The Miami Heat offense has been a breath of fresh air through three games.
Against the Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks, the Heat have posted the league’s 12th-best offense with the ninth-highest effective field goal percentage and eighth-best true shooting percentage.
So far, they have operated at the league’s fastest pace, a point of emphasis heading into the 2025-26 season. But as a result, they have significantly cut down on an element they have relied upon each of the last three seasons: Ball screens.
Heat are running far fewer pick-and-rolls through three games:
32.
That’s how many pick-and-rolls the Heat have run through three games, according to the NBA’s Synergy tracking data. Moreover, they’re operating in PNRs at the league’s lowest frequency (8.7 percent), which would be the lowest since the league started tracking it in 2015-16 if that mark sustains itself over a full 82-game season.
For perspective, the lowest ever was the 2019-20 Houston Rockets. The similarity between the two was the pace — Miami leads the NBA in pace, albeit through three games, while the Rockets finished second.
Playing at a rapid pace has forced the Heat to play more in isolation. It’s prevented stagnation in the halfcourt — which they have been prone to over the last three seasons, thus leading to inefficient offense — while rewarding them with cross-matches they can exploit and more space to penetrate downhill.
Even when Miami is forced to pull the lever back, it’s getting into its offense with at least 18 seconds left on the clock, instead of ~14-16. At least two additional seconds is a lot more time allotted for the Heat to put defenses in rotation and exploit whatever it needs to exploit to get clean shots.
The Heat have played each of their first three games without Tyler Herro, who placed in the 76th percentile in pick-and-roll frequency (33.1 percent) with the ninth-most total pick-and-roll possessions as a ballhandler.
Herro’s improved dramatically as a slasher, though I wonder how he’ll adapt — especially coming off a foot injury. With the ball in his hands, he’s functioned best attacking drop coverage as a pull-up jump shooter.
How he jells not only with Norman Powell, but with this new scheme, will be incredibly important to how they fare offensively for the rest of the season, which may need to come at the expense of (a few additional) ball-screens in the halfcourt.
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How about them Dodgers? Freddie Freeman hits walk off homerun in 18th inning.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6ppSP5nayEU
stayed up to the 15th bout 130am.dodgers had lots chances toronto was going down 123 every inn.dont care who wins but if sun wants la go dodgers.looks like ohtani had little bit of cramp hope hes ok to p tonight.guys unreal reached base 7 times last night up until 15th 2 hrs and shcneider said im walking him every time hes up.
Was it the longest championship game?
Can’t wait to see Herro back. We’ll know how he fits in the new system.
Powell is playing like the team leader/closer the Heat have been looking for. He leads quietly, by example. Last night he scored 27 points on 7/15 shooting, including 3/6 from 3, 12/12 free throws, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. For the season, he is averaging 24.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 2.7 apg. Those are legitimate all -star numbers. With a SG like that, who needs Herro.
As I have previously mentioned, the only way Miami should consider keeping rather than trading Herro is if he is able to modify his game to become an all-star level PG. If he can score 20+ points with 6+ rebounds and 8+ assists per game and is able to perform adequately in Miami’s defensive schemes, I would consider extending his contract (for no more than $38-$40M per year for 4 years). If he is unable to reach those numbers (or very close) Miami should consider trading him before the deadline for a good rotation big, plus young assets and/or draft picks. I think there are several teams around the league that could meet those requirements.
its not only the #s sun its the way he fits into this TEAM.ball is moving very few bad shots being taken,and with the exception of fonzi all players plus defenders.points have not been a problem offensive rebounds have been an issue.need another power player
How Herro fits in the new offense and defense remains to be seen. Like Rozier, he’s innocent until proven guilty. Once the questions have been answered, I’m good with keeping him if he earns it or trading him if he doesn’t. Until then, I’m trying to keep an open mind. You should too.
unfort theres alot on terry sun.tyler will have to adjust his game. its a small sample size but team looks better than expected especially jjj and fonzi.of course the old expression in sports u cant have enough good players.im not a big herro guy he puts up lots shots and plays bad d.and of course breaks down at end of season whats his playoff #s pretty bad
I’m not going to disagree with you. If he doesn’t play in a way that makes Miami better, he should be traded. At minimum, he should be able to demonstrate he can still put up 20+ points per night. Teams are always looking for scorers.
If he is able to adjust to his new role and improve the team’s performance, I’m still open to negotiating a team friendly extension. We should have a good idea which way it will be going by Christmas.
Honestly, the way things are going right now, I don’t know if a 20+ points per night guy is what we need from Herro. Our biggest strength right now is our depth and versatility, I think. So if Herro comes back and he’s only scoring 15 a game, but he’s making the right plays and his gravity opens up opportunities for his teammates, if scoring efficiency increases when he’s on the floor, that’s winning basketball.
Right now (small sample size, I know) we’ve got 7 guys averaging double digit scoring, and Davion’s right there at 9ppg. Imagine a scenario where Davion gets a few more touches and Herro gets added to the mix, and even just adding 15ppg for Herro, suddenly we have 9 people who collectively guarantee about 130 points per game. And I know that Grizzlies game is really juicing the stats here, and that adding Herro minutes means taking minutes away from someone else. But how are teams going to even plan for a version of Miami where any of 9 players might go off on a tear?
Again, we won’t know until we see it on the court. It’s entirely possible that Herro doesn’t integrate with this new faster style. But I trust Tyler’s ability to contribute to winning basketball, and I trust Spo’s ability to utilize any player in the best possible fashion.
To keep things in perspective, a little reality check (Czech?😀). It’s only 3 games in. They’re not going to go 81-1. There will be tough losses when we should have won. But this (so far) new look Heat has, as SM put it, cleared out some of the stink of last season. Butler was a revelation his first 3 years here, and was arguably the best post season player in the league. Not so much the last 2 years. His antics pulled the team down. He’s gone and that is best for both sides. His legacy to this point is how he has burned bridges at every stop.
My position for a few years, like many here, was that the Heat desperately needed to get younger and, as hfl has argued, more athletic. I saw what Boston did after trades of KG and PP. I admired what OKC, Houston, and others were doing. The Heat have done that without the benefit of high draft picks. Powell seems younger than his age. I like Wiggins, but believe he is just a placeholder until Jovic or someone else takes his place. As much as I may disagree with hhh4l and hfl at times, I agree that having Herro come off the bench would be in the best interest of the team. A second unit of Herro, Jaquez, Jovic, Simone, and one of the centers (with Dru getting minutes there as well) would be dynamite. And when Kaspar gets up to speed, the team will continue to get better. I am happy with the present and the future. If we get relief from Rozier’s contract, the sky is the limit! Let’s go Heat!
League is going in different directions. There is Dallas, which relay on big lineups. GS and Clippers are old boys destination. Most of the rest relay on superstars or wannabe superstars.
This Heat team in some way follows the last year Indiana, which ended up in finals with, lets say, limited lineup. But boy, they played fast. It would be fun comparing Heat pace with the pace of last years Indiana.
Of course not 81 Ws…just 71! haha
Yea too much fun fare with just 3 games. Consistency will be a key. Can they keep this up? And btw we still need a big right? Wiseman just got waived by Pacers. Wattya think?
Nope. I would rather Miami trade for a big who can do at least 2 out of the following three things well (defend, rebound, spread the floor). Preferably defend and rebound.
Ow ok, so that’s why he was waived didn’t fit Indy’s pace. Let’s go shopping elsewhere
your a wiseman
I see what you did there.
your precious sun