There’s the old sports cliché that is, “It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish.”
But in the NBA, even though your closing lineup is arguably more important, you always want to start games as strong as possible to keep them competitive. You want to stay within striking distance, hoping you’re not always having to crawl out of a hole that you dig for yourself.
The Miami Heat have had 14 different starting lineups this season, including eight (spanning over 21 games) that include second-year guard Pelle Larsson. Considering how well he’s seemingly jelled with the rest of the team’s core, is it time for Miami to increase his role? Let’s examine.
Why Pelle Larsson should be considered for starting lineup moving forward:
Larsson, drafted No. 44 overall by the Heat in the 2024 NBA Draft, had an uneven rookie season with Miami. He averaged 4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists on 43.8 percent shooting and 54.6 percent true shooting. He didn’t have a large role, but where the Arizona alum excelled was in two areas: Defensively (he was one of the Heat’s top POA defenders) and helping connect the puzzlie pieces together.
Dating back to his collegiate career, Larsson, who turns 25-years-old in February, has never been more than a glue guy. Thus, there was no role too big or too small for him; he could impact any game, whether it’s five minutes or 25 minutes.
You can’t teach that.
That’s can also be said about him this year, too. He’s started in 21 of his 34 games with Miami, averaging 9.3 points and 3.1 assists on 56.9 percent true shooting. However, Larsson’s impact has long transcended any single statistic.
Beyond the Heat’s 13-8 record when he starts, Larsson has jelled with the Heat’s best players this year. When he’s shared the floor with at least two of Norman Powell, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, the Heat own a 13.1 NET Rating with a 121.9 offensive rating (249 minutes). Correlation doesn’t equal causation, but three of the Heat’s four-best lineups (min. 25) include Larsson.
Why? He’s a very good defender, willing to do the dirty work; he’s the Heat’s best cutter, where he makes himself available for his teammates; he’s an excellent passer, way better than his assist numbers suggest. Larsson is one of Miami’s most malleable players.
At some point, that’s starter material.
Who would Larsson start over?
This is the golden question.
In my mind, Adebayo and Mitchell are two linchpins. Personally, I would bench either Herro or Powell for Larsson. However, I can’t see head coach Erik Spoelstra going that route, yet.
Thus, the answer is Andrew Wiggins. A Mitchell-Herro-Powell-Larsson-Adebayo lineup is small, unless you substitute Kel’el Ware for one of those other three players. The 7-footer played his way out of that conversation for now, though.
Larsson isn’t as efficient as Wiggins, but he’s a much better passer and as impactful of a defender. Spoelstra hasn’t shown any willingness to bench Wiggins because of his two-way prowess. And that’s reasonable.
But Larsson, to this point, has done enough to enter the conversation. At the end of the day, he’s a winning basketball player, so it’s not going to matter which combination he’s with — because he’s going to positively impact the game anyway.
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What’s up my neighbors?
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wow is he fragile.the tua tuglivoila of miami heat
This is what Miami wants to build. I guess. A slew of players able to fit and grind when injuries shelves others. Like this recent win. No JJJ, Tyler, DMitch. Whil waiting for the big whale, Heat culture will try to be competitive as hell whoever is available.
Ja Morant literally just came out and said he’s loyal and Memphis is where he wants to be. Oh well next rumor
Good guy bad guy same guy. Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m schizophrenic and so am I.
jas off the board looks like bummer
I never did like that cock-a-
roach. (Scarface)
Because they won big. Wait till they lose ugly and/or keep losing again or he gets into trouble whichever comes first.
That’s why he’s not the right guy for Heat. No prima donnas!
I agree. He’s a winning basketball player. Does all the little things right. And, Pelle has just enough offense to keep defenses honest. Where you fit him in is the question. My crazy idea is Bam, Ware, Norm, Andrew, and Pelle, if Pelle can handle point guard duties.
best five we got and jjj
I like Pelle in the starting lineup. He provides strength, energy, and aggression. My choice would be the same as yours. I think Bam, Powell, or Pelle can bring the ball up.
every guy on the ct should bring d and o.tyler doesnt bring d dav and dru dont bring o .shnozyy brings neither.rest of rotation guys brings both.
Plug Jaquez in there at PG. He’s second on team in assists behind Mitchell, third in rebounds, fourth in scoring.
agree if they think kaspar can be a pgjust give it to jjj hes better than kasper will ever be.dav too small no offense good backup.i cant see us getting ja unless ware or jjj is involved
Fogedabowded!
sunman language please translate
Forget about it (as in The Sopranos or Mickey Blue Eyes). You must not get out much. With all due respect.
I thought he said he was part Italian?
I’m actually wearing the T-shirt that says that, but spelled differently. Fuggedaboudit.
Close enough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Xu9UcOdj0
Last season you were waiving Jaquez and saying how bad he sucked. Now you want to judge a 19 year old who has played about 5 games. Last season you ‘called it like you see it’ and obviously saw it totally wrong with Jaquez.
last year he sukd this year hes great thats how i see it and u.jovics sukd from day 1.kasp to early to tell but isnt quick enough to play pg
So as I said, you were entirely wrong about him last season when you wanted to get rid of him. If it was really up to you, he would not be on the team this season and we would not have seen this phenomenal growth.
And would probably be a few more games down in the standings.
he looked like niko last year.but when he got here he was great .didnt see him playing this great this year.
Nobody did. But some gave up on him and some didn’t. Those that didn’t give up on him turned out to be right.
Skill, intensity and BBIQ need to count for something heat.
we added two all stars (norm jjj) we should be better.bam ware has not been good thats on them to figure it out like wade and bron did
I would be cool with it, it would make us more lethal,taller, and tougher. He one of our best passers too. 2 way players all through the starting lineup. I think we could get away with it.
ayton shot 100% last night 25 pts.
His best use is coming off the bench with Jaquez. How much he plays will be determined by how well he plays early. He’s still on a rookie contract so there is time for him to develop further.