Coach Erik Spoelstra has made a career out of experimenting with lineup changes and adjustments. His more recent move included a tweaked starting five of Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Haywood Highsmith and Bam Adebayo. Terry Rozier and Nikola Jovic originally were rounding out the Herro, Butler and Adebayo trio, until struggles from both of them moved them to bench roles.
It was clear that yet another slow start to the Heat’s season was going to lead to eventual changes with the depth. The rotation is filled with talent and versatility that could impact winning, it’s just about finding the right combinations that work. The Rozier move to sixth man is something that could help bring more offensive balance to the team.
The Robinson and Highsmith additions with the starters was another way to bring some versatility with 3-point shooting and defense between the two.
Their updated starting group has looked better, but there could be another minor tweak worth exploring that may benefit Miami— a Butler positional change to point guard.
Butler at the point guard slot could be one of the final pieces to unlock the best version of the team, and it could make a smooth transition for both himself and the Heat. Being at 6-foot-7, he would have defensive advantages over opposing smaller guards. Recently, he has been defending perimeter players more often, and the formula has worked.
It keeps Butler from having to bang bodies with more physical players in the frontcourt. Playing as the guard could be a way to preserve him and make it easier on his body as he continues to age into his mid-30s. He has plenty of ball handling and playmaking experience to make a positional change like this work.
Not only is a minor change like this a way to bring the best out of the Heat’s best player, but it could do the same to the rest of his teammates. Although technically a combo guard, Herro is a much more natural shooting guard rather than running the point. With the type of All-Star caliber season he’s had, it is key to keep him as comfortable as possible with his role.
The court vision and basketball IQ Butler possesses could set up the rest of the unit with better looks. He has spent years building chemistry with Adebayo and Robinson, so they could also be prime candidates to benefit from a point-Butler idea. This is a move that makes it easier for everybody involved and gets the most out of the roster.
Statistically, this Heat build has always looked better when Butler’s usage rate and engagement with the offense is high. What better way to keep that trend going with turning him into the new offensive orchestrator moving forward?
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I concede that it’s time to blow this team up and trade away some older players for younger studs and/or draft picks. The team just doesn’t have “it” this year. A lot of folks on the HHH posts were saying that before the season started and they were right, I just didn’t want to see it. I love this Heat team and just want them to do the best, but we are just lacking. We have a good core of young guys and who knows what we can add if we trade away some of our older players. It’s been exciting chasing championships since the bubble, but I’m really looking forward to that with a new group. Trade Jimmy to a contender so he can finally get his ring.
Hell yeah.
I’ve been saying the Heat should slide Jimmy down to the Guard position sine the offseason. That way the Heat could start Bam a frontcourt combination of JJJ/Highsmith/Jovic/Ware, and bring Terry and Duncan off the bench at PG & SG. That’s a solid 9-man rotation without even mentioning guys like Love and Burks and J-Rich and Bryant.
Alas, for any of this to work, Jimmy has to play at an all-star level. If not, the SunMan said it best.
Jimmy is a combo wing who can play SG or SF. He is not a PG. If Miami had traded for someone like Kuzma, who can play SF, Butler could have gone from SF to SG, . Bam from C to PF and Ware to C. That didn’t happen.
It makes about as much sense as rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
get his injured buttler out of here.its time.take terry with him put dru and jjj fall off isnt that much free some $$ up.
Been saying this all season long.