Heat newcomers, returnees show competitiveness in team scrimmage

Published Oct. 1, 2014 10:00 p.m. ET

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MIAMI -- Miami Heat fans packed the lower level of AmericanAirlines Arena Wednesday night to get their first glimpse of the new-look team that features plenty of promise but also lots of intrigue with so many new players in the fold.

Though it wasn't exactly a shooting clinic, especially at the start, the Red, White & Pink team scrimmage featured genuine moments that provided a sneak preview of what's to come in the regular season.

There was plenty of competitiveness on display for the 9,612 in attendance right from the start with Norris Cole denying Mario Chalmers a routine entry pass. Perhaps that's because of the competition among so many roster hopefuls, or the fact that many of these new teammates are used to battling against each other in the past. The scrimmage featured no shortage of highlight plays, fierce rebounding battles and even some defense.

"It was good enthusiasm and it was a good way to cap off the week," head coach Erik Spoelstra said afterwards. "I think we've been making some progress. You could see the energy and you could see the guys' excitement for being out here. Even though it's an open scrimmage, there was a genuine enthusiasm to get out here and play in front of our fans. That was great to see and it was sincere."

Fan favorite Chris "Birdman" Andersen did not participate due to a sore calf, but that didn't stop him from cheering the crowd on with his antics on the bench. Heat center Justin Hamilton, still recovering from his minor heart procedure earlier in the week, and new acquisition Josh McRoberts (toe), also sat out the scrimmage.

For the rest of the team, however, it was an opportunity for players to show off their skills in front of a boisterous crowd sporting pink shirts that were given out in support of breast cancer awareness.

Even the training camp invitees got in on the fun in their quest to make a case for a regular-season roster spot. Undrafted rookie Tyler Johnson entered the game as a reserve in the first quarter and quickly made an impression with an acrobatic putback basket in heavy traffic. Andre Dawkins put on a shooting display for the night, finishing with 11 points and three 3-pointers, while Shawn Jones did some damage around the rim.

While many in the stands may not have recognized the young prospects, they roared with approval for the new Heat veterans that were brought in during the offseason.

Luol Deng showcased his versatility while trying to get a feel for working alongside Chalmers, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The top scorer of the night was Shawne Williams, who closed with 20 points as he connected from a variety of spots on the court. Highflying guard Shannon Brown had his moments as well. In one play, he created his own shot and sank a step-back jumper under heavy defensive pressure from Wade. As Wade ran back the other way, he couldn't contain his approval for Brown's play and flashed an "ooh" facial expression.

One of the more encouraging signs from the scrimmage was the surprising performance from Danny Granger, who had been working hard this week in his comeback after consecutive injury-riddled seasons. The former Indiana Pacer was active off the ball and skillfully knocked down four three-pointers in the second half to finish with 12 points.

The strong play from the crop of new players, even in this early stage, may have been born out of design.

"We want them to adapt, but we also have to adapt to them," Spoelstra said. "Simplify. That's been one of the operative words in the last two or three days. On our end but also for them, just to get them into some comfort areas. Simplify so they don't have to think about too much. They can be who they are but also how they can fit in our system with their skill set."

Yet, some things also simply stay the same. Heat lifer Udonis Haslem, clearly not caring about the fact that it was an exhibition game, was spotted passionately arguing his case with a referee about a previous play while teammate Reggie Williams was busy shooting free throws. Throughout the game, both Haslem and Wade stayed close to each other to talk strategy.

After four quarters of surprisingly entertaining basketball, Spoelstra seemed satisfied with the results.

"Our players had been looking forward to this and you can't take that enthusiasm for granted," Spoelstra said. "It was a great night, loved the crowd, loved the cause and it was good to see our guys get out there and compete. Just as Dwyane and CB walked by right now, they said 'This is so much better than practice.'"

You can follow Surya Fernandez on Twitter @SuryaHeatNBA or email him at SuryaFoxSports@gmail.com.