like Duncan Robinson just he had one wild play in the preseason where he 253 00:15:03,679 --> 00:15:07,320 put like the hit like this off the dribble jump or whatever he did, 254 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:09,000 But Tyler cho was gonna put the ball on the floor a lot more, 255 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:13,320 and that just puts a different kind of pressure on defenses, where like Robinson's 256 00:15:13,399 --> 00:15:16,080 very much the thread of his range and just his movement. So I would 257 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:20,440 that's gonna be an interesting decision for them because that you did pay Duncan Robinson, 258 00:15:20,519 --> 00:15:22,559 so he's not going to be in your closing unit unit. You did 259 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:26,000 mention Victor Ladipo, though I feel like it's not talked about enough because it's 260 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:30,000 been years since he's the player that everyone since he made All MBA I think 261 00:15:30,039 --> 00:15:33,480 it was like four seasons ago, eighteen, whatever it was. At this 262 00:15:33,519 --> 00:15:37,679 point, he just might be like one of the biggest swing factors in the 263 00:15:37,799 --> 00:15:41,720 entire league at this point because you look at the heats roster and it's good 264 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:43,840 at the top. Maybe don't feels good about it at the bottom. But 265 00:15:43,879 --> 00:15:46,639 if all of a sudden, like you get sixty sixty five percent of the 266 00:15:46,639 --> 00:15:50,399 player that Victor Oladipo was, if he gets healthy, like this team just 267 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:54,600 gets infinitely better because of the pressure he puts on defenses off the dribble, 268 00:15:54,679 --> 00:15:58,080 the way he can defend. And so do you have a sense of it 269 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,480 does seem like the expectations that he'll play this season and then what is kind 270 00:16:00,519 --> 00:16:03,639 of like the ideal role for him looking at the rest of the roster assuming 271 00:16:03,639 --> 00:16:07,600 he does return this season. Yeah, the timeline is still up in the 272 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:11,200 air. I think originally they had said January. Then I saw November. 273 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:15,879 I'm gonna guess maybe December. But this is coming from no information. I 274 00:16:17,279 --> 00:16:19,720 that is wild that this is swung by because there are people that think he 275 00:16:19,799 --> 00:16:22,399 was gonna play it all this season and it was like, well maybe January, 276 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:26,679 Well maybe it'll be before Like that is just like that timeline is all 277 00:16:26,679 --> 00:16:29,519 over the place. Yeah, and you know what I was going to say 278 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:33,000 is that whatever, whatever the case, maybe when he comes back, I 279 00:16:33,039 --> 00:16:36,559 just hope that it's a slow role because my fear is that, you know, 280 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:38,039 everyone's going to be so excited that he comes back. He is kind 281 00:16:38,039 --> 00:16:41,120 of an X factor for the team. They want to get him acclimated in 282 00:16:41,159 --> 00:16:44,759 there to just see kind of what they're working with as we get closer to 283 00:16:44,799 --> 00:16:48,159 the trade deadline. But I just hope that they understand that, you know, 284 00:16:48,279 --> 00:16:51,639 he's not going to be himself coming in. He himself is not going 285 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:52,559 to be himself. But on top of it, you know, it is 286 00:16:52,679 --> 00:16:56,600 kind of a new squad and he only I think played four games for us 287 00:16:56,679 --> 00:16:59,200 last season, so we didn't really get a lot of reps with the guys. 288 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,279 Anyway, I hope he's coming off the bench, and I hope it's 289 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,640 limited minutes for quite some time, because again, we don't really need him 290 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:10,519 till the later half of the season. I'm excited to see what he does. 291 00:17:10,799 --> 00:17:14,680 I think that I would stick him probably in the second unit, but 292 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,880 maybe that's just because I'm cautious on him. Yeah, I mean, if 293 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:19,759 they started him coming back, like and it's even who do you bounce because 294 00:17:19,759 --> 00:17:23,400 it might be easier to bounce Tyler Robinson for Tyler Hero But I don't know 295 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:26,400 if you want to pull Tyler hero for all the deep and when he's like 296 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:30,160 even more of a questionable shooter and hasn't played basketball like a super high level, 297 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:33,400 were full board roughly forever. Yeah, And I think also, you 298 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:37,519 know, just judging from preseason, the pace has picked up so much for 299 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,920 us that you know, do you really want to put a guy coming off 300 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:45,440 injury and throw him into that. I just think they're being cautious. Is 301 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:48,400 going to be key here, and I fully obviously trust the Miami doctors and 302 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,799 kind of the medical staff that way. But I'm excited for him to come 303 00:17:51,839 --> 00:17:53,319 back. We got him for so cheap too, that it's kind of it's 304 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:57,160 worth the trouble. Yeah, they were smart from a team perspective with the 305 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:00,039 way they were able to keep his bird right. So like, if he 306 00:18:00,039 --> 00:18:02,039 does have a breakout year, it is going to cost a ton of money. 307 00:18:02,039 --> 00:18:04,920 They have the option of still paying him. I did find it you 308 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:08,559 mentioned the pace that the team is playing. You know that it's like frantic 309 00:18:08,559 --> 00:18:12,759 when Jimmy Butler says it's hard to play at Kyle Lowry's pace, like one. 310 00:18:12,839 --> 00:18:15,759 I think that was my favorite preseason quote related to the actual game. 311 00:18:15,839 --> 00:18:21,039 Because for Jimmy Butler of all people to say that is just absolutely amazing. 312 00:18:21,839 --> 00:18:27,960 Yeah. I you know, I don't necessarily consider us slow by any means, 313 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:32,200 but there were moments and we tend to kind of go off of what 314 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:34,440 the opponent is doing, and I hate that. I hope that's something that 315 00:18:34,519 --> 00:18:37,559 changes. I remember I think at some point last season we were playing the 316 00:18:37,559 --> 00:18:41,880 Pacers and I almost couldn't watch it, Like I just it was so slow 317 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:45,680 and it was just the dullest game. But I think we're going to be 318 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,599 across the board just quicker, and I hope that Kyle pushes the pace regardless 319 00:18:48,599 --> 00:18:52,599 of who we're playing. Yeah, look, he's so Miami was thirteenth last 320 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:56,279 year and the percentage of their possessions that were finished in transition, Lowie was 321 00:18:56,359 --> 00:19:00,680 running the team that was number one in to Rome know, it's like he's 322 00:19:00,759 --> 00:19:02,960 very much going to force him to get up and down the floor and that, 323 00:19:03,559 --> 00:19:06,160 you know, that's entertaining to watch. I also think it's it's variants 324 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:07,319 in the way that you play, and I think that that's super important. 