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Can the Miami Heat roll with their backup guards?

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Gabe Vincent is still available -- but it appears the Miami Heat want to see what their young point guards can do before bringing anyone in. Ethan Skolnick and Digital Adel discuss whether Tre Donaldson and Ryan Conwell will be ready.


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Can the Miami Heat roll with their backup guards?

Five On The Floor: Miami Heat/NBA

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Five On The Floor: Miami Heat/NBACan the Miami Heat roll with their backup guards?. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.

Now stand up and make some noise for five on the floor on the five reason for Hitler. Uh oh. Yeah. It's mercy. Knees about mercy again. Heat nation need a coach. Your A I need your car. Time out. You ready? Shut up or blanket. Open for the shot. Your grab. Set the pitch. Still five on the floor. Still right for my dogs. I'm dead on the court. So survive in the wall. Keep your eye on the ball. Okay, burn friendly. Keep the spike off the wall without turning the cheek. From night to day. No sleeping pads or unhounds or mornings. The others. Keep for us. Never catch us long. Live for Miami. Before in the heat with five reasons for its fun. The court to shoot.

Day. We're counting. Keep nation still proud. Welcome to five on the floor. A daily insider show on the Miami Heat and the NBA featuring even Skolnec Greg Sylvander, Alex Toledo, Brady Hawk and others from the five reasons sports network. Also make sure to subscribe to off the floor for the most heat anywhere. We're getting a little closer. A little closer. We're three weeks out from media day. So we're turning the corner here. And we're hoping that the content starts to come in so that we can send it back out. Appreciate Greg holding it down with these heat life episodes. I think he's done four of them. Be another one coming up and we'll start to get ready with some training camp previews. More specific as we go forward. You do want to be signed up for off the floor though because we're going to start doing more and more stuff there as well. Stage shows, host updates, host links, podcast review. It's all on there. Check that out.

Again, that's off the floor and prize picks the daily NFL shows have begun. So use the code HMA. Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel. Five bucks. Put that down when you're first lineup. And if you win it, you get 150. If you don't win it, well, you can just keep playing. But anyway, it's legal in Florida. It's legal in California, Texas. Many other states that you can see up there. And again, right now you can play MLS. You can play MLB. You can play WNBA. But we know what you want to play. You're going to play NFL starting on Wednesday night as the Seahawks try to defend their title. I think everybody forgot they won the Super Bowl. I forgot they won the Super Bowl. Right. I forgot who they played. Like I don't know. I got Sam Darnold. So I didn't forget. I got him as a backup. All right. Well, there you go. Yeah. I know. I have. Who do I have? Stafford is a backup. That's a good backup. I have Herbert as the lead guy. I'm expecting a little that Mike McDaniel magic and in, you know, a new place. Two of them, by the way, going to be starting for the Falcons in week one. So yes, two. Where they play a stealers. Spurg stealers. You're stillers. You're stillers. All right. So we'll pivot off of that because I don't want to talk Steelers with a dollar after that.

He is a stealer fan. Either way, if you see the background there on YouTube, that is not actually his piano and pretty soon he's actually going to have his office set up so you can check that out. I've got digital Adele. You can follow him at that account. We're going to talk a little bit about the back end of the guard roster here for the heat because I, and this is sort of the one last thing that everybody's getting into. Like, are they going to get a big. Okay. Well, they got a big. They got Nick Richards. Are they going to get a shooter? Where they got Clay Thompson. Now it's like, do they need one more creator? And of course he and he fans are always on the next thing squirrel. Right. So that you know, they're all like, are they going to get a creator? And I'm just telling you that they're not really looking for one right now. Like this is not a priority at the moment. They're going to see how this thing looks in training camp. Right. And then as we get closer to the trade deadline, then maybe someone emerges. Maybe there's someone bought out maybe in Sacramento. I don't know. Or another spot and they can bring in a guy who will add some more creation, kind of the wing and backups and back court spots. But for right now, they're pretty comfortable with what they've got. I mean, the roster sort of aligns.

