Tuesday morning, the Heat will open camp at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.
Sunday night, the preseason gets underway at American Airlines Arena against Charlotte.
It goes by quickly people.
Here are some observations and highlights from Monday's media day session:
>>> It's quite obvious the Heat struggled last summer to recover when LeBron James bolted for Cleveland and left the organization scrambling to fill its roster. This summer, Pat Riley and the front office had plenty of time to fix things and expectations are back to a championship level. Coach Erik Spoelstra reiterated Monday that he likes his roster.
"We think we've added the essential and needed depth that you need to compete for a title and to be able to absorb all the unpredictable things that happen in an 82 game season," Spoelstra said. "Our team is a nice blend of veteran talented players, experienced players that have tasted and known what it takes to get to the top of that mountain, and players that have been extremely close to that and feel the pain and agony and motivation of falling short. We also have guys right in their prime athletically and experience wise of their careers. And then to have some youthful exuberance to add to that roster just to give your team some energy, we like the roster."
>>> As far as health is concerned, no one is entering camp with any fresh injuries or health concerns. Obviously, though, Chris Bosh (blood clot) will be closely monitored and Spoelstra said veterans over 30 will not necessarily be given the same workload as the younger players on the team.
"Training camp is really 28 days long," Spoelstra said. "We're going to try to take positive steps every single day. We've done an inordinate amount of planning. We've got a lot of time to train for this camp. But I'll adjust as necessary depending on how guys feel. Really, the communication will be at an all time level between our veteran players, our training staff and myself."
Josh McRoberts said he expects to be able to go full go. He missed all but 17 games last season with a right meniscus tear.
>>> As far as competition goes for starting jobs, there really isn't any. The lineup is going to be Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside. The second unit is pretty locked in too with Mario Chalmers, Gerald Green, Justise Winslow, Josh McRoberts and Amare Stoudemire expected to get the bulk of the play off the bench.
Spoelstra usually likes to mix and match starters and backups in camp, but early on at least he's going to give his first unit time to gel. That's smart considering Dragic and Bosh have never played together.
"That's very important," Wade said. "A lot of times when you go through training camp, a lot of it is to try and get guys in shape. You're putting in new guys, you're trying to slow things down and you kind of get away from being prepared as the units you're going top play with. That continuity you're looking for, you don't get that because a lot guys don't play in preseason, especially early on. As soon as the season starts you're still searching for it. Hopefully we can get on the court together and start building that continuity that we need with this new unit."
>>> Wade, 33, missed 20 games last season because of hamstring injuries. He's happy, though, his knees weren't a problem and he says they appear to be good in shape heading into camp thanks to the extra rest.
"Every year you go into the year not having any idea what's going to irk you," Wade said. "Last year it was missing games from my hamstring, which was very unfortunate. But I worked very hard to make sure that's not the case this year.
"The year before and year before that it was tough years, very tough. Not just physically, but mentally as well. You start questioning a lot of things. Last year was a year that reassured to myself I'm still an elite player and its just a different game. Maybe not SportsCenter Top 10 elite player, but efficient, winning ballgames, you better look at me on the scouting report top player. I'll strive to be there this year as well."
>>> Whiteside, 26, took advantage of being with NBA trainers this off-season, something he hasn't been able to do in years past when he was in the D League or playing overseas. The seven-foot, 265 pound center comes into camp in the best shape of his life -- with seven percent body fat -- and as fast as a guard according to Spoelstra.
Whiteside of course has millions of reasons to be motivated. He can cash in big time (maybe as much as $20 million a season) if he can improve on last year's 11-point, 10-rebound, 2.5-blocks per game season.
>>> Alonzo Mourning told Whiteside this summer to focus on becoming the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year. Whiteside is buying in.
Bosh, meanwhile, has tried to take Whiteside under his wing this summer with one-on-one games after workouts. He said he and Whiteside will be locker mates this season.
"It's different when you see people with your jerseys," Whiteside said of the fame he's started to receiver. "It really shows that support, that they really went out, spent their hard-earned money to go get a jersey with your name on their back. It's really a humbling thing."
Whiteside will also have Stoudemire as a role model. Whiteside said he looked up to Stoudemire when he was in high school. "I still remember Amare wearing two or three socks out in Phoenix," Whiteside said. "I used to do it just to emulate him."
>>> Speaking of Bosh, he said he feels there is no benchmark he has to reach to feel like he's back to being the All-Star player he was before last year's health scare.
"I'm here. That's all I need," he said. "I think I have a chance to improve from last year. I think I'm a better player -- even without playing games as crazy as that sounds. I feel rested, refreshed. I was able to really heal and work on my body and work on my game. So I'm confident. I'm in really good shape. I haven't been in this good shape in a few years because we never had time. So, now, I wanted to make sure I did the work so I can be ready."
>>> Bosh shot a career-best 37 percent from three-point range last season. He believes he can reach 40 percent.
"I'm trying to get to a point where it feels like its just a regular jumper," he said. "Threes can sometimes be a little bit different. You got to step into it. There's always catch and shoots on the move, off the fastbreak, off the dribble. There's so many different ways you can get better at that. I always want to improve and make sure I'm knocking it down when its time."
>>> Dragic, who signed a five-year, $90 million deal back in July, said he has no individual statistical goals for this season. He just wants to win.
"It's all about the team," he said. "When you come to the league you want to be the best player you can. You try to do this and that. But now, I feel like I'm already established as a player in this league and now it's all about the team. Whatever the team needs I'm going to do that and try to win a championship. That's the most important thing right now."
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