325 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:11,079 Yeah, and I think that, you know, it might be a little 326 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:14,799 bit troublesome when you think of some of the older guys or the guys who 327 00:19:15,279 --> 00:19:18,960 don't necessarily, you know, have that explosiveness. But for Bam that shouldn't 328 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:22,039 be a problem, and Duncan and Tyler I think are definitely going to benefit 329 00:19:22,079 --> 00:19:26,839 from that too. Who is going to be more important to this team this 330 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:32,240 season, Max Strus or Gabe Vincent. Oh, I'm going with Struce and 331 00:19:32,279 --> 00:19:36,079 it's not anything against Vincent. I think people are really down on Gabe, 332 00:19:36,079 --> 00:19:38,880 and I don't really understand why. I don't think we saw enough from him 333 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:42,559 last year to really make kind of an assumption of how he's going to be 334 00:19:42,599 --> 00:19:45,960 this year. I also think he looked pretty good during the Olympics, but 335 00:19:47,359 --> 00:19:51,519 I understand why. You know, if you're going from Kyle to him, 336 00:19:51,559 --> 00:19:53,359 it is quite a jump. And that's why I think the second unit is 337 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:59,640 really gonna, you know, be led by Depot and by Tyler. Max 338 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:03,759 Strew so looks a lot better already. I think he stayed in game shape. 339 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:07,799 He led the team so well in Summer League. I think he bulked 340 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,680 up. I think that's gonna help him on both ends of the floor. 341 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,559 And I just think he's gonna get more reps in so all. I need 342 00:20:12,559 --> 00:20:15,960 from him is honestly consistency, because I think he didn't really have a chance 343 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:21,400 to find his rhythm. He hit some wild shots in Summer League and was 344 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:22,880 defending his butt off too, and it's like, if that's just how he's 345 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:26,480 gonna play, that would be that would be my pick as well. Although 346 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:30,160 I guess you can consider like Tyler hero the backup point guard, but like 347 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,359 there's really no one else aside from him and Gabe Vincent to fill that role 348 00:20:33,519 --> 00:20:37,279 too. Yeah, And I think that, you know, they are so 349 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,359 different. You know, Gabe came out and so that he just wants to 350 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,720 be a traditional point guard. He's you know, he's gonna put up buckets, 351 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:47,079 but he's mostly looking to facilitate, which I actually think is a smart 352 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,480 move because I think if people were worried about his shooting, the fact that 353 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:55,240 he's not necessarily relying on himself to make that happen for the second unit is 354 00:20:55,279 --> 00:20:57,599 super important, and I think getting Tyler the ball as much as possible is 355 00:20:57,599 --> 00:21:03,799 going to be key. Before Victor Oladipo comes back, it feels like there 356 00:21:03,799 --> 00:21:07,319 are just seven Givens in their rotation with Lowry, Butler, Duncan Tucker, 357 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:11,079 Bam Hero and then Deadman. How do you see like those you know, 358 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,519 and maybe they run deeper than ten, maybe they don't even run ten, 359 00:21:14,519 --> 00:21:17,079 But like, how would you the final three guys in their top ten rotation? 360 00:21:17,279 --> 00:21:21,160 How would you that shaking out prior to Victor Oladipo's return. Yeah, 361 00:21:21,759 --> 00:21:25,640 I mean, I think you probably have to put Struce in there. I 362 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:30,559 feel like Caleb Martin and Keith are going to be the two question marks for 363 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:37,279 me because I think we saw some of what they can do in the preseason, 364 00:21:37,319 --> 00:21:40,039 but I don't think it was enough. I also just don't again, 365 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:42,400 I don't like to rely in preseason because those rotations and those lineups are not 366 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:45,799 indicative of what's to come. Jimmy didn't play some of the games, Kyle 367 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:49,839 was sitting at some point. I think Caleb Martin though already showing promise, 368 00:21:51,279 --> 00:21:55,119 and I think that I know people are worried about Keith. I just think 369 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:57,400 he needs more time to kind of learn our system and honestly work on himself 370 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,039 a little bit more in the gym. He's coming off an injury last season. 371 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,720 So I would say probably those three. The fact that you mentioned Martiv 372 00:22:04,799 --> 00:22:11,440 Morris the fact you mentioned Martin, it begs the question should we be concerned 373 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:17,000 about this team's depth after it's top six or seven players. Yes and no. 374 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:21,319 So I think there's still room for improvement, absolutely, but I don't 375 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:26,720 think that we should be as concerned as maybe name recognition says. Again, 376 00:22:26,759 --> 00:22:30,279 I know it's preseason, but the fact that our G League team pulled off 377 00:22:30,279 --> 00:22:33,680 that win against the Hornets, they are now you know, signed some of 378 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:36,279 them to two ways. Some of them went to the G League to kind 379 00:22:36,279 --> 00:22:38,440 of work on their game. But if we were able to do that and 380 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:42,039 we have guys still like Dirt, I think will be okay. I do 381 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:45,160 still hope we make a move or two at the trade deadline after we, 382 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:48,440 I guess, kind of figure out how things are looking and also what Depot 383 00:22:48,519 --> 00:22:52,720 is kind of going to bring to the table. But you know, I 384 00:22:52,799 --> 00:22:56,359 don't think that we need to be as worried as maybe I would have been 385 00:22:56,400 --> 00:23:00,640 going in, you know, going into the summer. Who do you views, 386 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,559 since you brought it up as the right now the player that would be 387 00:23:03,599 --> 00:23:07,559 most likely to be traded by the deadline on this roster. That's a good 388 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:11,880 question. I you know, if we were going into before preseason, I 389 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:18,519 would have still said Tyler because I just think that he was on shaky ground. 