And that is the one sort of thing that's questionable. But they also have these young guards and. And when you have young guards, you don't really know what you're going to get for them. We've watched Dave Young Mitchell who just turned 28. Basically embarrassing the young guards in various videos that he's put on his own channels. He was given giving him some work defensively to trade Donaldson and also to Ryan Conwell. But they'll get better from that. I mean, that's that's the whole idea here. Does seem like he's taking them under his wing a little bit. Of course, Drew Smith is also on the roster. We know what kind of guard he is. He's not a creator. He's a defender. They're hoping that he can be a knockdown, you know, spot up shooter. We'll see on that. I did see him playing summer league and pro league. That is the worst possible environment for Drew Smith. I mean, busy bones. Yeah, you know, if you know, bones highland like no surprise that he was jacking up and making shot. Yeah, he shot a lot. Drew will look completely out of place, but we know it's not a forum for him.

He's got a very specific role under Eric Spolstra. And I think he can execute that role. But I do want to get to what the expectation level is here because they do have a 15 spot open. They're not planning on filling it. They've got trade on on some under contract as a two way. They've got Ryan Conwell under contract as a standard as a second on pick, which not everybody does. They really like the player because they got that player. They got a Louisville guard because of their problems with Louisville guard, right? They got that pick for Terry, but may essentially for the Terry Rosier debacle. Excuse me. The back. But let's let's start here. What do you want to see from these guys in camp that will make you feel comfortable that they don't need to get a guy right now? I just want to see these guys compete. I want to see them be able to be competitive. I want to see them be able to not be in over their heads, not turning the ball over, not being blown by defensively.

I need to see them being able to compete with some of these veteran guys that are going to be some of the depth pieces because you have guys like Bobby Portis, you have Nick Richard, you have Tim Hardaway Jr. who's, I mean, he's an older guy, but him and Clay are going to be vying for that starting role. Even though my personal opinion, I mean, it's going to be clay. So these guys at the bottom of the roster, you want to see them being able to be competitive like the Myron Gardeners are going to be competitive with with Andrew Wiggins and with Bella Larson, for example. And then you have guys like Nicola Yovic, can he be competitive with Bobby Portis in a way, even though Bobby's of that, you know what you're going to get from him. But can he at least be competitive in same thing with trade on Wilson is much as he's going to get cooked. Can he cook some guys at the other end on offense? Can he lock up defensively distribute the ball, play a role? Max Drew said something very profound on an interview. I saw you I saw you liked that. Yeah.

I love it. I love it. Max is smart. Max is a smart guy. And that's how you stick in the league though. You get a role. You excel at the things you need to do to get to play that role. And then the important pieces to stay on the floor. You got to play defense. That'll keep you on the floor. Well, and especially in this system, especially with the heat and even with the better defenders around them, there's obviously going to be an emphasis on that. They have really showcase trade Donaldson in a way they don't typically with two ways. I mean, first thing they went out and got him immediately. And he's been everywhere. He's been doing community events. He's been in all these open runs, the workouts. He's been in pro league like he has this is he's been and of course he's a UM guy. So it's not that surprising. But there's been a lot of UM guys and they've given some shots to UM guys over the years, but it seems like this one. Never forget the Tim James first round pick. He ended up actually serving overseas in Iraq.

He didn't really serve much for the heat, but he he was good in terms of all that stuff. They they seem to think that trade Donaldson has a legitimate future for them. And I know you've talked about his ability to handle sort of run a team. Yes, he's more of that than Drew Smith is, right? Yeah, he and the shooting is pretty good, but he's not like he's not going to be a volume guy in that regard. Like say Ryan Conwell will be right. No, he's not a volume guy in that way. And when I mean run a team, I don't mean just the Drew Smith very safe. One bounce pass. He can actually create some offense by getting into the gaps using his strong frame, getting to the basket to finish. It's got a very nice floater. He's got a very nice old school point guard mentality. And what I mean by that is give the team exactly what it needs whenever it needs it. Get the guy involved that should get involved if he hasn't touched the ball in a while.

