The next phase in the development of Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo could be improving his shot creation, and veteran point guard Goran Dragic should still have a huge role for the club even as he returns to the super-sub role he had ahead of the Heat’s Finals run this summer and fall, per Seth Partnow and Dave DuFour of the Athletic.
Partnow and DuFour also wonder whether the 34-year-old Dragic’s incredible run during the 2020 Orlando restart, including a scorching playoff tear, was a blip on the radar or can be replicated this season.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- Tyler Herro has supplanted Dragic as the Heat’s starting point guard in his second season, as Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald details. Dragic started at the point for most of the 2020 NBA playoffs.
- Newly-extended Magic players Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac are excited for their opportunity to contribute to Orlando’s growth as a club, per Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel. “Not everybody gets extended, and to be a part of this group… and to be with this organization, it means everything to me,” Isaac said. “I love the coaching staff. I love the team. I love that they have belief in me, and they have it because I have belief in myself.” Isaac is expected to miss the entire 2020/21 season with a torn left ACL.
- The Hornets will be forced to scramble a bit after losing starting center Cody Zeller for four-to-six weeks with a fractured left hand, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. While Bismack Biyombo will probably get the nod as Zeller’s replacement at the five, Bonnell expects head coach James Borrego to lean more on small-ball lineups that would feature 6’7″ forward P.J. Washington at center and Miles Bridges at power forward.
Partnow and DuFour sound like the made up names of two 10 yr olds that stand on each others shoulders in a trenchcoat to get into an R rated movie…smdh
On a more serious note wonder if Dragic still recovering or if they just riding the hot hand. Hes a little older but is he rly cool coming off the bench? Only spo know
Last year I thought Dragic came into the game with anger and too much ambition, too much iso; gunning.
But people seemed to like it all, maybe b/c it showed engagement he was capable of but was increasingly holding back with time.
It did keep everyone hopping on an otherwise unselfish team, and the picture made sense in the playoffs.
RIP Hornets, should’ve signed Hassan Whiteside in FA
Or Harry Giles, dude is going to ball this year!!
Hornets taking the next step to be the smallest possible… 6-1 guards, 6-7 center (with taller backups); forwards 6-5, 6-6, 6-7… they might want to pick up MKG agsin!
Sure could have used Wiseman.
They can get Javale Mcgee for a second anytime they want.
Hornets should go all in with Ball, Terry, Graham, Hayward and Bismack starting.
Totally had a bad offseason. Ball was not needed for them with Graham and Rozier. They should have got Wiseman not rushed him and used Zeller till he was ready. I think they finished 10th last year already. Enough for play in. They should have ran it back and kept cap space and given Graham, Rozier, Bridges, Washington more time.
I liked watching them last year. Unselfish basketball.
I would rather Vernon starting Center than Biz, he had his chance for yrs. He didn’t improve his game. But whatever J.B. decides I will go with that, he knows his team competance
biyombo had his chance and he’s not the future. vcarey can play, they should just roll with him i think too. maybe he can develope like t.bryant from was.