South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Herro not worried about terrible 2s
The concern in today’s NBA is too many twos. Through the Miami Heat’s first three exhibitions it is a matter that has left Tyler Herro largely unconcerned.
Friday’s 109-105 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center was the latest example why.
Yes, the third-year Heat guard attempted 20 two-points shots, but he also made 11 of them, on the way to 26 points.
To a degree, last season’s playoff run by the Phoenix Suns was an eye opener for Herro, including the play of fellow University of
Kentucky product Devin Booker.
“For my first two years, you know a lot of people said that’s an inefficient shot,” Herro said, with the Heat turning their attention to Monday’s preseason visit by the Charlotte Hornets to FTX Arena. “But after watching the Finals, you’ve seen Booker and Chris Paul, you see how the whole playoffs, they worked the midrange and got to their spots. But they were really efficient in those areas.
“So that’s an emphasis we had all summer, was working on that and being able to be efficient. Not just take those shots, but make ‘em. So just got to continue to knock down those shots.”
For all the scoring from distance offered by Duncan Robinson and even Max Strus, the Heat in many ways are built around mid-range scorers in their starting and reserve units, with Jimmy Butler and Herro.
“I mean, Jimmy can shoot the two,” Herro said. “As long as we’re not shooting too many of ‘em, and as long as we’re making ‘em at a high rate, 50, 60 percent, I think we’ll be in good shape.”
Through the first three exhibitions, Herro, who celebrated the birth of his daughter on Sept. 14, is shooting 8 of 16 on 3-pointers, 20 of
34 on two-point attempts. He leads the Heat in preseason scoring at 25.3 points per game.
“You’re just seeing the evolution of a very good basketball player, extremely skilled and he’s really been working at his craft and his skill level, making different reads,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “All of that is becoming more advanced.”
Strus led the Heat with 28 points Friday against the Spurs, thriving alongside Herro.
“I’m super comfortable playing with Tyler,” Strus said. “I mean all you’ve got to do is give him the ball. He’s super talented and he’s in a groove right now. I know he’s been putting in hours in the summer, and it’s showing. That kid works his tail off and it’s showing.”
Yurtseven’s chance
With Spoelstra resting most of the team’s veterans in San Antonio, it opened the door for the first extensive preseason action of summerleague standout Omer Yurtseven.
The 7-footer closed with 14 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks, but also five fouls, which limited him to 23:33 of action.
“Omer’s coming along,” Strus said. “It’s still a learning process. We all are still learning. He’s improving every day, and he works. He’s going to keep getting better, and I’m excited for his development. He played well, too.
“If he stayed out of foul trouble, he would have had a better game.”
The key for Yurtseven will be to seize smaller opportunities, which likely will be the limit, with Bam Adebayo and Dewayne Dedmon at the top of the rotation at center.
“That’s part of the evolution of a young player,” Spoelstra said. “You have to continue to develop, find ways on how you can impact the game, impact winning. And if that’s in short minutes, you have to learn how to be able to do that quicker. If it’s longer minutes, any player can get in a better rhythm.”
Potter produces
With Adebayo and Dedmon held out, and with Yurtseven in foul trouble, undrafted big man Micah Potter made the most of his Friday opportunity, closing with 13 points and 17 rebounds in 36:45.
“He’s just steady, consistent with his work every single day,” Spoelstra said of the former Ohio State and Wisconsin center. “I’ve really enjoyed these moments for young players, when they get the opportunity and they’re prepared and then they play well. It’s not an accident or a coincidence. He’s put in a lot of time.”