He's going to make sure he feeds that guy or runs an action to that side of the floor to get that guy involved. He's one of those types of point guards. He makes really good reads. And like I said, he can get into the lane where Drew Smith excels is he's not going to make mistakes. Don't make the simple pass and he'll make the simple read. I think trade Donaldson is more than that. Okay. And again, they may need that eventually. And because one of the things to be concerned about for this team is what happens if Davey on it's like a turt. Because I mean, it's great that he's doing everything he's doing. And he's he's at a hundred miles an hour right now. And he's putting on his social media that he wants to be most improved player. All that. These are all great goals. And this one of the reasons they wanted to keep him. And it's like Riley said, just give me a bunch of those guys. This is he's a heat player has been since the start. We expected it. I didn't realize he was 28 already. But again, he had a couple of years where he bounced around for some time.

But if he gets hurt, then I don't really know they're going to look a lot different, right? Like I mean, how do you how would you even plug Drew Smith in as a starter with this group and get any creation? I don't know if you do. However, right? You don't right? Yeah, I think you would then pivot to Yannis and bam being your initiators and mainly Yannis because we saw how it went when bam had to be that carry that load. And then you put a bunch of shooting on the floor. So Ryan Conwell could see the floor. He would be like a secondary ball handler in my opinion and something like that type of situation. Drew Smith as well would be a secondary ball handler. He'd be in those defensive lineups. But then the great thing about the way this team is built. You have a Pella Larson who can secondary handle you have Tim Hardaway Jr who can secondary handle Clay Clay isn't going to be a secondary handler at this point, but you could run those big lineups because hard away can shoot. Pella can shoot somewhat. That's a big thing underrated talking point. I think this season the people don't don't really have it really discussed. I know we've discussed everything on this channel.

But Pella Larson needing to improve from being a 33% 3 point shooter. 33 to 36 if he gets himself he does not have to be 40 if he gets himself to 36 on four times. Right? That's really where he needs to get to. He just needs to be competent enough there that he can make some teams pay, which is kind of what Heywood High Smith they've had other guys who've done that over the years coming out of this guy doesn't shoot very well. I mean, I kind of felt like Hakez was starting to trend that way the last month and a half of the season last year. If Larson can get there with obviously his ability to draw fouls we've talked about. I've said the big number for him and we saw it is already seen it happen overseas now is he doubled his end his end ones per minute last year if he doubles them again, which I think is possible. Then that's going to be a huge weapon for them because he does have the ability to get to the line. But again, Davian's presence is so important for them because they you're right they're going to have to shift everything if he's out because they don't have a second guy who can get a foot in the paint like that's the thing that they need a guy to get a foot of the main and then you are talking about doing it a little bit differently.

And I do think if that happened they would lean more into con will as they go forward it provided he's ready which suppose going to make the ultimate decision on that we don't know exactly now that's going to play out or we'll talk about this more on the other side before we do. Want to mention our friend bill you can find about five six one five seven three six four nine seven make sure for the season starts you're going to get busy watching all these heat games and you have people like robbing you you don't want that payment processors they take the extra money there it's not in their interest to do a good on it for you. It's in bills interest he's going to do it for you real merchant services based in Boko services the entire area you can reach out to this phone number or you can DM me at five reasons sports starting to jump back on that account five six one five seven three six four nine seven to free statement review. You'll take care of that for you again even the best systems get ordered even the best businesses to make sure that you check out what you need to do to save money on fees get better service and all of that again is real merchant services five six one five seven three six four nine seven.

Okay as we look forward on this again they have a progression with players they two way them they develop them and then typically they find their way into the back in the rotation some of them end up being starters on final and teams like max who you mentioned as well as as Gabe that year but let's talk about Gabe because I want to pivot this there that's a name is still out there we know that bam. Has an affinity for Gabe we've seen Gabe perform at the highest level I mean I he wasn't the highest level but he performed when the heat were at the highest level right they got to the finals with him essentially is a starting point card like you know Kyle. Backed him up for most of the playoffs Tyler was not available it was max and gave there was some if he games in there but there also some pretty strong games he goes to LA. He wasn't happy with the money that the heat off for him right away the heat ended up upping the offer it was more years but less per year decided to go Los Angeles go home pay the taxes and all that stuff didn't work out as it doesn't for a lot of these guys got hurt ends up what was it back east in Atlanta right and then he's essentially cut loose he's free.

