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During the annual Red, White, and Pink Game on Tuesday night at Kaseya Center, the Miami Heat provided fans with an initial glimpse of their revamped roster. One squad in the intrasquad scrimmage appeared intent on pushing the 3-point line to its absolute limit.
As reported by Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, the Red Team launched 40 3-point attempts in the first half alone. To put that into perspective, most NBA teams hoist somewhere in the high 30s over the course of an entire regular-season game. The Red Team reached that mark in just two quarters.
While scrimmage statistics come with inherent caveats, the sheer volume speaks volumes about how head coach Erik Spoelstra envisions this group playing. The Heat have committed heavily to pace and spacing as they head into the season. With Giannis Antetokounmpo now on the roster, the coaching staff has been vocal about wanting to play fast around him. Pairing a dominant downhill force with shooters who are eager to fire away is a natural fit, and Tuesday offered an extreme preview of that philosophy.
The opening lineup consisted of Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Davion Mitchell, Klay Thompson, and Simone Fontecchio. It marked Antetokounmpo's first appearance in front of Heat fans at Kaseya Center.
"I feel good. This is my first time being out here with fans. It's good to be on this side," Antetokounmpo said.
Mitchell delivered one of the lighter moments of the evening, throwing down two dunks—his first in an NBA setting since the 2022-23 season with the Sacramento Kings, a detail Chiang highlighted in real time.
Not everyone was available for the scrimmage. Andrew Wiggins and Pelle Larsson sat out due to illness, while Dru Smith and Keshad Johnson were held out with injuries.
The event also served a greater purpose, with proceeds benefiting the Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute as part of a breast cancer tribute.
"This night is about the survivors and everybody who is dealing with this," Spoelstra said after the scrimmage.
The Heat now shift their focus to the preseason, hosting the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. Miami opens the regular season on October 21 against the Timberwolves. If Tuesday was any indication, opposing defenses should be prepared to close out on shooters all night.
Key Analysis
The 40 3-point attempts in a single half underscore a deliberate strategic shift. With Antetokounmpo drawing defensive attention, the Heat are positioning themselves to capitalize on open looks from beyond the arc. This approach could redefine Miami's offensive identity and force opponents to adjust their defensive schemes accordingly.
Originally reported by yahoo.