PreSeason Preview: Magic @ Heat

The Miami Heat are looking to bounce back from a loss as they return home to host the Orlando Magic, nearly one week away from the season opener.

GAME DETAILS
Orlando Magic (1-4) @ Miami Heat (3-2)
Tuesday, October 18 @ AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, FL
TIME: 7:30 PM EST
TV: SunSports // RADIO: 790 the Ticket

PROBABLE STARTERS
MIAMI :: Goran Dragic, Tyler Johnson, Justise Winslow, Derrick Williams, Hassan Whiteside
ORLANDO: Elfrid Payton, Evan Fournier, Mario Hezonja, Aaron Gordon, Serge Ibaka

WHAT TO WATCH
The Orlando Magic have a lot of size up front. But Biyombo will not battle Whiteside as he did in the playoffs with the Raptors, he’s out. That’s not an issue...what is? It’s the length of Ibaka and more-so Gordon as small forward. Aaron is a long 6’9 and will make life difficult on Justise Winslow. I think the Magic will play big at times, but because of injuries, they will shift some players around.

OUT for Orlando: Nikola Vucevic, Bismack Biyombo, Jeff Green, C.J. Watson

As always, the Heat will have to do a team-effort on the glass. Luckily, Nikola Vucevic isn’t playing right now — he’s really hurt the Heat in the past.

The Heat will have to be all together on defense, communicating and rotating efficiently. The Magic are 7th in assists per game in the preseason. They average 102 PPG. That means they are really moving the ball around.

OUT for Miami: Josh Richardson, Josh McRoberts, Okaro White, Luke Babbitt

Goran Dragic will need to efficiently navigate the pressure from Payton to lead the Heat offense. Miami hasn’t found a great rhythm offensively so far this preseason, and this is a chance to put it all together.

The Heat have two more preseason games after this to close out the week before beginning the regular season in Orlando next Wednesday, October 26.