390 00:23:18,559 --> 00:23:19,799 We weren't sure what they were going to get out of him, but 391 00:23:19,839 --> 00:23:23,119 he put in the work. Everyone is praising him, including Jimmy again, 392 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:27,039 so I don't really know. I think that if we were to make a 393 00:23:27,079 --> 00:23:30,920 move, I have a feeling it's going to be a smaller move and maybe 394 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:36,160 moving some of our more low key pieces. Pj's contract is pretty hefty, 395 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:37,880 so that's gonna be hard if people do want him gone. So it's going 396 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:41,720 to be interesting to see. But I kind of hope it's not Tyler at 397 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:45,160 this point. I just want him to flourish. Heare. What's interesting, 398 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,960 they seem very much like a team that will probably make their most substantial moves 399 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:53,880 on the buy out market because their seventh highest paid player is Kasey Akpola at 400 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,599 one point eight million dollars, and so you get into the issue of what 401 00:23:56,720 --> 00:24:00,720 are you matching salary with At that point, you're not trade lowerry, you're 402 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,119 not trading Bam, and you're not trading Butler. Are you willing to move 403 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:07,640 Tucker? Are you willing to move Duncan Robinson? At that point if you 404 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,359 want to make a big move, I think clearly, Hero It's just like 405 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:14,400 that is the sweetener that you have, like that is the cornerstone type trade 406 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:17,400 asset, which is why I just don't expect them to be They're normally like 407 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:19,880 pat Riley teams are always aggressive. It feels like leading into the trade deadline 408 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:22,519 saw that with you know, they didn't give up much to get Victor Ladipo, 409 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:26,599 but they swum at Victor Ladipo at all this past year. I just 410 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:29,319 don't know if that opportunity is going to be there this season because the way 411 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:32,640 that they're their books are structured, it feels very much like they're gonna have 412 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:37,240 to bank on like the buyout market yielding someone or a couple of someone's. 413 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:38,480 You know what's really sad and I hate that I just did this, but 414 00:24:38,519 --> 00:24:42,680 I forgot Casey was on the team. I didn't even mention him, mentioned 415 00:24:42,759 --> 00:24:45,799 him in the trade packages, I didn't mention him in the roster my second 416 00:24:45,839 --> 00:24:51,160 rounders. Did they give up to draft him twelve thirteen? Like it just 417 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:55,119 it hurts me because he seems like a really good kid, and he does 418 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:59,519 seem like someone who is trying nothing infuriates me more than you know a player 419 00:24:59,559 --> 00:25:03,640 who kind of gives up on himself and his team allah Ben Simmons. But 420 00:25:03,079 --> 00:25:07,400 it's just not working. I think that both sides need to change. I 421 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:10,279 think, you know, Casey will be much better off somewhere else. If 422 00:25:10,279 --> 00:25:14,400 you even look at what Precious has done so far in Toronto, it's a 423 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:17,200 better fit. And he was not looking good for us. So I hope 424 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:18,759 we can find a way to move him. And it's nothing against him. 425 00:25:18,799 --> 00:25:22,720 I just I want him to develop more, and I just I don't want 426 00:25:22,799 --> 00:25:26,559 him to take up a spot on our roster anymore. But it's okay that 427 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:30,240 UD takes up a spot and doesn't. Oh absolutely, you d has a 428 00:25:30,279 --> 00:25:34,640 spot for as long as he wants. That man is a staple and he's 429 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:38,000 not. To me, it's crazy that people are like, we're taking up 430 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:44,039 a Roster's like, he does more for this team probably than a lot of 431 00:25:44,079 --> 00:25:47,200 the coaching staff at this point, just because he's been ingrained in that culture 432 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:49,160 for so long. Then put him on the coaching staff. I can't. 433 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:52,680 But he doesn't want to be a coach, which I don't really I that's 434 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:56,640 the part. I don't really get you're already coaching the guys you're barely playing, 435 00:25:56,680 --> 00:25:59,559 like, may as well make the transition. Just yeah him as a 436 00:25:59,599 --> 00:26:03,599 coaching him wear warm ups instead of like whatever coaching office there. I'm very 437 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,920 much don't you know, if you want to trade Kzy, don't want him 438 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:08,720 on the roster, fine, but like there's clearly someone who doesn't belong on 439 00:26:08,759 --> 00:26:12,799 any of I think you're only the second person i've heard say this, what 440 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:18,160 that you'd rather like not you d have a spot on a roster that I 441 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:21,519 really I thought that would just be like the sweeping to like I get, 442 00:26:21,559 --> 00:26:26,240 I get there's value in like the emotional aspect that he can bring to a 443 00:26:26,279 --> 00:26:30,119 team. You don't need to be taking up a roster spot to do that. 444 00:26:30,799 --> 00:26:33,119 I wonder though, for them if like they don't, if they're just 445 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:37,440 kind of looking at it more as if he goes, part of the culture 446 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:41,319 dies because he is that like the last remaining from like the old school mentality, 447 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:44,920 and I think Riley really does value that, So I don't. I 448 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,480 don't know. Every year people are like, oh, this is year, 449 00:26:47,519 --> 00:26:48,880 and then Udi's like, no, it's not. I'm still around. So 450 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,839 I'm fine with it. Stay as long as you want good, let me 451 00:26:52,839 --> 00:26:56,759 make clear good for you. D I just I don't think it's the smartest 452 00:26:56,799 --> 00:26:59,599 like franchise decision. I don't think it's crippling. But if you're sitting here 453 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:02,440 talking about, like, you know, should Kazy be on the roster? 454 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:03,160 I think it's fair to be like, well, should you do then be 455 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:07,000 on the roster. But then you don't have culture moments like when you have 456 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:11,759 Kyle and Jimmy Butler. Yeah, but he put his finger in Dwight Howard's 457 00:27:11,759 --> 00:27:14,119 face, and I now have that on a T shirt, Like I can't 458 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:17,920 not have that T shirt. That's the most convincing argument that I've heard yet 459 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:22,079 to keep him the roster. So there you go. Their defense should just 460 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:25,960 be flames. I don't like, I don't even even during I don't view 461 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:26,599 them as like this. And we'll get into this a little bit. I 462 00:27:26,599 --> 00:27:30,720 don't few them as like this super dangerous regular season team because they're very much 463 00:27:30,759 --> 00:27:33,160 built for the playoffs, and I think they'll care about let's get in the 464 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:37,200 top six, avoid the play in but I don't think they're gonna go fullball 465 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:41,039 after your home court advantage. That being said, even with me thinking that 466 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:44,319 I feel like their defense is gonna be absolutely spectacular. Where do you think 467 00:27:44,319 --> 00:27:47,599 they sort of wind up ranking in the context of the rest of the league. 