I mean he's insurance right like how long would you wait with these young guards like if they want to camp and you're not getting I mean they're not kind of con well common but if Donaldson con well Drew Smith or not performing at a high level and you got a guy right there who wants to be with you who the captain likes when when do you just say okay let's just come on Gabe give it another shot with us. So I mean I think the all star break because you don't really need a guy like that in the beginning of the season especially when you have these young guys if they're good enough to get you by in the regular season you look at the all star break it's something like that but my thing with trade on old sin is if you look at the career arc of like a drew Smith he's so much further advanced as a prospect in drew Smith was I'm not saying I'm not discounting with you. Drew does what Drew does as a specialist defensively is something that is unique but what trade does he's such a better all around player in my opinion I think you got to give that guy some time and you got to let him let him grow in your system so I don't really see them cut and Ryan Conwell I don't really see them cut and trade on all sin and you're not going to be able to get Gabe obviously on a two way so well you give him the 15 spot that that's my that's why I say wait to the all star break.

And then you enter the tax and all that sort of stuff right that you play well of course the risky run is that somebody else signs gave but I guess you make a decision that okay this isn't that big a deal if we don't get him correct I think this only becomes a big deal again if Davy on's out three weeks and then it's okay are we really going to start drew here and change or start someone else and change everything that we do trade Donaldson ready is Conwell ready well there's a guy we know is ready to get ready in a week basically to be sure if it's not going to be a lot of fun. And then you know you can see that you can see that he's going to be here who they didn't have any issues with at the end this was not a bad separation with Gabe like I said it was just that he wanted a little bit more money. The agent was a little insulted with their initial offer and then you know again these guys a lot of them they learn they go somewhere else and you know even if it's home it doesn't work out like it is you know because it's not the heat system and they end up sort of valuing what the heat system was I mean Max was a guy you didn't want to leave but they never really offer him anything Gabe. So I think that a lot of this to me depends on where they're at and what their aspirations are to use a dirty word of the NBA.

If they are if this conference is as competitive as we think it is you can't afford two three weeks where you're not getting competent ball handling that's too much of a risk that you run you can't you can't go have you know a three week period where you're say you know. I don't know a four and seven or something like that or four and eight because again you can't get the ball up the floor you can't get into offense like that's and you're putting too much of a burden on y'allness and bam to orchestrate all of that or you're putting the ball and Wiggins his hands too much you want to do right or or even like you say you say secondary ball handler but you really don't want to more the way Junior doing a ton of it you know you want larcen being able to play off the ball and cut like I it feels like if you're going to again compete you have to have another answer. It doesn't have to be an elite answer and again when you know with Gabe he's going to bring the ball up the floor he's going to defend competently players are going to trust him or at least the ones that are still here from his time so I think that honestly if he's injured I think then you I'm talking about day beyond I think it's in December I think you bring in someone like Gabe and you sort out the tax issue before the end of the season if you can because again it doesn't really register until the season is up.

Right and I think the thing with ball handling is though you find that out very quickly you'll you'll know by by the end of training camp in the preseason whether these guys are going to be able to competently handle the ball enough like when you look at what they did. With cash for shock and chowness they figured out right away he wasn't competent enough to handle the ball on a regular basis in season one and they completely shifted the way he was going to play. So I think it's something the coaching staff is going to be able to recognize pretty quickly if that is the case. Yep. Yep. No doubt well we'll see how it goes you know again I think they to quote Spowe or miss quote I think they sort of have enough. I don't think I don't think they have elite options but I think they have enough to get by. But ultimately I think to get to another level they're going to need another guy at least Davions level to be able to create you know to bend the defense create those kind of advantages and all that sort of it's not a disrespected

