Miami Heat: 25 key numbers after 25 games

We have now completed 25 games of the 2023-24 Miami Heat season. There’s been good, bad and, at times, ugly. But let’s dig into 25 key statistics through the team’s first 25 games, as well as compare them to last year’s numbers through 25 games!

14-11 – Their record through 25 games is 14-11. Following a loss earlier this month to the Indiana Pacers, star forward Jimmy Butler said the Heat were “not good, not bad, just mediocre.” Miami’s record is currently the seventh-best record in the East–a half-game ahead of the Brooklyn Nets, one game ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers and 3.5 ahead of the Toronto Raptors for the first play-in spot.

• Comparison to last year: Miami’s 2022-23 record after 25 games was … 11-14. At the time, it was the No. 11 seed, a half-game behind the Washington Wizards for the fourth-and-final play-in spot. Ultimately, they finished 44-38 in the No. 7 seed, but eventually became the No. 7 seed after falling in their first play-in game to Atlanta before narrowly beating Chicago.

4-9 – This is the Heat’s record against teams .500 or better through 25 games; those four wins came against the Los Angeles Lakers, Nets, Cavaliers and Pacers. Its 4-9 (.308) record against such foes is the second-worst among the top-10 seeds in the East and the 12th-worst leaguewide. Against teams below .500, Miami’s 10-2 with both losses coming at the hands of the Chicago Bulls, including a 124-116 defeat Thursday evening.

• Comparison to last year: Miami finished an even 24-24 in games against teams .500 or better last year. But through 25 against teams .500 or better (at the time of Miami’s 25th game), it was 6-9. 

114.7 – The Heat’s offensive rating through 25 games, the 13th-best mark in the NBA despite myriad injuries to Tyler Herro, Butler and Bam Adebayo. They have produced an offensive rating above this benchmark in 12 of their 25 games, where they’re 9-3.

• Comparison to last year: The Heat sported a 109.1 offensive rating, the fifth-worst leaguewide; it finished No. 25 (sixth-worst) in offensive rating, the lowest placement of the Jimmy Butler era and the worst since 2018-19, when it finished No. 26 (106.7 ORTG). 
• According to dunksandthrees.com, Miami’s adjusted offensive rating–which accounts for strength of schedule–is 18th.

99.1 – It hasn’t always been the cleanest process, but the Heat has generated 99.0 halfcourt points per 100 plays, the 13th-most in the NBA, according to Cleaning The Glass. It’s operated in the halfcourt 79.9 percent of the time (20th), according to CTG; it has not placed higher than 18th in such plays since 2011-12, when it was 15th. Miami’s still prone to having difficulty generating advantages, but Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s ascendance, in addition to breakout campaigns from Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson and Josh Richardson (recently … when healthy) has helped alleviate some creation burden off Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

• Comparison to last year: After games, the Heat ranked No. 23 in halfcourt points per 100 plays, averaging 96.7. It operated in the halfcourt 81.1 percent of the time, the sixth-most.

113.5 – The Heat’s defensive rating through 25 games, the 11th-best mark across the NBA. Their defensive rating in the 13 games that both Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo have played is 112.3, compared to 115.7 when one or fewer play, according to PBP Stats.

• Comparison to last year: The Heat had the 12th-best defensive rating through 25 games, surrendering 111.3 points per 100 possessions. It finished 9th (112.8), which surprisingly dipped to 114.3 when both Adebayo and Butler played (60 games).
• Miami’s adjusted defensive rating is the 11th best, sandwiched in between the Grizzlies and Warriors.

98.5 – We looked at the halfcourt offense, now let’s examine the defense! The Heat have allowed 98.5 halfcourt points per 100 plays, which ranks 18th. This doesn’t help with the recent loss of Adebayo, Miami’s best defensive player and arguably the best (and most versatile) defensive cog in the NBA. The opponents’ halfcourt points per play dip 8.2 points (93rd percentile) when he’s on the court versus when he’s not, the team’s third-best mark behind Butler (8.8) and Dru Smith (10.1).