468 00:27:48,759 --> 00:27:52,319 It better be top five, I mean, from from what I see, 469 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:59,400 I mean, I somewhat agree with you on the playoffs stand although because 470 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:00,599 they have a chick up on their shoulder, I kind of feel like they 471 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:03,960 want to dominate the regular season and the playoffs if that's possible. Like, 472 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:07,119 I feel like they're just gonna shoot for the stars, but we better be 473 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:11,599 top five because if there's anything besides the fact that our identity is so tough 474 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:15,920 coming out of this roster, it is our defense, and top five is 475 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:18,160 just I guess I'm like sort of thinking, like, are they gonna play 476 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:22,160 Kyle Lowry all the time? Play PJ Talker all the time? And then 477 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:25,359 I guess I would be just more because I'm like, what does the second 478 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:26,880 unit defense kind of look like when you're playing a bunch of those guys. 479 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:30,720 Demon was fine for them last year, but we're like two three seasons removed 480 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:36,079 from Dwyane Deman being really good. I still think they're like floor is tenth. 481 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:38,599 I'm just like I d I landed I think at seventh or eighth when 482 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:41,079 I went through it, I think I might just been being too conservative about 483 00:28:41,839 --> 00:28:45,440 who I think is gonna play during the regular season or how much they care 484 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:48,680 about it. I think Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry are just wired to care 485 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:52,599 if they're gonna play. I'm just curious, Like it's tough for me to 486 00:28:52,599 --> 00:28:55,440 get a feel for how committed to the regular season this team is going to 487 00:28:55,519 --> 00:28:57,960 be and if they are going after it. I'm just gonna be in the 488 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:02,400 back of my mind a little terror fied, Like is Tucker or Lowry or 489 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:04,279 Butler just gonna be too tired when the games start to matter even more? 490 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:07,720 Yeah, I mean I think that's fair. I also think that again, 491 00:29:07,759 --> 00:29:11,119 because we are pretty revamped, it's gonna be kind of a combination of all 492 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:15,079 these new guys coming coming together with their own personal chips. But I think 493 00:29:15,119 --> 00:29:18,960 the chip is there on literally every guy's shoulder. I think Tyler wants to 494 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:22,960 prove himself too, which I think is going to be huge. So I'm 495 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:25,480 just gonna go all go all in and say top five. I'm not I'm 496 00:29:25,519 --> 00:29:29,359 not even usually the girl with like these crazy hot takes like I'm usually pretty 497 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:30,759 realistic, but like, I'm just gonna aim for the stars on this one. 498 00:29:30,839 --> 00:29:33,279 Well, I mean, you could tell me they finished first inn like 499 00:29:33,279 --> 00:29:37,440 that wouldn't shock me. Just based on their personnel, that's f I am 500 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:40,079 curious to see, Like are they gonna just given the defenders they have now, 501 00:29:40,119 --> 00:29:42,279 Like, are they still gonna be running all this zone. Maybe that's 502 00:29:42,279 --> 00:29:45,799 a way to like sort of conserve their energy, and I know Spoke kind 503 00:29:45,799 --> 00:29:48,160 of loves that. But they'll be fascinating. So they could be the best 504 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:51,839 defensive team in the league if they want to be. I just don't know 505 00:29:51,839 --> 00:29:53,480 if they're going to be incentivized to be. I just I would not want 506 00:29:53,519 --> 00:29:57,079 to face this team if everyone's playing you're on the second night of a back 507 00:29:57,119 --> 00:30:00,640 to back in January, maybe you're on the road two and used to go 508 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:03,599 up against like the Heat starting lineup. That's just like, if I'm a 509 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:06,240 Star, I'm dipping from that game. I'm just you know what, I 510 00:30:06,279 --> 00:30:10,559 need a rest night. Yeah, And I mean I think that, you 511 00:30:10,599 --> 00:30:14,519 know, that's what type of team pat Riley wants. Like this, I've 512 00:30:14,519 --> 00:30:17,799 been saying this. I feel like this is the closest to Heat identity we've 513 00:30:17,799 --> 00:30:21,200 had in a long time. There have been bits and pieces along the way. 514 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:23,160 I think Jimmy's a great culture guy, but I think as a whole 515 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:26,039 we've kind of lost our identity in these past like two three years, and 516 00:30:26,079 --> 00:30:33,119 I think it's fully back now. Does this team have enough shooting? I 517 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:37,640 sure hope. So what's interesting about this team to me is I don't think 518 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:41,880 that you can pinpoint from one night to the next who's going to be the 519 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:45,400 top scorer. I think there's people who you can probably guess, and there's 520 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:48,160 probably like a running list of three four guys that are rotating. But I 521 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:53,119 really think they're playing team ball this season, which I mean is exciting. 522 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:56,480 And the fact that you know, God forbid, but injuries do happen. 