The Heat must innovate to return to the top of the NBA and celebrate Pat Riley

The Arison family, owners of the Carnival cruise ships and the Heat, decided to forever name Riley at the Kaseya Center in recognition of his extraordinary work with the club.

On October 23, in the Heat’s regular season opener against the Orlando Magic, the name of the distinguished manager will be unveiled.

The Heat owners have honored the president’s work and now it is the team’s turn to do the same. It won’t be easy.

For the 2024-25 campaign, the Heat only spent big by extending Bam Adebayo’s contract for $166 million and three years. He also retained Kevin Love, Haywood Highsmith and Thomas Bryant. Instead he let go important players like Caleb Martin, Jamal Cain, Patty Mills and Orlando Robinson. In addition, he did not sign the contract extension that his star Jimmy Butler wanted for $133 million and two years.

The Miami franchise opted for the NBA Draft and selected Ke’el Ware, Nikola Djurisic and Pelle Larsson.

Heat coach Eric Spoelstra’s own statements suggest that he himself realizes the limitations of the squad he has and resorts to the concept that will have to be invented this season to obtain good results.

“We need to improve, we need to innovate, we need to do some things subtly better,” commented the strategist. “There has to be a certain sophistication, we have to add a new way to bring out the best in everyone and everyone has to have that kind of intention to collaborate.”

Spoelstra does not usually provide information about what he proposes, but in the run-up to the new campaign he gave more than a hint of what his team will be like.

“I definitely intend to see what Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo can do,” the strategist announced. “I’m not talking about who will be the fifth starter, but I need these guys that I mentioned to jump on the court to see how each one complements each other and lifts the group.”

In the first game of the preseason, in the 11-108 loss against the Hornets at the Espectrum Center in Charlotte last Tuesday night, Spoelstra started with Butler, Adebayo and Rozier and the two other starters were Nikola Jovic and Burks.

Jovic is one of the candidates to be the fifth man. Highsmith and Jaime Jacquez Jr. appear as strong candidates for the position.

“We have a group that has continuity,” said forward Duncan Robinson. “I think we’re tired of being in the middle of NBA teams when it comes to offense.”

Spoelstra agrees with Robinson in the sense that the team has enough talent to be among the league’s elite and not confused among the pack.

“In our offense there is talent everywhere you look at it,” said the coach. “If we work together it must be a group that responds at the highest level. “We have those kinds of players who can create opportunities at the limit of the clock, which is very difficult to do in this league.”

The effort, enthusiasm and creativity put in by the players and the technical team will be decisive for the Heat to fight well at the top, but it is not enough. There is, however, another fundamental factor which is health.

Last season, Miami changed its starting lineup a franchise-record 37 times in 89 games due to injuries. Butler (22) and Herro (40) lost a total of 62 games. Spoelstra was forced to use 18 different players as starters throughout the season.

Butler was unable to play in the playoffs and the Heat were eliminated in the first round by the Boston Celtics, who were crowned champions.

In five seasons with the Heat, Butler has missed 100 games due to injuries and various reasons, that is, 26 percent of everything he played. If we consider the 113 million dollars that the forward is asking for his extension, his absences are equivalent to about 30 million dollars.

Therefore, if the Heat do not want to fall behind in the East, it will be essential that injuries do not become their worst enemy. It is the only way to avoid the disappointment of last season and for the new season to be a cause for full celebration of Riley’s 30 years at the helm of the club.

Heat preseason

10-08 Charlotte Hornets 111, Miami HEAT 108

10-13 New Orleans Pelicans vs. Miami HEAT

10-15 San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami HEAT

10-16 Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami HEAT

10-18 Miami HEAT vs. Memphis Grizzlies

regular season

10-23 Orlando Magic vs. Miami HEAT

10-26 Miami HEAT vs. Charlotte Hornets

10-28 Detroit Pistons vs. Miami HEAT

10-30 New York Knicks vs. Miami HEAT