What to look for

There are a few things to look for in Wednesday's game against the Hawks.
One is Marcus Slaughter. If he's going to contribute at all, the 6-9 forward is going to have to do so at small forward. That's because Udonis Haslem and Antoine Walker will be taking up all the time at the four spot. I believe Marcus can handle the defensive and rebounding responsibilities of that position, but his shooting and ball-handling would be the big questions.
The battle for the starting two-guard spot while Dwyane Wade is out is another key subject. A primary candidate would be Smush Parker, but Riley said he hasn't even learned the point guard spot yet, so learning a second position might be too much to ask too soon.
Then there's Dorell Wright. But if you envision him as the starting small forward when Dwyane is in the lineup, then you would probably want him to stay at that spot and get used to it from the very start.
Jeremy Richardson (6-7, decent range) is a possibility, and one of the players that Riley believes can really play. So he has a few more exhibition games to really become a legit candidate.
And then there's Penny Hardaway. His problem is just finding the court. If his quadriceps problem persists, he'll have to worry about more than just starting.
There's also the fight for the third point guard spot. It would seem Chris Quinn has the upper hand because of his experience last year, his craftiness with the ball and his solid defense. But Chase, even at 5-10, can flat out fill it up, it looks like. And if he's simply more explosive, regardless of his size, he could force himself onto the roster. If you get to the point where you have to play a third point guard, would you rather have a reliable option you can trust (Quinn) or a guy who could fill up the stat sheet on a good day and make up for whatever it is you're missing (Chase)? If Chase keeps playing well, it'll be a tough call, because you would assume that four point guards isn't a feasible option.
Oh, and it wouldn't hurt to see Daequan Cook play well, either. He was a first-round pick, after all.

Comments

[heatstroked]

Wait. Weren't you swooning for Guillermo Diaz the summer before last?

And now you're calling Quinn a "trust"-worthy "reliable option" whereas Chase, presumably, is not, i.e., just a guy who "could fill up the stat sheet on a good day?"

MIA v. DET

Quinn: 19 mins, 0-3, 4 points, 4 assists, 3 turnovers.

Chase: 18 mins, 5-10, 13 points, 3 assists, 0 turnovers.

I can see clearly now. Quinn = trust, Chase = erratic.

Will it be even "clearer" after ATL?

[gino]

keep chase he is the man you have been looking for.he can start for any team right now.quinn cannot start for any team but is agood player. keep chase he will get you o ver the hump.

[Ashlov]

Someone check Chris Quinn's ID. He looks 15, and shouldn't be playing pro ball. :)

I like Chase alot, and can see him being developed under Riley as an even better player who can replace Jason Williams either later this season, or next season and beyond.

As for small forward, I see that issue being fixed once the Heat decide to trade Jason William's expiring contract for a quality small forward that can hit the three.

[Gus]

My vote is for Chase too. He's hungry and has shown ability - exactly what this team needs.

[Iz]

Heatstroked,
Really? I was swooning for Guillermo Diaz? I have no recollection of that.
And if you're making your decisions about Chase vs. Quinn after a single preseason game that you didn't even see, then that's the bigger mistake.
Quinn is reliable because he has handled the team for stretches last season and doesn't try to do too much. Chase is explosive because that's who he is. It's how he plays. He's more of a scorer. And I didn't say he's "just" a player who can fill up the stat sheet. I'm saying that's what he can provide if asked. I'm not saying he can't be "reliable," just that Quinn is because he has done it for portions of last year.
I don't like to respond to comments, but sometimes I just can't help it.

[RedAlert]

I think you're being to generous about Quinn in your post. So what if he had experience from last year? It's not like the Heat won those games. And Defense? He got eaten alive by all the other PGs in the league. Chase is better. Pat Riley needs to I'm sick of teams and scouts passing him over because of about how short he is. So what? Nate Robinson is short. Why does he get so much playing time? Earl Boykins is short, yet he get lots of playing time. Chase is just as good as those two. Miami needs a guy like Chase to answer the Kirk Hinrichs, Ben Gordons, Gilbert Arenases of the league.