523 00:30:56,599 --> 00:31:00,079 Guys need rest. I also think that's super helpful for you know, the 524 00:31:00,119 --> 00:31:06,480 position of defenders not really knowing who's going to go off. So I think 525 00:31:06,519 --> 00:31:08,359 if you're looking at it kind of guy by guy, Yeah, the shooting 526 00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:11,920 might be questionable, but the fact that on any given night anyone can step 527 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:15,200 up, I think is going to be huge. And I also think that's 528 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:18,559 probably where Kyle Lowry helps out the most, is that the heat were. 529 00:31:18,759 --> 00:31:22,200 I think they were twenty second in the frequency with which they took above the 530 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:26,000 break threes as a percentage of their shots. That is something that he can 531 00:31:26,039 --> 00:31:30,039 remedy. I'm just curious, like from a pure and I you know you 532 00:31:30,079 --> 00:31:32,960 mentioned it. They could definitely have different leading scores from night tonight, which 533 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:36,759 means that their offense could sort of come through different operations. But once you 534 00:31:36,799 --> 00:31:40,799 get past like Lowry, you have Duncan Robinson, you can probably count on 535 00:31:40,839 --> 00:31:44,200 PJ. Tucker to hit some corner threes and then Tyler Heroes. Fine, 536 00:31:45,039 --> 00:31:48,079 it almost feels like they need like another player, like whether it's Max Strus 537 00:31:48,279 --> 00:31:51,440 or is this the year that wasn't Gabe Vincent, like yo here for his 538 00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:55,000 shooting in the first place, Like maybe this is the year that comes together 539 00:31:55,039 --> 00:31:57,359 for him. It feels like they need another player to sort of pop from 540 00:31:57,400 --> 00:32:01,440 three point range to really maximize their offense because and I guess that'd be My 541 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:05,799 next question is like I don't there's a pathway to this team being like a 542 00:32:05,839 --> 00:32:08,039 top ten or twelve offensive team, but I kind of expect him to be 543 00:32:08,079 --> 00:32:10,839 more like even as good as they are, like in that fifteen to twenty 544 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:16,880 range because I'm so iffy on like their general rotations floor space and maybe not 545 00:32:16,920 --> 00:32:21,720 of the best lineups, but just the rotation at large. Yeah, I 546 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:23,880 think that definitely is a concern, But for me, it's actually more so 547 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:29,240 of a concern of Housepo utilizes guys, and I'm not trying to criticize him. 548 00:32:29,279 --> 00:32:30,640 He's an elite coach. He's done a great job. I actually think 549 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:36,079 that he didn't get enough credit during the Big Three era, But just lately 550 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,599 it's like he has tunnel vision and he can't pivot and it drives me nuts. 551 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:42,440 I think it's gonna be Max trus So I think to your point, 552 00:32:42,559 --> 00:32:47,799 someone else needs to step up. I am more willing to bet that Max 553 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:53,119 gets more minutes and he has a higher kind of volume shooting year than Gabe, 554 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:57,000 especially after Gabe's comments of not, you know, necessarily wanting to be 555 00:32:57,039 --> 00:33:00,279 looked at as a shooter, but more so a traditional point guard. Maybe 556 00:33:00,359 --> 00:33:02,960 you know that is the one thing that we're missing at the trade deadline, 557 00:33:04,039 --> 00:33:07,319 is not necessarily a big name, but kind of an undiscovered star who can 558 00:33:07,359 --> 00:33:13,880 just empty the clip when we need him to. Yeah, look I will, 559 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:16,359 I'm I'm gonna sound an alarm every time Max Drews hits an off the 560 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:20,240 dribble three pointer, because I think he's gonna take. He took like seven 561 00:33:20,319 --> 00:33:22,640 or something of them last year. I think I'm gonna smash the over on 562 00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:27,319 that, assuming he gets mints, which I like you think that he will. 563 00:33:27,799 --> 00:33:30,920 So, whether it's harping on a specific position or just skill set, 564 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:37,799 what is this team's overall biggest weakness. I would probably say rebounding, and 565 00:33:37,839 --> 00:33:43,079 I think that it's not gonna be, hopefully as bad as people think it 566 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:45,640 is, but I do think it's something to keep in mind. I just 567 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:49,119 think that some guys are gonna have to step out of their comfort zone a 568 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:52,720 little bit and help on that side a little more. Hopefully, though, 569 00:33:52,759 --> 00:33:55,799 if Bam is more aggressive, that can definitely help out. I think even 570 00:33:55,960 --> 00:34:00,079 Lowry's defense is better. I think Tyler is going to be more helpful at 571 00:34:00,119 --> 00:34:02,720 Arena two. But I am just a little bit concerned about our size, 572 00:34:02,759 --> 00:34:07,960 because you know, if you're thinking about going against the Bucks, I don't 573 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:13,119 really see what what we've done to change that, except for you know, 574 00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:17,960 maybe adding PJ. I think that we're definitely gonna struggle against guys like Jannis 575 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,400 and teams like the Bucks. But I hopefully don't think it's going to be 576 00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:24,239 as bad as kind of I'm feeling. Yeah, I think the rebound is 577 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:29,280 a really fair concern. If there's any consolation. Kyle Lowrys has only ranked 578 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:32,800 lower than the seventieth percentile as a defensive rebounder in his position once in his 579 00:34:32,880 --> 00:34:36,199 career, so I think he wants to get the ball, get out and 580 00:34:36,239 --> 00:34:38,480 go, and PJ. Tucker will at least box out, which is probably 581 00:34:38,519 --> 00:34:42,679 like a novelty for a heat forward at this point. So maybe that helps. 582 00:34:42,719 --> 00:34:45,800 But that's a fair like you Bam has never been like that dominant guy 583 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:47,800 on the glass, and even though he's a true big, like he's not 584 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:52,039 big was he's six nine like it in hues right, So yeah, that'll 585 00:34:52,079 --> 00:34:54,400 be interesting to see how that plays out. I think some people will harp 586 00:34:54,440 --> 00:34:58,679 on their lack of shot blocking, at least on paper. I just when 587 00:34:58,679 --> 00:35:00,559 you look at the way that SPO likes to defend, and then just the 588 00:35:00,639 --> 00:35:05,079 type of the defenders that they have, I can't bring myself to care about 589 00:35:05,079 --> 00:35:07,320 the number of blocks that Yeah, that's just not something. I mean, 590 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:12,559 what are we back in the Hassan white Side days where he's like trying to 591 00:35:12,639 --> 00:35:15,280 lead. I mean, it's just and listen, I actually I think Hassan's 592 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:19,280 fun. I think he's just an overgrown child. I think people expected too 593 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:21,519 much of him. He is who he is. But like, I don't 594 00:35:21,519 --> 00:35:24,599 think we necessarily need to like be top five or even even top ten really 595 00:35:24,639 --> 00:35:28,400 in blocks, that's just not the game that we're playing. Yeah, the 596 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:30,800 Hassan Whiteside felt a little entitled at one point, evere me the wrong way. 597 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:35,119 But yeah, as soon as you sign that contract, if you don't 598 00:35:35,159 --> 00:35:37,639 play the way that like people expect you to, like, everyone just views 599 00:35:37,679 --> 00:35:42,280 you differently. And I'm with like his not so much anymore. But like 600 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:45,920 his snapchats were like a breath of fresh air. We were hilarious. He 601 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:49,719 