3 Miami Heat Early Season Storylines And Takeaways

Last season, the Heat averaged 110.6 points per game, a number that ranked 24th in the league. They were honestly an abysmal offense to watch, and they routinely struggled to get to 100 points a lot of nights. That led to Erik Spoelstra taking a long look at things and reaching out to members outside the Heat organization for ideas to revamp the offense. One person that he reached out to was Noah LaRoche, a former Grizzlies assistant. His offensive philosophy is not a typical NBA offense, as there are hardly any screens being set. It is strictly a read-and-react offense, and it has fit this Heat team so well.

Miami has gone from one of the worst offenses in the league to the highest scoring team thus far. They are averaging 124.8 points per game to start the season, and that is without Tyler Herro, last year’s leading scorer. They are also leading the league in assists per game, with an average of 30.4 per game.

After years of talking about playing fast, the Heat have actually done so this year, and it has fit their roster like a glove. They might not finish the season as the league’s best scoring offense, but as long as they continue to play at their current pace, they should be one of the best.

The Heat are always going to be a top 10 defense as long as they have Spoelstra and Bam Adebayo, and that will always give them a solid floor. Now, with an elite offense and defense, their ceiling has drastically risen, and they are no longer a boring watch.

Internal Development

The Heat have been known to have one of the best developmental systems in the NBA, and that has stayed true to form this season. After a massive sophomore slump, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has bounced back in a way that no one saw coming. He is currently averaging 17 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. There isn’t a player who has been helped more by the Heat’s new offensive system than their former first-round pick. Jaquez wants to get downhill and attack the paint, and that is exactly what the new system allows him to do. When he is in the game, he initiates the offense, and everything goes through him.

Jaquez is not a great shooter, but because the Heat have plenty on the floor with him, teams can’t pack the paint on him. He is currently a leading candidate for both sixth man of the year and most improved player. He’s a major reason why the Heat are off to such a strong start.

Pelle Larsson is another young player who has clearly taken massive strides in his second season. It initially appeared that he would be a role player who comes off the bench early in the season, but he has started in nine straight games, and he has made a major impact. In those nine games, he has averaged 11.8 points, 3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, all of which are improvements compared to his numbers last year. Larsson will likely be removed from the starting lineup when Herro returns. It would be a surprise if he were taken out of the rotation given his contributions this season.

The other major development that has helped the Heat this season has been Davion Mitchell’s growth as a playmaker and shooter. Everyone knows that he is a great defender, but he has never been able to find consistent minutes, given his offensive limitations. Since arriving in Miami, those limitations have disappeared. Mitchell is shooting 37% from three this season, but more impressively, he is 10th in assists per game, with 7.3 per game. Since arriving in South Beach last year, Mitchell has become a much-improved player in so many aspects of his game. He is a perfect fit for the new offensive system.

Off-Season Additions

Everyone knew that the Norman Powell trade was a steal at the time, but it seems like an even bigger heist now that the season has started. With Herro yet to play, and Adebayo missing time, the former Clipper has been asked to take on a role he has never played before. Powell has been the Heat’s number one option since opening night, and they couldn’t have asked for better results. He is averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, and three-point field goal percentage.

Powell has been a seamless fit with the Heat, both on and off the court, and he has been a major difference maker thus far. Looking back at all the moves made in the off-season, it is hard to argue that there was a better move made than the addition of Powell, for just Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson.

Another off-season addition who has exceeded expectations is Simone Fontecchio. When Miami initially acquired him from the Pistons in the sign-and-trade for Duncan Robinson, a lot of Heat fans were not happy. Most wanted at least some sort of draft compensation back, and instead, it was just a player-for-player swap. Now, looking back on the deal, it looks like Miami hit another home run.

Through 12 games, Fontecchio is averaging a career-high 11.5 points per game. More importantly, he is shooting a ridiculous 50% from three on five attempts per game. He has been a terrific fit in Miami, and a perfect replacement for Robinson thus far. It is unlikely that he finishes the season shooting at such a high rate, but he has made major impacts in multiple games as a bench spark.

The Heat didn’t acquire Andrew Wiggins in the offseason, but it seems like they got a new version over the summer. Last season was a mess, and it looked like he was never comfortable. Now, after spending most of the off-season in Miami, he has looked as good as he ever has on both ends of the court. He looks rejuvenated, and he has made major impacts already, including a game-winning dunk with 0.4 seconds left in overtime against the Cavaliers. There were a lot of people who wanted to trade Wiggins before the season began, but it appears that the Heat made the right choice to hold onto him.

End of My Miami Heat Rant

The Heat are not off to a scorching hot start to the season, but they are outperforming seemingly everyone’s expectations. They are 7-5, all while Herro has not played a game, and Adebayo has practically missed five games. They have become one of the most fun teams to watch in the NBA this season, and they appear to have a ceiling that no one thought they did. They truly seem to enjoy playing together, and it has led to positive results. It is still early, but Miami has been one of the better stories in the league this season, and there is a lot to be excited about for Heat fans.

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