Heat beat Knicks in first home game

Key sequence

The Heat started the second half up by five. The Knicks fought back and the two teams competed throughout the quarter. OG Anunoby committed a foul on Jaime Jaquez, Jr. and Jaquez hit one out of two free throws to go up by two points at 83-81.

Then the Heat fueled by Jaime Jaquez, Jr. and Nikola Jovic scored 11 points between them. Simone Fontecchio and Norman Powell added five points and the Heat were up 102-87 with 6:36 remaining. The Knicks held the Heat in the first quarter to 22 points on 40% shooting.

But, the Heat competed. The team didn’t wither in the face of the heightened competition. There were many times last season where the team did wither. Andrew Wiggins hit a three-point shot with the score at 110-105, so many players, “made plays.”

Heat’s offense struggles

The Heat’s new “five out” offense was slowed down by the Knicks in the first half. The Heat’s four players were standing and waiting while the ball handler tried to breakdown his defender. Jaime Jaquez bullied his way into the paint, “ala Jimmy Butler” to keep the team scoring.

But, when teams start to “figure out” the Heat’s offense, it will take off-the-ball player movement with cutting actions and screens to break down the defense. Nikola Jovic had a beautiful takeoff away from his defender that got him a pass close to the basket. He then passed out to Simone Fontecchio wide open on the three-point line where he buried the shot.

The “five out offense” isn’t easy to play and every player has to adjust. Cleveland showed how difficult it was to acclimate to last season in the playoffs. Every player needs to be able to “play basketball” as they played as kids. Unfortunately, during college and in the professionals, players became specialists with “one job.”

Couper Moorhead from NBA.com listed the Heat’s successes on offense from their game vs. Memphis:

“Their pace remained high was 110 possessions. Their Offensive Rating finished at 130.9, somewhat modest considering the start – they had seven more efficient games last year, only one with more points –but only because they’re playing with such significant pace that you actually have to adjust down to get to their efficiency. They were 23-of-28 at the rim. They shot 19-of-40 from three, with 26 transition points, 24 second-chance points and 72 in the paint. In the halfcourt, they scored 110.0 points per possession before factoring in their offensive boards.”