• Comparison to last year: The Heat were surrendering 95.7 halfcourt points per 100 plays through 25 games a year ago, the Association’s 17th-best mark, according to CTG. It finished surrendering 98.1 points, which ranked No. 16–the first time it finished in the bottom-half leaguewide in that category since 2014-15, when it finished 17th (88.2). 

58.9 – The Heat carry a 58.9 true-shooting percentage, the ninth-best mark in the Association. Thus, the Heat have been above average from all three phases of the floor–inside the arc, beyond the arc and from the free-throw line–relative to the rest of the league. If the season ended today, this would mark their best true-shooting percentage since 2013-14, the only time in franchise history it’s finished with a TS% north of 58.8%.

• Comparison to last year: Through 25 games, the Heat’s true-shooting percentage ranked No. 20 at 56.4 percent. They finished with the 21st-best true-shooting percentage at 57.4 percent–one of six teams (Hawks, Knicks, Suns, Grizzlies and Raptors) to finish .500 or better with a sub-58.0 TS%.

7 – This marks the amount of Heat players averaging double figures: Adebayo, Butler, Herro, Jaquez, Caleb Martin, Josh Richardson and Robinson. Five other teams–the New Orleans Pelicans, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets–have seven double-figure scorers, though the only team with more is the Indiana Pacers (8).

• Comparison to last year: The Heat had six double-figure scorers through the team’s first 25 games last year–Max Strus being the only former player to crack the list. The Heat have finished with seven double-figure scorers twice: In 1991-92 and 2017-18 (min. 50 games). The amount of 10-plus point-per-game scorers in the Butler era, under that same barometer, has been six times thrice and five last year. 

13 – The amount of clutch games the Heat has played through 25 games, going 7-6. They have the sixth-worst NET Rating (-19.9)–including the fourth-worst offense and 10th-worst defense–with the fifth-lowest true-shooting percentage (50.0) in those situations.

• Comparison to last year: At this point last year, the number was 16, the second-most leaguewide, only trailing the Dallas Mavericks (17). Miami sported an even 8-8 record in those games with a plus-9.4 NET Rating (10th) and a 55.1 true-shooting percentage (16th) in those situations. Miami played 54 clutch games last year, the second-most, going 32-22 with a plus-14.7 NET (2nd) in those games. 

14.3, 23 – Nothing screams #HEATCulture™ more than creating deflections and drawing a charge. The Heat have deflected 14.3 balls per 48 minutes, tied with the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings for the 14th-best mark leaguewide. They have also drawn 23 charges, trailing only the Warriors (27) and Mavericks (25) for the NBA lead.

• Comparison to last year: The Heat averaged only 13.3 deflections per 48 minutes, which ranked No. 23 in the league. But the Heat drew 25 charges, the second-most. It finished with 91, only trailing the Thunder (118) for the NBA lead.

15.1 – Piggybacking off how many deflections it’s created, the Heat have turned opponents over on 15.1 percent of possessions, the seventh-highest OPP TOV% across the Association.

• Comparison to last year: The Heat forced the second-highest turnover rate through 25 games a year ago at 16.2 percent, which trailed only the Raptors (17.2) and Thunder (16.6). They finished tied for third with the Cleveland Cavaliers, forcing mistakes on 16.1 percent of possessions. Miami has not finished outside the top-3 in OPP TOV% since 2019-20, when it finished NO. 19. 

65.7 – While it’s not normally a statistic many key-in on, the Heat sport a 65.7 assist percentage–the seventh-highest mark in the league. Miami’s also tied for the 6th-best assist-to-turnover ratio (1.98); it helps when you have very good connectors and decision-makers in Jaime Jaquez, Kevin Love and Kyle Lowry, among others.

• Comparison to last year: Through 25 games, the Heat sported a 61.5 assist percentage and a 1.65 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranked No. 12 and 18, respectively. It has finished with an assist percentage greater than 65.5 percent just twice–in 2019-20 (65.7) and 2020-21 (67.1)–since 1996-97 (the earliest data I could find). 

