MIAMI — As the Miami Heat secured a huge 115-107 victory over the New York Knicks, one of the standout performers was newcomer Norman Powell, who continues to impress in his early days with the team.
After an explosive debut in the season opener against the Orlando Magic and a solid outing versus the Memphis Grizzlies, Powell’s comfort level with the Heat seems remarkably high—especially considering this was just his third regular-season game with the new squad.
In Miami’s home opener win over the Knicks, Powell led the team with 29 points, shooting seven of 15 from the field and three of six from beyond the arc. He also made 12 free throws, complemented by seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals, playing a crucial role in the team’s impressive victory.
Despite the impressive stat line, Powell emphasized that he felt in sync with his new teammates throughout the game. Speaking to ClutchPoints, he shared that he has felt “comfortable since day one” with Miami, describing himself as “super low maintenance.” He credited his smooth transition to being a “student of the game.”
“I work really hard on my game, and I feel like, honestly, what makes the transition so easy with any of my traits and new teams is just that I’ve been in every single role,” Powell explained. “Being prepared and knowing—I’m a student of the game. I watch, I study. I watch opposing teams. I watched this team a lot even before I was on it. I love the game of basketball.”
Powell continued, “I work really hard, so the game becomes easy when you’re anticipating what the opposing team is going to do, how they’re going to guard you, and where your spots are going to be.”
Fitting perfectly with the Heat’s up-tempo offensive style, Powell has embraced the team’s fast pace and pride in quick transitions. Against the Knicks, Miami initially faced resistance as New York slowed the game in the first quarter, but Miami eventually regained control and increased the tempo.
Powell was instrumental in making quick baskets and also key in slowing the game down when the Knicks tried to gain momentum—evident in his 12 made free throws.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra praised Powell’s savvy on the court, highlighting his ability to draw fouls and his craftiness.
“He’s a crafty, veteran, skilled offensive talent,” Spoelstra said. “That’s a very good defensive team. So if you’re just trying to run normal actions, they’ve got great wing defenders, they blow up screens, they prevent you from coming off screens. So he just finds a way to get in a bunch of random situations. Those are the hardest guys to scout and scheme for.”
Spoelstra added, “He had some baskets in transition, some on broken plays, and some where he just created something out of nothing. That’s a credit to his skill level. I know he really spent a lot of time working on his skill and being able to manage great defenders and great defenses. His ability to get to the free throw line or draw fouls on some of his threes can really get him going as well.”
Looking ahead, Powell and the Heat will aim to continue their winning ways as they prepare to face the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-how-norman-powells-love-of-basketball-has-led-to-easy-transition-to-miami