to Davia to say that you could use another one like him they don't really have that right now. And I think their aspiration again to use it is higher than that like the idea to complete this puzzle is to eventually get you know a B plus or a minus shot creator score go get a bucket when you need one that that finishes this puzzle someone like or I don't think that's going to be this guy. I mean that's a pretty lofty thing though even even at this stage of his career coming off in the injuries a little bit different but I'm just saying I'm again he's a whole a famed level player. That's okay I'm not saying it has to be that Zach Levine type like somebody who can again get you a bucket when everything breaks down because that's my concern about this offense and we've talked about some of this like if they're down three at the end of the game. They're going to have to find ways to create those advantages very quickly to get somebody a good three point look because you don't want that being Bama Yanis at the end of the box right but there was a lot of that from the walkie last year if you watch it there were there were a lot of problems in clutch situations is not that he can't do it is certain situations are not tailored to what he does best because he can't shoot the three ball correct if they're down one like I'm not concerned about him in the clutch okay we've seen the now okay no you he's going to get it.

You're he's going to get you something okay like that's and even if you're down to if you're down three you're chasing a little bit it can be it's going to be somewhat problematic because they don't have that guy in the back court who can create it and just get it on his own and and that's what this this team is missing a little bit. And so along those lines here's the way I think of it they might be heat are not playing this game this season to make the playoffs right they're going for a championship right so right so Gabe is much as bam likes him isn't that guy to me that's just going to be able to get his own shot consistently and you can count on him to stay healthy that's why if it's me running the organization which it's not I'm waiting till eight me either that's not even though people think so in eight that's right I have no say I'm waiting to the deadline because I need to see if there's a better player that can become available yeah and Yeah and there's a game isn't winning you the championship right Gabe is a stopgap to me to keep you from sinking to make sure that you're going to get in the top six right Gabe is Gabe would be Davy on insurance essentially and that's but you know at this point you're like well you're not hoping for Davy on to get hurt obviously and you're going to try to give these guys opportunities I understand it but I what I don't want to see is I don't want to see three weeks of a season get lost at a few games under 500 because it is too

competitive in the Eastern Conference and you can find yourself going from hey your third in the conference to your eighth real quick this year and finding yourself behind teams like Atlanta and Indiana etc Toronto whatever and then you're climbing back up and that's not a position that they want to be in so they're going to have to be very sort of they're going to be expeditious about how they you know go patch some holes when they come up and but you're right the longer term play here is a close to elite level guy who can get his own shot and once they have that then the puzzle is kind of complete on this team yeah but nobody expected them to complete that puzzle this year the other option was you would have an elite you know floor general you know high IQ player like say LeBron James that white of solve this but even he you're not he's not he's not exactly what they need and LeBron is always what you need but I'm saying he's not exactly what this roster needs to complete with the honest and ban they need they need more of that back court kind of yeah they need somebody that can hit threes and get their own bucket when they need it whether that's in the paint out of the paint they can be a point and so there's some who are saying and this is the same premise they're like well they should have gotten an

assignment right that's what people say yeah but they're feeling on it was he wasn't good enough at that to give up sort of making sure you had a strength as shooters complementing it the honest and bang right so that's why instead of getting Simon's they spent the money on clay you know sign they could have the time right right they're like okay let's we're gonna make sure we're going to shoot her all time in my opinion second great to shoot her all time right so I can't make a case there may be games which are like oh well would have been nice to have ampharie Simon's there but I can't make a case that overall there would better off with Simon's than clay or better than Simon's better off with Simon's than a guy in Tim Ardway Jr. was third and a league and open spot up threes last year like they they doubled down on that type of player for this type of build but to raise the ceiling from what I think is right now kind of a B plus roster to an A roster is that one guy right and an A and Ampharie Simon's it's it's somebody else that they're gonna they're gonna hope is gonna shake free here over the next year and then you'll know what their team is basically at that point all right I don't

appreciate it um check out again our guy a bill over real merchant services should have put the phone number on the bottom so I'll read it there again five six one five seven three six four nine seven then I mentioned price fix new code is HMA link is in the description have a good one everybody oh one other announcement I'll throw this out there I'm gonna be doing another podcast see if you stuck around to the end and you're gonna hear about it on Tuesday morning but I'm not doing less five on the floor so just make that clear so it's not affecting five on the floor I'm just representing five on the floor in another forum so you'll find out about that on Tuesday morning have a good one everybody

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