49.7 – “No rebounds, no rings,” a wise man (Pat Riley) once said. Well, Miami’s collected 49.7 percent of its rebounds, tied for the 17th-best rebounding rate. It’s collecting 73.7 percent of defensive rebounds, the third-most, and 26.0 percent of offensive rebounds, the fourth-fewest.

• Comparison to last year: Through 25 games last year, the Heat had the 23rd-best rebounding percentage (49.2), including the 10th-best defensive rebounding rate (73.0) and 22nd-best offensive rebounding rate (26.1). 

39.2 – Remember when the Heat was the most efficient 3-point shooting team in ’21-22? And then it completely cratered to No. 27 last year? Well, guess what? It’s back on top! Miami now leads the NBA in 3-point percentage at 39.2 percent. Obviously, this mark is likely going to regress, but it’s been a very promising start amid its injuries.

• Comparison to last year: Miami canned 33.7 percent of its attempts through 25 games last year, which was the league’s 8th-worst mark. As I mentioned above, it was the fourth-worst 3-point shooting team a year ago. It marked the worst 3-point shooting season (by efficiency) since 2014-15, when it canned only 33.5 percent of its triples. 

38.6 – Miami’s 3-point rate--meaning the percentage of field goal attempts it’s taken from distance–equals 38.6 percent, which sits 15th. According to Cleaning The Glass, its 3-point rate in non-garbage time is 35.2 percent, which also ranks 15th. The Heat have superseded a 35 percent 3-point rate in each of the last five seasons, topping out at 40.0 percent in 2020-21, according to CTG.

• Comparison to last year: The Heat had a 40.8 percent 3-point rate last season, the ninth-highest rate in the NBA–but the number sunk to 37.5 percent in non-garbage time situations, per CTG. There’s plenty of variance, but it helps when you knock down 3s!

29.7 – According to Cleaning The Glass, the Heat is attempting only 29.7 percent of its shots at the rim, converting at a 62.8 percent clip, which ranks No. 27 and 24, respectively. While it ranks in the top-half in offense, imagine its ceiling if the offense, collectively, could consistently get to the rim! More paint touches, more bend from the defense, more leverage obtained, more points (from everywhere)! Boom!

• Comparison to last year: The Heat had a rim frequency of 31.3 percent through 25 games last year, the seventh-lowest rate leaguewide. Miami was converting at a 62.8 rate, the fourth-lowest rate, while knocking down 45.7 percent of its short mid-range shots (~4-14ft), per CTG. It finished the season 28th in rim frequency (28.4%) and 19th in rim accuracy (65.3%). It has ranked No. 22 or lower in rim frequency in four of the last five years, per CTG.

8 – The number of charges Kyle Lowry’s drawn, which leads the team. Since joining the team ahead of the 2021-22 season, Lowry leads all Heat players in charges drawn with 46, 17 more than the next-highest amount (Caleb Martin – 29) over that span.

• Comparison to last year: Lowry had four through 25 games. Martin led the Heat in drawn charges over that span with seven, finishing with 16. Though Kevin Love, who only played 21 games with the Heat, amassed 16 charges–topping the Heat with 1.4 charges drawn per 36 minutes. Only OKC’s then-rookie Jaylin Williams (1.7; 43 total) averaged more.

106 – The amount of fourth-quarter points that Duncan Robinson possesses, 20 more than the next-most (Jaime Jaquez — 86). He also leads in field goal makes (38), 3-point makes (21), 3-point percentage (21-45; min. 10 3PA), true-shooting percentage (74.3!!!!!), tied for first in assists (25) and is second in minutes. Butler leads the team in 4Q points per 75 possessions (24.4) on 52.7 percent true shooting.

• Comparison to last year: Bam Adebayo led the Heat in fourth-quarter scoring through the team’s first 25 games with 135 points, nearly 60 more than Tyler Herro, who had 79, albeit in 75 more minutes. Adebayo finished with a team-most 415 total fourth-quarter points, though Butler averaged the most fourth-quarter points (27.0) per 75 possessions on 52.6 percent shooting and 62.5 percent true shooting.

