Do the Miami Heat Have the Best Bench in the Eastern Conference?

MIAMI, Fla. – En route to a 129-105 win over the Toronto Raptors at Quebec City, Canada, the Miami Heat’s bench showed signs of being able to take over games.

Three reserves from the standard roster reached double figures in scoring. Tim Hardaway Jr. led with 14 points on 100 percent shooting, including three-for-three from behind the arc. It was the 34-year-old’s unofficial Heat debut. Hardaway Jr. is a three-level scorer who can play with and without the ball. The Heat signed the 14-year veteran on a one-year, $6.07 million contract.

Hardaway Jr. is coming off a Sixth Man of the Year finalist campaign. Although he likely won’t be the Heat’s first reserve to play on most nights, having a consistent rotational role appears as guaranteed as it gets in the league. Hardaway Jr. is a career 36.5 percent three-point shooter. As he shares the court with Heat superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, floor spacing will be critical.

Nikola Jovic had 11 points on 33.3 percent shooting in 17 minutes, plus seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. The 23-year-old could be on the verge of a breakout season. Jovic has shown flashes, but injuries have set him back numerous times. He’s a 6-10 and 245-pound forward who can handle the ball and space the floor. As if there wasn’t enough pressure, Jovic’s extension that was signed last summer will officially kick in this season.

The Heat would like to see a return on investment.

Pelle Larsson finished with 13 points on 100 percent shooting, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 11 minutes. The 25-year-old is coming off a breakout season and looking to build off it. Larsson can emerge as an early candidate for Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player. The last player to win both awards in the same season was former Orlando Magic guard Darrell Armstrong in 1999.

The Heat could have the best bench in the Eastern Conference; however, the reigning champion New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston Celtics are threats to take that title. The value of depth has grown significantly, especially for championship contenders. The Denver Nuggets are a prime example of lacking consistent bench production, which results in falling short of the goal.

Although Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo are the stars, relying heavily on them throughout an 82-game regular season isn’t a recipe for success. Having others to take the pressure off them will be impactful in the long run.

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