Thoughts and postscripts from the Heat’s intra-squad scrimmage before 9612 at AmericanAirlines Arena on Wednesday night:
### Most encouraging sign? Danny Granger’s second-half three-point outburst would rank nearly the top.
After missing all four of his shots in the first half, Granger sank four treys in the third, injecting the Heat with the type of offense it will need off the bench amid the departure of reserves Ray Allen, Michael Beasley and others.
“Danny started 0 for 3 [on jumpers], and next time he put the ball on the floor,” Erik Spoelstra said. “[Assistant David Fizdale] and I told him the next time you get it, let it go. I was really happy for Danny because he has been putting in a great deal of time. Hasn’t missed a turn yet in camp. Has been fighting through leg fatigue. It’s great to see someone go through that and see it pay off.”
Granger closed with 12 points, shooting 4 for 9 from the field.
### The Heat opened with Shawne Williams filling Josh McRoberts’ spot alongside the other projected starters: Mario Chalmers, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Luol Deng. The Heat’s “other” team started the game with Granger, Cole, Udonis Haslem, James Ennis and Shawn Jones, who had a scrimmage-high eight rebounds.
Williams made an impact, with 17 points on 5 of 8 shooting, including three three-pointers, plus four rebounds, three assists and a steal. He’s essentially filling the role Michael Beasley handled last year.
### Chris Bosh displayed an arsenal of nifty moves around the basket, including a hook shot and a terrific spin for a layup. He closed with 13 on 5 for 9 shooting.
“I want the quintessential Chris Bosh to be everywhere on the floor,” Spoelstra said. “That’s the Chris Bosh that has been developing the last four years.”
Spoelstra still expects Bosh positioned in the high-post a lot where “he can attack or facilitate.”
### Dwyane Wade had a quiet night, with eight points on 2 for 8 shooting.
### Ennis came alive in the second half. He hit a three, slammed through a driving dunk, put back a rebound on a potential three-point play, subsequently missed the free throw, but then rebounded his miss. He closed 4 for 6 with nine points and five rebounds.
“Seeing growth,” Spoelstra said of Ennis. “James last summer was overwhelmed with everything, our system, the NBA system, what the pro game is like. It’s so much different than college basketball and the level he was playing at. He has had great strides not only the court but mentally, athletically. Playing in Australia really helped him grow as a person. He’s had two summers of summer league, plus the last six weeks in our gym.”
### Rookie point guard Shabazz Napier, who shot horribly during summer league, missed three of four three-pointers but was quick with his hands and had four steals defensively.
As a passer, Napier has a smoothness to his game. He had only one assist but would have had more if teammates hadn’t missed shots.
“In summer league, it was overwhelming at first but he dedicated himself the last five, six weeks,” Spoelstra said. “When you see him in camp, you see a confident player in our system. He looks much more comfortable than he did this summer.”
### Spoelstra said the point guard battle among Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole and Napier has been highly competitive, the most competitive it has been in years.
### Luol Deng showed a diverse offensive game, scoring a variety of ways on five second-half baskets. He closed with 15 points and six rebounds.
### Shannon Brown, the favorite to be the Heat’s backup shooting guard, hit three of four shots…. Undrafted Duke guard Andre Dawkins, a roster long shot, hit three three-pointers and beat Mario Chalmers off the dribble for a basket. “He’s been one of the dinner crews,” Spoelstra said. “Guys coming in at night, getting extra shots.”
### Chalmers threw an ill-advised pass off the backboard, an attempted alley-oop to super-athletic Tyler Johnson that went awry. But nobody scolded him!
Johnson, by the way, had a midcourt steal and dunk in transition. His athleticism jumps out and he’s on the bubble for the last roster spot.
### Three-point shooting is a question with this roster. The Heat tried a bundle tonight (46) and hit 16 of them.
“We felt we have enough shooting, guys who have a resume with it or who have really been working on it,” Spoelstra said.
### The Heat’s frontcourt was shorthanded. McRoberts (toe), Justin Hamilton (heart procedure) and Chris Andersen (sore calf) were held out. Hamilton is expected back in three weeks. McRoberts and Andersen are day to day.
### Haslem had the pass of the night, a full-court heave to Wade for a layup.
### Before the scrimmage, Spoelstra told the crowd: “Heat Nation is not going anywhere.”
Afterward, he said: “You could see the energy, the genuine enthusiasm to play in front of our fans.”
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