17 – Jaime Jaquez Jr. has tallied double-figure scoring 17 times this season–all coming over the team’s last 18 games. He trails only Chet Holmgren (21), Victor Wembanyama (20) and Brandon Miller (18) as the only rookies with more double-figure scoring outputs so far this season.

• Comparison to last year: Nikola Jovic had just two games with 10-plus points: Nov. 16 against the Toronto Raptors (13 PTS; 4-8 FG) and Washington Wizards (18 PTS; 4-10 FG). In all fairness, he only played 15 games in part due to a midseason back injury, recording 15 or fewer minutes in all but five of those games!
• The Heat have had five other rookies with 10-plus points across the team’s first 25 games: Kevin Edwards (16), Michael Beasley (17), Caron Butler (17), Steve Smith (18), Dwyane Wade (19) and Kendrick Nunn (20).

12 – To add on, Jaquez has scored 10-plus points in 12 consecutive games, the only rookie in franchise history to ever accomplish that feat over the team’s first 25 games. He’s also the only current NBA rookie and the 10th over the last 10 years to accomplish that same feat. Here’s that list:

• Joel Embiid (2016-17) — 15 straight games with 10-plus points over team’s first 25 games
• Ben Simmons (2017-18) — 20
• Kyle Kuzma (2017-18) — 16
• Jayson Tatum (2017-18) — 13
• Trae Young (2018-19) — 13
• Luka Doncic (2018-19) — 19
• Collin Sexton (2018-19) — 15
• Eric Paschall (2019-20) — 13
• Paolo Banchero (2022-23) — 16

Pretty good company, eh?

0.55 – We know how valuable Bam Adebayo is on the defensive end. He’s their backbone; he’s the straw that stirs the drink. According to NBA.com tracking data, Adebayo’s surrendering only 0.55 points per possession on isolation possessions, trailing only Jalen Johnson (0.38) and Evan Mobley (0.46) for the best marks in the NBA (min. 20 possessions defended). Absurdity.

• Comparison to last year: Adebayo held opposing players to 0.88 points per isolation possession, per NBA.com’s tracking data. That mark finished the sixth-best among those who defended at least 100 isolation possessions.

5.5 – Perhaps the most jarring development this season is Duncan Robinson’s re-emergence … looking completely like a different player from previous seasons. Robinson’s averaging 5.5 drives per game; over his previous four seasons combined, he averaged roughly 1.7. Miami’s 6-foot-7 sniper has become exceptional at attacking closeouts and playmaking/decision-making in live dribble situations. Combine that with knocking down 44.2 percent of his 7.1 3-point attempts, and you have one of the most improved players in the league … literally (call it in, Adam Silver!).

159 – The Heat’s most frequent lineup has played 159 possessions (78 minutes): Lowry-Butler-Duncan-Haywood Highsmith-Adebayo. The Heat are one of three teams (Grizzlies, Hornets) without a single lineup that’s played at least 175 possessions together. This aforementioned lineup has an 11.9 NET Rating together.

• Comparison to last year: The Heat’s most frequent quintet through 25 games last year (Lowry-Herro-Butler-Martin-Adebayo) played 242 possessions (120 minutes) together, sporting a plus-4.8 NET Rating. This ended up being Miami’s most frequent lineup (595 POSS, 302 MIN) last regular season, playing 25 games together with a 4.4 NET.

52 – No way is this sustainable, but Miami’s best lineup (min. 20 minutes), featuring Lowry-Butler-Duncan-Highsmith-Bryant, has a NET Rating of 52.0. Its best showing came on Nov. 22 against the Cavaliers, outscoring them by 15 points in 13 combined minutes.

• Comparison to last year: Its most productive lineup through 25 games last year (min. 20 min) featured Lowry-Herro-Martin-Highsmith-Adebayo. who conjured together a 32.6 NET in 26 minutes.

I know there were myriad numbers that I did not list that were equally as intriguing, such as 1.) Bam Adebayo leading the Heat in scoring per 75 possessions (24.1) 2.) Miami’s transition struggles (1.8 PPP added; 24th) and 3.) The team’s spot-up success (1.14 ppp; T-4).

What do you think were a few key numbers? Let us know in the comments!

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