5 Things U Can Heat
- 1. Herro holds himself accountable
- 2. Minnesota Wiggins
- 3. Defending behind the line
- 4. Alec Burks isn't new to the corner
- 5. Dimes are the best
In typical Miami Heat fashion, they have rattled off three wins in a row after their disheartening 10-game losing streak. We've seen players revert to their play from earlier this season. The remainder of this season will surely end in a play-in battle at the minimum.
The last month of regular-season hoops is about leaders continuing to strive for greatness, flashes of youth, and new pieces finding their footing.
1. Herro holds himself accountable
Last week, we discussed Bam's leadership development on the court, but these off-court quotes from Herro hit just as hard.
Acknowledging when one is backsliding requires accountability and growth. It's impressive that Herro genuinely wants to maintain an efficient shot profile.
It speaks to his maturity as a player. Those fun, self-created 2s are a tool he wants to use sparingly.
Over the last three games, Herro has taken 46 shots: 15 3s, 26 paint shots, and five midranges. That diet made him an All-Star this year. It's the best role for his individual and team goals moving forward.
Herro got to the lane at will against the Atlanta Hawks, leading Miami to their third straight dub. Threes and lays equal a successful Herro.
2. Minnesota Wiggins
Andrew Wiggins is the antithesis of Herro's game. The 6-foot-7 wing scorer is asked to create off the bounce and take the available shots, including midrange barrages.
This week, we got a special treat with his outbursts against a gritty Houston Rockets defense and the lowly Charlotte Hornets.
Wiggins went 8 for 8 from the midrange in these games. This level of shotmaking/taking took us back to his Timberwolves days when 30% of his shots were long 2s
He's shooting 59% on those shots in Miami compared to 38% in 2017 (a career-high 24 PPG that year).
His jumper looks polished, and the slight pushoffs get him mountains of space. When defenders mirror him, he's still firing over their heads like they're invisible.
Sure, 59% is a bit outrageous. Over the next two games, he shot 29% from midrange. That heater wasn't sustainable, but this next aspect of his game comes down to his freakish physical traits and effort.
3. Defending behind the line
The Heat's blowout win against the Golden State Warriors was undoubtedly one of the biggest games of the year. Even the pro-tank crowd acknowledged that beating the Jimmy Butler-led Warriors would be joyful.
Bam Adebayo showed up and showed out. He was the best player on the floor. Jeff Teague was impressed with Bam's ball handling and aggression. Those tween tweens weren't the only crafty moves the Heat big pulled out.
This transition euro step was clean, and it was sparked by Andrew Wiggins rejecting a 3-pointer and volleyball spiking the rock to Bam. Blocked 3s aren't a routine play in the NBA, but Wiggins made it seem like they were. He got another one later in this Warriors game.
Tuesday's matchup was built up as Jimmy Butler's return game. Narratively, a potential Wiggins revenge game was swept under the rug. He didn't quite light up the Warriors like he'd been doing this week, but those freakish blocks displayed elite timing, quick reactions, and the will to compete.
Wiggins' motor and hunger were questioned during his youth in Minnesota. He shifted that perception, being the second option on the Warriors' 2022 championship squad. From stealing offensive rebounds to guarding the premier offensive weapon, Wiggins played with pride during that run.
These two magnificent blocked 3-pointers were hustle plays that ignited the Heat. Wiggins isn't new to this.
Per PBP stats, Wiggins is tied for the sixth-most blocked 3s this season (10). The man uses his go-go gadget wingspan with the best of them.
4. Alec Burks isn't new to the corner
Everybody stepped their game up in the Warriors shellacking this week. With Duncan Robinson out due to a back injury, Erik Spoelstra wanted to keep shooting in the lineup, so he dialed that old reliable 18 number.
Burks never knows when he'll play, but he's always ready to combust teams from the corners. Before the last two games that saw him in the starting five, Burks hadn't played 20 minutes in a game since early March. It takes a true professional to stay ready, not knowing if he's a de facto sideline coach or if he'll have elevator screens called for him that night.
Burks is truly that type of pro. His game matched the level of intensity the Heat needed Tuesday night. The 14-year vet scored 17 points, along with an inferno 5 for 7 from deep. Two of those swishes came from the corner, and his corner total got more additions in the Hawks game. Burks is up to a blistering 47% from the corner, ranking in the 98th percentile among wings.
Corner 3s are seen as the easier type of three because they're shorter compared to above-the-break 3s. The Heat are always frequent flyers from the corners, ranking at least top six in corner 3 frequency since 2013. The Heat offense isn't great, but generating these looks isn't the issue.
5. Dimes are the best
The Heat's teamwork isn't the main reason their offense has been meh this year. They are moving the ball and attempting to make the most of what they have. Their 65.7 assists percentage is 10th in the league. Not good, not great. That number should be higher with a roster like this.
Kyle Anderson contributed to raising that number. He put on a passing clinic in the second quarter of the Heat's 32nd win of the year. Anderson's impact was felt, as he was a plus-five with manipulating dimes in the period.
These no-look passes put the defense in a bind before Anderson delivered a doozy. Davion Mitchell has been a super surprise with his accuracy from deep (46%), but his pass on this transition run was another momentum boost for Miami. These passes were some of the plays of the week, other than Kel'el Ware's tricky reverse layup.
Ware does something once a game that makes one believe he can be a star in this league. Having the concentration and hand-eye coordination to finish that layup isn't easy.
The Heat are winners of three in a row. They're playing well enough that the delusional Heat thoughts creep back up. Today, they'd match up with the flaming hot Chicago Bulls in the 9-10 play-in matchup. These Heat vs those Bulls as of today would be an interesting matchup.
