Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to those who celebrate!
While it wasn’t exactly formal, exactly one year ago today, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler not-so-subtly requested a trade away from the organization. The relationship between and the organization continued to deteriorate over the next several weeks, which ultimately led to him being moved in early February to Golden State.
While Miami fell apart down the stretch without its former star, its start to 2025-26 was much more encouraging. However, a recent drought has led it to be in more familiar territory than it was a year ago.
How the 2025-26 Miami Heat and 2024-25 Heat are similar:
Through the 30-game mark, the Heat are currently 15-15, good enough for the No. 8 seed in the East. They are sandwiched between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Hawks and Bulls, who are tied for the No. 9 seed.
Last year, the Heat was 16-14 through 30 games. But if you peel back the curtain, there’s more than just one similarity.
This year through 30 games vs. last year:
- ORTG: 113.7 ORTG (18th) this year vs. 112.4 ORTG (12th) in ’24-25
- DRTG: 112.5 (7th) vs. 110.4 (10th)
- NET Rating: 1.2 (13th) v. 2.0 (10th)
- TRB%: 48.8 (23rd) v. 49.5 (20th)
- TOV%: 13.5 (6th) v. 13.7 (8th)
- 3P%: 36.7 (8th) v. 37.3 (7th)
- eFG%: 54.0 (17th) vs. 53.5 (20th)
Lots of similarities, even with Norman Powell instead of Jimmy Butler (and Terry Rozier). Injuries to Tyler Herro and, most recently, Pelle Larsson, haven’t helped, either.
Perhaps the biggest discrepancy is their pace. Though Miami’s pace over the last nine games has regressed. Miami also has the same amount of wins against teams that are top-10 in NET (3) as it did last year, but in five more games.
The Heat enters a difficult part of their schedule with the Hawks, Nuggets, Pistons and Timberwolves making up five of their next seven games. Do you think they can get back on track?!
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Saw this proposal by Athlon Sports article.
Mock Trade Sends Ja Morant to Heat, Andrew Wiggins to Grizzlies. In a potential trade, the Heat could send a package of Wiggins, Nikola Jovic and draft capital to the Grizzlies in exchange for Morant.
comeon wiggins jovic for ja maybe wiggins herro sun
Ja’s productivity and stock are way down. Look his stats up. He’s not a happy camper and Grizzlies aren’t happy with him.
https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4279888/ja-morant
if ja can stop his aerobatic circus shots and stay healthy hes prob a top 5 pg
Plus stay healthy and stay out of trouble. I forgot, is he Crips or Bloods?
pat greets him with those rings and the godfather swagger think ja becomes part of heat culture.zo was a problem child before he got here think god father can change ja.u get him for dav and wiggy team becomes relevant.u trade ty bam jovic picks for greek your an nba champ contender.all are fairly realistic gotta get pat gm ing better dont want to lose the great 30 man
When was Zo a problem child? I found nothing that states that. If you are looking for comparisons, you’d be better off with Mason, Sprewell, Childs, Starks. Or Oakley.
Gap year. Not yet official but I’ll wait by January if we’re still .500 then it is what it is. Happy Holidays HHH!!
Unless/until something changes for the better, this is a play-in team/possible playoff team with no better than a first round exit vs #1 or #2 seed.