was my favorite snap follow honestly, probably of all time. Like I don't 602 00:35:49,719 --> 00:35:52,679 know if anyone ranks higher. Maybe Benny the Bowl because they were they were 603 00:35:52,719 --> 00:35:55,480 doing some good things with that campaign, but like for a while there, 604 00:35:55,599 --> 00:35:59,400 Hassan just yeah, he took he took the leaderboard on that one, and 605 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:01,760 like I don't, I just he is who he is. I think the 606 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:06,159 money definitely played a big part of it. But like that's good for him, 607 00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:08,840 Like anyone's gonna want to get paid. Oh, I'm very pro players 608 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:12,679 getting paid. I just if teams are stupid, like team I don't even 609 00:36:12,719 --> 00:36:15,880 know that that was stupid what he did, Like he played really well. 610 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:19,400 It just felt like, I don't know, we shouldn't go through that heat. 611 00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:21,880 Ever, they made a bunch of questionable decisions then. But yeah, 612 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:24,960 his snapchat was I never really used snapchat, but he would always pop up 613 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:29,119 like people would record it. Didn't he announced that he like resigned with the 614 00:36:29,119 --> 00:36:32,000 Heat via snapchat too. Wasn't that something? Yeah? Yeah, And he's 615 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:36,280 just known from mispelling everything. He had like a whole thing of Koi fish 616 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:38,440 in his house, like he he would record what his chef was cooking. 617 00:36:38,440 --> 00:36:42,079 It was just like a day in the life every day if Hassan Whiteside. 618 00:36:42,280 --> 00:36:44,280 Yeah, And it was like, look, I couldn't stand d white Howard 619 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:45,599 basically even at his peak, and like I always found a sun white Side 620 00:36:45,599 --> 00:36:49,559 at least tolerable off the court. And look now that he's on a minimum 621 00:36:49,559 --> 00:36:52,920 deal on a really good team, I bet you there's like an Assan Whiteside 622 00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:55,559 appreciation resurgence because he's Rudy Gobert's back up, and that team will probably be 623 00:36:55,599 --> 00:37:00,000 really good when he's when as on Whiteside on the court, not Hassan Whiteside 624 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:05,800 podcast apparently though, that's what I'm being told at the moment. So you 625 00:37:05,840 --> 00:37:07,880 already mentioned the crunch time lineup, and it is to some extent, or 626 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:10,880 maybe to a huge extent, matchup dependent for this team. But if you 627 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:14,199 had to pick a go to crunch time lineup, what would it be? 628 00:37:15,159 --> 00:37:17,840 I really just think it's our starters plus Tyler. So I have, you 629 00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:25,679 know, Kyle, Jimmy Bam Tyler, and see I don't. I'm going 630 00:37:25,679 --> 00:37:31,159 with PJ personally just because of his defense, just because he has that championship 631 00:37:31,199 --> 00:37:36,599 experience. Now, I think I believe more in PJ than anyone else. 632 00:37:36,880 --> 00:37:38,679 And maybe it's foolish and I might change my mind a week into the season, 633 00:37:39,599 --> 00:37:43,400 but that's what I see happening. I to your point, do hope 634 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:46,719 though, that it's dependent on not only the matchup but how things are going 635 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:51,599 for us. I also have to say that I feel like if Duncan is 636 00:37:51,679 --> 00:37:53,639 hot and he's kind of on a streak, pulling him might not be the 637 00:37:53,679 --> 00:37:58,960 best idea, even if necessarily I still think Tyler is a better closer, 638 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:02,800 So I think it really depends on how Duncan's looking too. I agree with 639 00:38:02,840 --> 00:38:06,960 everything you said. My preference would be that if Tyler here is going to 640 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:08,480 be in the closing lineup, I'd be yanking Pja Talker over Duncan Robins. 641 00:38:08,519 --> 00:38:13,159 I'm in love with Duncan Robinson. I just can can they coexist? Though? 642 00:38:13,159 --> 00:38:15,800 Because that's my problem, Like Tyler and Duncan together make me nervous, 643 00:38:16,519 --> 00:38:19,679 which is fair, But aren't we at the point where, like you need 644 00:38:19,719 --> 00:38:22,639 to find out if they could co existence you kind of build your future around 645 00:38:22,639 --> 00:38:24,360 that. It's like the Spurs with Derek White and Deshante Murray. It's like, 646 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:28,280 these dudes need to play together a bunch at some point. Might as 647 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:30,840 well just make it now. And also, what better way to sort of 648 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:32,760 in my mind, have both of them in the lineup than if you have 649 00:38:32,920 --> 00:38:37,360 Bam, Jimmy and Kyle Lowry. Is like the three like defensive pieces around 650 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:40,360 them. Yeah, no, that's fair, And I do think that in 651 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:45,320 the past SPO has been kind of hesitant to play certain guys together. I 652 00:38:45,360 --> 00:38:50,239 think we saw precious and Bam on the court once for like three minutes a 653 00:38:50,280 --> 00:38:52,119 whole season, and that was crazy to me that we didn't try that more 654 00:38:52,159 --> 00:38:55,639 either, considering like it was kind of make it or break it for Precious. 655 00:38:55,679 --> 00:39:00,400 He was looking awful, so why not at least try So that is 656 00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:01,679 kind of a good point and I do wonder if he's going to do that. 657 00:39:02,960 --> 00:39:07,599 Yeah, man, pressure Shichia is really gaining momentum in Toronto. I 658 00:39:07,599 --> 00:39:10,639 think people have him getting minutes now over kem Birch as like the backup big 659 00:39:10,639 --> 00:39:15,079 once they're fully healthy and like Samouche are both on the court, which is 660 00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:19,320 what he was on. The heat is wild, like it's sometimes you just 661 00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:22,880 need an environment change and that's all it takes. And I you know this 662 00:39:22,920 --> 00:39:25,920 is a cliche, but the culture and the fit and the organization, it's 663 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:30,920 not for everyone. Like sometimes it just doesn't work and guys thrive somewhere else. 664 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:34,239 And that's okay again for me, as long as I'm seeing that you're 665 00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:37,360 like showing effort, you did your best. It just it wasn't a good 666 00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:39,119 fit. And I'm happy for him, and I'm also you know, I'm 667 00:39:39,159 --> 00:39:43,360 happy that Goren's there because maybe at least like he has kind of someone who 668 00:39:43,440 --> 00:39:46,639 saw his development and is there still rooting for him. Is Goren happy he's 669 00:39:46,679 --> 00:39:51,519 there though? Absolutely not. Gorn wants to get back to Miami as soon 670 00:39:51,559 --> 00:39:53,519 as possible, and I'm I'm telling you he's going to be back next year. 671 00:39:53,559 --> 00:39:55,800 Goren's back. I don't know how it happens, but it's happening. 