Four Key Questions Facing the Heat Entering 2024-25
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Veteran broadcaster Tommy Tighe, who is about to begin his 14th season producing and co-hosting the Miami HEAT Radio Network’s pregame, halftime and postgame shows, spoke with Hoops Wire’s Andy Roth about several early-season storylines surrounding Erik Spoelstra’s club. Tighe addressed the potential ceiling of rookie center Kelel Ware, Miami’s daunting opening stretch without injured guard Tyler Herro, the immediate role for newly acquired Norman Powell and the next step for forward Nikola Jovic.
Ware’s upside
Tighe believes Ware could finish as “a top-five guy” from his draft class. The 7-footer did not enter Miami’s rotation until January last season, then produced a strong six-week run before opponents adjusted. Tighe expects the 20-year-old to adapt quickly this time, calling his long-term outlook “sky-high.”
Navigating a brutal start without Herro
The Heat will play the first three weeks of the season without Herro, who is recovering from injury, and 12 of their first 21 contests are at home. Miami has struggled in its own building the past two years, a trend Tighe says must change if the club hopes to stay near .500 during an early West Coast trip he labeled “Murderers’ Row.” Finishing that segment around break-even, he added, would keep the team on track for a possible top-six finish in the Eastern Conference.
Powell’s scoring punch
With Herro sidelined, Tighe expects the offense to “run through Powell,” predicting the veteran wing could attempt 17-20 shots per game. Powell has “been a bucket,” Tighe noted, showing steady production outside a single off night in Atlanta. He anticipates the eventual Powell-Herro pairing will create significant matchup problems and simplify Spoelstra’s offensive decisions.
Jovic’s next step
Tighe is optimistic but cautious about Jovic’s potential leap. The Serbian forward added muscle over the summer, yet Tighe wants to see growth on the glass and at the defensive end. He set statistical targets of 13-15 points and 5-6 rebounds per game—up from roughly 10-11 points and 3-4 boards—to justify 35 minutes a night at power forward. If Jovic stays healthy, Tighe believes an all-around improvement is within reach.
Source: Hoops Wire
