All about Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiize: Miami Heat 2019/2020

A fresh start, Miami Heat start NSL debut season with a very capable team. Let’s recap this preseason movements and try to predict where this Miami Heat team can take us in NSL.

NSL Draft:

Miami started the Draft on third overall. After Chicago Giannis and AD gone Miami choose future superstar Ben Simmons, one of the glitchiest players in 2k engine.With 6’10 and a lot of skills it’s pretty impossible for most point guards to guard him in this game. He is capable to play inside better than any center and set plays using his oversize advantage.

After this pick Miami drafted veterans like Nicolá Baton and DeAndre Jordan around young pieces like Mohamed Bamba and Thon Maker.They set direction to get players much size as possible at every position and this tactic paid off when they were capable to reach the semifinals in summer league this season.

Miami cruised their way in summer league led by Ben Simmons and Jordan. Simmons dominated at every category scoring pretty much 30 points and grabbing 10 rebounds per match. They crushed the almighty Pistons and Portland could barely hold their way to the finals.

Rookie Draft Day:

Miami took some time to guarantee their first round pick. They only got 18th pick and on Rookie draft night they got PJ Washington, a real good power forward with some room to improve but a lot of potential. In NBA PJ had a huge debut with 27 points! Washington set a franchise record for points by a rookie in a season opener, and his seven threes led the club on a night when they also set a new franchise record for made three-pointers in a regulation contest, going 23-for-44 (52.3 percent) from beyond the arc. Miami had a huge vision on this rookie draft.

On second round pick they were able to pick Dylan Windler, a wing guard shooter with tremendous size at this position. And if you talk about size you talk about Miami.

Transactions and movements:

In just few months Miami Heat did a couple moves in this off season.

Miami Heat sent their small forward to open space to their young tall wing Jonatan Isaac. A right choice. Norman Powell is a really good bench guard and a first round pick, even from a good team like the Sixers, is always welcome.

On October month Miami had another impacting move.

On this second deal Miami sent their backup point guard Kris Dunn with no hope of improvements for a defensive upgrade on an older young guard Elfrid Payton. Miami also sent two second round picks to the Blazers.

Payton addiction is amazing to Miami, giving more versatility to the roster. Elfrid also is one of the top players in this summer league in assists per game with nine assists per game.

The STARTING FIVE and Bench pieces:

Miami is trying to do their best to build around big players in every position.

DeAndre Jordan : The dunking machine big man will be a rebounding machine to this team. Jordan. He had a great summer league dunking pretty much everything. He finished the preseason leading the league in field goal percentage.Jordan also has a good contract and could give enough time to the young big man Mohamed Bamba to develop.

Thon Maker: The sudanese-australian got the starting position in Summer League. With 7’1 and great agility will be difficult to overcome for a good part of the league’s power forwards. And of course his kicking ability will be needed on any possible brawl.

Jonathan Isaac: Isaac is coming for his second year ready to become a capable starter in NSL.For now he is becoming an overall wing, shooting threes, quick hand hands on steals and vertical ability and great hands and good size to block shots. Is he able to develop in upcoming years?

Nicolas Batum: Another vereran in this starting lineup is the frenchman Nicolas Batum. Great shooter and yes…. Good size for this position. He can also play SF giving space to Elfrid to play alongside Simmons if necessary.

Ben Simmons: Miami’s major weapon is Ben Simmons. A 6’10 point guard is trouble in this 2k game and Miami knows it. This Summer League Simmons was able to be pretty much unstoppable against smaller defenders. Ben is also a nightmare on D giving no room to his opponent to shot. Few teams tried to switch their PGs to avoid him but with no success.

Bench: Starting with Elfrid Payton Miami have a capable bench to work around. Payton can play both guards positions but will play more minutes at 1 putting giving Simmons some minutes at 2 position. At forward positions the defensive veteran Marvin Williams is a good addiction despite the rumors saying his gm is trying to find a new destination to him with the ascension of PJ Washington. At center position to share some minutes with Jordan is Bamba. Powell, Chandler and Jackson complete the rotation is this deep roster with fire power.

Predictions: Miami Heat is more than ready for this debut season. After a great exhibition in Summer League, this team is more than capable to beat anyone with their capability to make miss matches everywhere on the floor. Simmons is pretty much impossible to guard at PG position, Jordan and Bamba are two towers inside and a bunch of good shooters around them only injuries can hold them to make at least the Conference Finals this year.