672 00:39:57,280 --> 00:40:00,239 It's gonna be in Andrea Godala with the Warriors type situation. Takes one or 673 00:40:00,239 --> 00:40:02,840 two year sabbatical from them and then returns. I could see that. That's 674 00:40:02,880 --> 00:40:06,360 what I'm putting down. I will say I wouldn't count on him to be 675 00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:08,480 drawn a long term. That is a franchise that can win him over though, 676 00:40:08,559 --> 00:40:12,000 just based off and they even when he said he didn't want to be 677 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:14,760 there, they sent him like a swag package. And I think that he's 678 00:40:14,800 --> 00:40:16,440 slowly come around. It would not shock me. I think most people expect 679 00:40:16,480 --> 00:40:20,360 him to either get bought out or traded. If I had a pick right 680 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:22,719 now, I would almost expect him to finish the season there, so long 681 00:40:22,840 --> 00:40:25,400 term totally agree with you. Yeah, I just think Toronto is like a 682 00:40:25,480 --> 00:40:30,480 very underrated franchise from the outside that people don't realize the lengths to which they 683 00:40:30,559 --> 00:40:34,800 go to really like make their players feel at home. No, I agree, 684 00:40:34,840 --> 00:40:37,199 And to be honest, if we're really going into this, like Toronto 685 00:40:37,280 --> 00:40:39,639 is a great city too, so and I think for him and his family 686 00:40:39,679 --> 00:40:43,480 that's probably important. I think, obviously he wants to be in Dallas. 687 00:40:43,519 --> 00:40:46,000 I don't think that's you know, a secret, but I could see him 688 00:40:46,000 --> 00:40:50,239 remaining there too. I just I think he comes back to Miami. I 689 00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:52,880 get why he wants to be in Dallas, but knowing that Jason Kidd is 690 00:40:52,920 --> 00:40:54,360 the head coach, I have no idea why he wants to be in Dallas 691 00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:59,199 at the same time is there. And look, he kind of spent a 692 00:40:59,239 --> 00:41:00,760 good part of this posing that you don't think Bow is creative enough. So 693 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:04,719 maybe this is You're Eric Splosti right now. You're the head coach of the 694 00:41:04,719 --> 00:41:07,119 Heat. You get to put out any lineup that you want. It doesn't 695 00:41:07,119 --> 00:41:09,440 need to work. It can be chaos, but you need to see what 696 00:41:09,519 --> 00:41:13,679 happens. What is the lineup that you're rolling with. I'm just doing like 697 00:41:13,679 --> 00:41:20,239 an all dogs lineup, So I got like Kyle Jimmy, I don't know, 698 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:22,880 do I put Bam in there. I don't know if I put BAM 699 00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:27,039 in there. Honestly, Pj's in there, U D's in there, Babe. 700 00:41:27,039 --> 00:41:30,960 Just throw Deadman in there. Oh okay, okay, yeah, Like 701 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:36,360 that's just like my chaotic lineup. There's something about Deadman that like he came 702 00:41:36,440 --> 00:41:38,920 in and instantly clicked, Like it literally took one game and he was like, 703 00:41:38,920 --> 00:41:40,840 oh, I'm here, I'm part of this team. I love it 704 00:41:40,880 --> 00:41:45,440 here. I'm totally bought in. And I just think that he is so 705 00:41:45,599 --> 00:41:47,039 underrated. I know he's not going to give us that much, but just 706 00:41:47,079 --> 00:41:52,039 from like a personality and identity standpoint, but if we could just like go 707 00:41:52,280 --> 00:41:55,519 all in on a dog's fight it out lineup, like for sure, so 708 00:41:55,639 --> 00:42:00,639 mine was I basically want four guards plus Bam, So Jimmy Butler, Oladipos 709 00:42:00,639 --> 00:42:04,760 when he's healthy, Kyle Lowry and then Tyler Hero. That's just see what 710 00:42:04,800 --> 00:42:07,719 happens that lineup. That lineup might be able to do if Ala Deepo is 711 00:42:07,760 --> 00:42:10,199 healthy. Like, I don't have a problem with Jimmy Butler having a guard 712 00:42:10,239 --> 00:42:14,039 up, Like there's a chance that they're good on both ends of the floor, 713 00:42:14,079 --> 00:42:15,599 which I think when Jimmy Butler is not a guard, but he can 714 00:42:15,639 --> 00:42:19,679 play a guard. When you build those types of lineups, you normally expect 715 00:42:19,679 --> 00:42:23,079 them to be defensive sieves. I look at it and I'm like Oladipo, 716 00:42:23,239 --> 00:42:29,639 Lowry Butler not Yeah no, that that could still definitely work the pace there 717 00:42:29,639 --> 00:42:32,199 would frighten me a little bit for Depot. I just I'm like on edge 718 00:42:32,199 --> 00:42:36,159 about Depot constantly, and I feel like every game I watch with him, 719 00:42:36,159 --> 00:42:37,960 I'm just gonna be sitting there like, please don't get injured. I just 720 00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:42,519 think that he's gone through so much, but that would be fun to watch 721 00:42:42,559 --> 00:42:45,639 it. I actually think heat Twitter would love that. You know, the 722 00:42:45,679 --> 00:42:47,440 best way to probably preserve Victor old deppos to actually make sure he doesn't play 723 00:42:47,480 --> 00:42:52,719 with Kyle Lowry that the pace is not there. And this is you mentioned 724 00:42:52,719 --> 00:42:55,079 this before desert something really quickly. I think Kyle Lowry, like is this 725 00:42:55,199 --> 00:43:00,159 great culture buffer for them where he brings a levity along with sort of blending 726 00:43:00,159 --> 00:43:05,559 that Jimmy Butler three am workout mentality, Like he's the middle ground because I 727 00:43:05,599 --> 00:43:07,440 know Jimmy Butler, like we've seen clips of him having fun, but he's 728 00:43:07,480 --> 00:43:10,920 like a I would say a lot more no nonsense. Then Kyle Lowry where 729 00:43:12,239 --> 00:43:15,280 or if people don't align with how Jimmy we saw at Minnesota, if people 730 00:43:15,320 --> 00:43:19,039 don't align with his work ethic like he's he's very much not going to mess 731 00:43:19,119 --> 00:43:22,199 with them. I feel like Kyle Lowry is like sort of that good in 732 00:43:22,239 --> 00:43:24,519 between and if anything that and I think we've seen whatever the moment was they 733 00:43:24,559 --> 00:43:29,400 make up of Mark Keith Morris dribbling like an idiot and transition the other day. 734 00:43:29,679 --> 00:43:31,599 So I'm actually I think that that's you know, we talk about u 735 00:43:31,639 --> 00:43:36,519 D's value off the court, I think that's huge to have Kyle Lowry sort 736 00:43:36,559 --> 00:43:39,079 of in that buffer type role for their culture. No for sure. And 737 00:43:39,079 --> 00:43:43,960 I also think and I mentioned that this earlier, but no one's going to 738 00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:46,880 tell Jimmy to shut up or stop doing the most except for Kyle, and 739 00:43:46,960 --> 00:43:51,960 Jimmy's never had that. I think even when Jimmy was with you know, 740 00:43:52,119 --> 00:43:55,079 Wade, he respected him and Wade was kind of a mentor, but it 741 00:43:55,159 --> 00:44:00,519 still wasn't the same. His just his identity and his personality is not match 742 00:44:00,639 --> 00:44:05,599 Kyle's. And I do think to a to an extent, Kyle is just 743 00:44:05,760 --> 00:44:09,800 as you know, kind of like harsh and severe as Jimmy, but Jimmy's 744 00:44:09,880 --> 00:44:14,440 crazier and Kyle called him crazy already in a good way. But I do 745 00:44:14,519 --> 00:44:17,079 think that Kyle is kind of the guy that could help Jimmy come down a 746 00:44:17,119 --> 00:44:22,320 little bit, kind of at his peak of maybe rage or disappointment or you 747 00:44:22,320 --> 00:44:25,480 know, just not feeling like other guys are up to his standards because they 748 00:44:25,559 --> 00:44:29,559 might not be. Jimmy is one of one, and this team can be 749 00:44:29,960 --> 00:44:32,599 as hard working as they can, but Jimmy's still going to be a level 750 00:44:32,639 --> 00:44:37,199 above. And I do think Kyle is the perfect buffer. This is not 751 00:44:37,239 --> 00:44:39,239 a comment on Jimmy Butler the player. Off the court. Jimmy Butler the 752 00:44:39,280 --> 00:44:43,719 basketball player is a fucking sociopath. Oh and I love it. And the 753 00:44:44,239 --> 00:44:46,559 coffee shop owner Jimmy Butler's a sociopath too when you look at these places. 