Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is eager to see Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Terry Rozier play together as much as possible during the preseason, according to Ira Winderman of the *Sun Sentinel*. Spoelstra aims to assess how well the group gels, even though it’s still early in the preseason, a time when NBA teams typically don’t push too hard.
The Heat acquired Rozier during the 2023-24 season, but due to injuries, he didn’t get much court time with Butler and Herro. Both Rozier and Butler missed crucial playoff games against the Boston Celtics, leaving the team without a full evaluation of this core lineup.
Rozier performed well last season, averaging 19.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game with Miami and the Charlotte Hornets, and Spoelstra now hopes to see how he fits alongside Herro, who is also a scoring threat.
After finishing 8th in the Eastern Conference last season, Miami is looking to improve in 2024-25. Health will be critical, especially for Butler, who has struggled to stay on the court for more than 64 games per season since joining the Heat. Spoelstra believes that building chemistry among the team’s top players in the preseason will be key as they prepare for their regular season opener on October 23 against the Orlando Magic.
