LASTEST ✅: Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra Praises Thomas Bryant, Cole Swider After Victory Against Charlotte Hornets
Cole Swider and Thomas Bryant combine for 32 points in Miami Heat’s preseason win.
The Miami Heat’s preseason comeback victory against the Charlotte Hornets was encouraging for many, including Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
Spoelstra praised new Heat players Thomas Bryant and Cole Swider for their contributions, detailing their possible roles for the season.
Spoelstra on Bryant: “He has a physical presence in the paint, but he has exceptional touch as well. He can do if from the free-throw line area, or he can catch and take it to the rim. He’s got a variety a different kind of jump hooks, he’s been historically a very good finisher in the paint. He fits a need we felt we were searching for.”
Spoelstra on Swider: “He played like this in the G League. Maybe not sprinting off screens and handoffs, but certainly as a spacer he shot the ball really well last year. If you come into an environment like this and you have role models or the vision of what it could look like, and you add the work ethic, you add the environment where everyone is being pushed like that, it probably inspires him.”
Yes, it’s only the preseason, and the Hornets aren’t the most formidable opponent. But after losing out on superstar Damian Lillard, Miami is looking for any reinforcements to regroup and compete for a championship.
Bryant finished with 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds off the bench. Swider shined in the fourth quarter with 17 points on 5 of 9 shooting from 3-point range. These contributions aid the Heat’s scoring and rebounding issues from last season. Swider can help replace Max Strus’ sharpshooting, while Bryant can help the team’s size issues and frontcourt scoring.
The Heat play the San Antonio Spurs (0-1) Friday night.
