I’m thankful for the whole team and Riles for putting it all together. This is a group of guys that is so easy to root for. They’re humble, play unselfish ball, and try hard, or at least try hard when it matters.

Jaquez fits right in and I look forward to seeing what he becomes.

Whatever his faults as a man, gotta respect Udoka as a coach. Hes got a team with VanVleet and Sengun playing some of the best defensive ball in the league. If they had a competent front office that franchise would be starting to look scary.

Embiid is playing at a higher level than he did last year when he was the MVP. I love Bam and wouldn’t trade him for anyone, including Embiid, but lets get real. Embiid is getting the starting nod and he deserves it.

There’e no shame in being a reserve, and I’m sure it makes it feel even better when you get to see everyone voted over you get knocked out of the playoffs every year.

He hasn’t been playing well this season but lets not pretend that LaVine is just some overrated athlete. The man can play basketball. He doesn’t seem like the type of player Riley would go after in terms of mental makeup but Riley hasn’t been shy about putting talent above everything else before.

I think he’d see the floor if he would block out and rebound the ball. Hes never going to defend the way Spo wants…he plays too upright and isn’t quick enough to stay in front of anyone on the perimeter. They’ll have to play drop coverage with him. In order to get Spo to change his defense you better be indispensable in other facets of the game and hes a long ways from that.

I don’t think Riley gives a damn about the future. The man wants to win another championship and if he has to give up every pick till 2028 its not going to stop him.

My best guess is that they figured out pretty early on that Jaquez had a chance to be a really good player and he was taken off the table, along with Bam and Jimmy. The Blazers found a better deal. Whether we like it or not Jrue was worth more than Tyler and Ayton had more appeal than someone like Jovic.

I haven’t looked at the numbers but it sure feels like Bam has spent a whole lot more time around the basket than he did last season. A few of those jab steps have even led to drives to the rim rather than fallaway jumpers.

Bam never ceases to surprise me. Every season he comes in having improved in some way, and every year its something I would never have guessed he was focusing on.

And of course now on looking at his stats they say the exact opposite, that hes venturing further away from the basket. So what do I know…

Jimmy gets to stay as long as Jimmy wants to stay.

Its really the same story every year. This team goes as far as Jimmy takes them until someone else shows they can step up in the postseason.

Spo, Jimmy and Pat have all already played it up in the media so I’m sure its something that they’re using as motivation. I don’t know if it has much of an impact on the opposing teams. Everyone knows what they’re going to get when facing the Heat in the playoffs. Noone is going to underestimate them after the last few seasons whatever their regular season record.

I’m curious to see how the Celtics season plays out. They were so dependent on Horford to make that defense what is was last season. I’m not sold on the Porzingis/Tatum frontcourt defensively even if in theory they should be able to score on anyone.

I don’t get how anyone can see it that way. This team is loaded with wings. Martin, Robinson, Jaquez, Highsmith, Cain. I liked Strus and hes got a hell of a story but he wasn’t a great defender, wasn’t a great shooter, and didn’t create for anyone else. I’d much rather see what Jaquez has.

Right now we’re looking at a team with Dru and Kyle on his last legs running the point. I don’t have fond memories of JRich trying the play the position and for the most part Herro at point has left you wanting more. Whatever you might think of Gabe he could defend the position and not turn the ball over.

You can debate who the better player is but I think its hard to debate what this Heat team needs more.

I’m sold already. I have a sneaking suspicion that he was pulled early out of summer league not so much because of the injury but because Riley had no interest in letting the rest of the league get a real look at him.

He has the skillset and body type to get where he wants to go on the court, and that’s something that’s already beyond what most guys in this league can do. The shot and the finishing can be developed but its so hard to teach that. We’ve been watching Herro struggle to figure it out for years now.

I can’t wait to see how far he can go this season.