754 00:44:46,599 --> 00:44:50,960 That's what I'm saying, Like he's absolutely one of one, Like there's no 755 00:44:51,079 --> 00:44:53,239 other guy on the court or off the court like him in the league. 756 00:44:53,360 --> 00:44:58,320 Fun fact that actually picked this apartment unit because it's his birthday, Like it's 757 00:44:58,440 --> 00:45:00,280 nine to one four. I'm just I'm there something about Jimmy Butler. I'm 758 00:45:00,280 --> 00:45:02,880 obsessed with and I just I hope he stays in mind me for as long 759 00:45:02,920 --> 00:45:07,840 as possible, or that is talk about being an inspiration, Jimmy Butler impacting 760 00:45:07,840 --> 00:45:13,280 Where you're going to live. This team's over under as we record this is 761 00:45:13,320 --> 00:45:16,000 set at forty eight point five. Would you go over or under on that 762 00:45:16,039 --> 00:45:19,920 win total? And where do you see them stacking up in the larger context 763 00:45:19,920 --> 00:45:22,400 of the East. I had them at like forty eight or forty nine, 764 00:45:22,480 --> 00:45:25,480 so right around there that the lines are good, right yeah, I mean, 765 00:45:27,119 --> 00:45:30,239 like again, it's very dependent on depot and if we make other moves 766 00:45:31,000 --> 00:45:36,159 going okay, So before preseason I had them sitting at third, and as 767 00:45:36,199 --> 00:45:39,679 preseason went on, between that and the Kyrie Irving mess, they might take 768 00:45:39,800 --> 00:45:45,239 second. I don't have as much faith in Brooklyn right now. I think 769 00:45:45,280 --> 00:45:49,320 it's become a circus. I know that they put their foot down about Kyrie 770 00:45:49,360 --> 00:45:51,239 not being able to play, which I think it was the right move, 771 00:45:51,320 --> 00:45:54,199 if only from the perspective of not being in limbo. But I don't know, 772 00:45:54,360 --> 00:45:58,159 we were looking good in preseason. There's all that hoopla happening there. 773 00:45:58,280 --> 00:46:00,199 I still just am cautiously going to with them third but I do think they 774 00:46:00,199 --> 00:46:06,559 could sneak into second. If you tell me Victor Oladipo plays in let's say 775 00:46:06,599 --> 00:46:08,559 forty two games, so more than half the season, and looks relatively well, 776 00:46:08,840 --> 00:46:13,280 I could see a pathway to them like cracking the top three. I 777 00:46:13,360 --> 00:46:15,880 just and I've already mentioned the podcast, I just don't see them caring enough 778 00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:17,199 like I have them probably in like the four or five six range, And 779 00:46:17,199 --> 00:46:22,079 I went under reluctantly because I do have questions about their depth and if Oladipo 780 00:46:22,159 --> 00:46:24,400 doesn't play a ton. That being said, if this team is really invested 781 00:46:24,480 --> 00:46:28,920 in the regular season and then stays relatively healthy, I think when you look 782 00:46:28,960 --> 00:46:31,960 at teams that could maybe crash the top two of the East, where as 783 00:46:32,039 --> 00:46:35,880 of now, I still think it's the Bucks and Nets are givens. If 784 00:46:35,880 --> 00:46:38,239 there's a team that can displace one of them, and my guests would be 785 00:46:38,400 --> 00:46:43,239 it's Brooklyn at this point gets displaced, it's Atlanta or Miami. For me, 786 00:46:43,360 --> 00:46:45,760 I think, like I thought about Boston a little bit, but no, 787 00:46:45,599 --> 00:46:49,719 So that's a but. I just I have a tough time believing that 788 00:46:49,719 --> 00:46:52,800 this team is going to be like go go go all regular season. See 789 00:46:52,880 --> 00:46:54,840 I don't know what it is about Atlanta, and I love Treyong, and 790 00:46:54,880 --> 00:47:00,239 I just I think a lot of their culture embodies a little bit of the 791 00:47:00,280 --> 00:47:04,360 Heat, and I think they're a great organization. I just feel like they've 792 00:47:04,360 --> 00:47:07,119 benefited from the Asterix year. And I know people are going to come after 793 00:47:07,159 --> 00:47:08,199 me for this, and they're gonna keep saying, like, stop calling it 794 00:47:08,280 --> 00:47:12,239 that. There's just something about last year. I just don't see them doing 795 00:47:12,239 --> 00:47:16,639 as well. I think that just like the Heat honestly thrived in the bubble 796 00:47:16,639 --> 00:47:21,239 because it was for them, something about last year just lined the Hawks up 797 00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:22,800 better. So I actually I don't know. I don't think they're going to 798 00:47:22,880 --> 00:47:27,440 come close to us. I think if Philly figures it out, I see 799 00:47:27,440 --> 00:47:30,920 Philly maybe being in fourth after don't see Philly being in fourth then, because 800 00:47:30,039 --> 00:47:34,280 they're definitely not figuring that. I mean, listen, I don't want them 801 00:47:34,280 --> 00:47:37,920 to. I can't stand MBAD. I think that organization is dumpster fire at 802 00:47:37,920 --> 00:47:40,719 this point. But I think that if by some luck they do, they're 803 00:47:40,719 --> 00:47:44,000 going to be in fourth. But I hope it's at Lanta because I'd rather 804 00:47:44,039 --> 00:47:47,400 Atlanta than Philly. I think it's okay to call last year in Asterix season. 805 00:47:47,559 --> 00:47:52,760 But like the Hawks had so many injuries themselves were and Reddish and Badanovitch 806 00:47:52,800 --> 00:47:55,960 and Gallo were all like they just all weren't available at the same time, 807 00:47:57,000 --> 00:48:00,519 and they still went that far, which is why I'm so high on them. 808 00:48:00,559 --> 00:48:02,119 Back to the Heat, though, is there anything I did not ask 809 00:48:02,159 --> 00:48:06,079 you about that you think needs to be covered for this team? No, 810 00:48:06,280 --> 00:48:08,679 I mean, I think this was pretty comprehensive. I'm super excited. I 811 00:48:08,719 --> 00:48:13,800 think that we are re energized, and I think, actually, if there 812 00:48:13,920 --> 00:48:16,639 is one thing people don't talk enough about, it's the fact that we were 813 00:48:16,679 --> 00:48:21,039 exhausted, we were done. We I think, you know, I don't 814 00:48:21,039 --> 00:48:23,199 think these guys ever stop loving the game of basketball. But Jimmy said it 815 00:48:23,280 --> 00:48:28,280 himself this summer he finally missed the game. I just think that it was 816 00:48:28,360 --> 00:48:31,280 too much, too soon, you know, between all the injuries and you 817 00:48:31,320 --> 00:48:35,320 know, guys having to deal with that, not having an off season, 818 00:48:35,880 --> 00:48:38,320 Guys like Precious and Casey didn't really get the chance to develop because there was 819 00:48:38,360 --> 00:48:42,960 no G League and there's no summer league. I think that is going to 820 00:48:43,039 --> 00:48:45,679 be such a huge factor for us that people don't really take into account. 821 00:48:45,760 --> 00:48:51,079 So I'm excited. I think they're re energized and I'm ready. Alana, 822 00:48:51,159 --> 00:48:52,840 this was great. Thank you for giving me so much of your time. 823 00:48:52,880 --> 00:48:54,880 Are you able to tell our listeners where they can follow you and all the 824 00:48:54,920 --> 00:48:59,239 work that you do. Yeah? Absolutely, It's just Alana Tahower on Twitter 825 00:48:59,280 --> 00:49:02,280 and Instagram A L L A N A t A c h a U e 826 00:49:02,480 --> 00:49:07,480 R. I am part of five Reason Sports. So right now we have 827 00:49:07,000 --> 00:49:10,360 me and my co host and Michael Christian have a Feel the Heat episode coming 828 00:49:10,400 --> 00:49:15,079 out on Tuesday morning. We record Monday nights and then Clutch Corner every Wednesday. 829 00:49:15,239 --> 00:49:19,480 So definitely a lot of content coming up, and it's good to finally 830 00:49:19,559 --> 00:49:22,599 talk about a team that's going to do well again. Once more. Thank 831 00:49:22,639 --> 00:49:24,440 you so much for coming on and give me so much of your time. 832 00:49:24,480 --> 00:49:27,880 This this was a blast, and I hope to talk to you again down 833 00:49:27,920 --> 00:49:29,559 the line. Yeah. Absolutely, thank you,