The Miami Heat’s first three weeks of the season have been anything from flawless. Key players have been injured, a variety of starting lineups have been used, double-digit leads have been blown, and the offense and defense have been poor at times. However, after a 1-4 start to the season, the Heat won their fifth straight game 118-113 over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night, improving to 3-0 on their current four-game trip and 6-4 overall. The Heat will take that momentum into Tuesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center (7 p.m., Bally Sports Sun), the penultimate stop on their four-game journey and the second group-play game of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament.
“Just finding ways to win, keep impacting winning, and we’re getting the job done right now,” Heat center Bam Adebayo explained. “We’re focusing on the important things. And, moving forward, keep collecting victories.” Here are ten observations (plus one) from the first ten games of the Heat’s season:
For more, visit https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article281776118.html#storylink=cpy▪. Just like previous season, the Heat has a winning record despite a negative point difference. The Heat are 6-4 this season despite having a -8 point differential. Miami, along with the Milwaukee Bucks, were the only two teams entering the week with a winning record but a negative point difference.
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The Heat concluded last season with a 44-38 record despite having a -26 point difference, becoming the first team since at least 2000 to advance to the NBA Finals with a negative point differential. Why? There were a number of tight games, as the Heat tied the single-season NBA record for most wins by five points or fewer with 24 last season. This regular season, the Heat have won three of their six games by five points or less.
▪ The Heat’s reliance on quality defense has led to consistent wins. On Monday, the Heat had the NBA’s 22nd-ranked offensive rating and the ninth-ranked defensive rating. Miami is 4-2 this season when it has a defensive rating of 110 points or fewer per 100 possessions.
▪ Since Haywood Highsmith replaced Kevin Love as the starting power forward, the Heat have gone 5-0. This season, the Heat’s starting lineup (Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Highsmith, and Adebayo) has outscored opponents by 13.4 points per 100 possessions in 37 minutes. It’s still early, but Adebayo is on track to have his finest NBA season yet. This season, he’s averaging a career-high 23.2 points per game, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks.
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And Adebayo is once again proving to be one of the NBA’s best defenders. According to NBA statistics, he has defended 16 isolations while allowing only 0.5 points per possession, ranking among the league’s greatest marks. Adebayo has also held those he has guarded to only 47.7 percent shooting from within 6 feet of the basket (13.8 percent lower than their usual combined shooting percentage from that range) and 40.2 percent shooting from the field (7.4 percent lower than their combined overall shooting percentage). Adebayo is one of the NBA’s most versatile defenders, anchoring the Heat’s zone and drop scheme.
Herro had a promising start before suffering a sprained right ankle, which will keep him out for at least two weeks. He’s averaging career-highs in points (22.9 per game), assists (4.6), and steals (1.4), while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 41 percent from three. ▪ Butler has been rather quiet on offense this season, scoring 18.5 points per game on 42.2% shooting from the field. This would be Butler’s lowest points per game average and shooting % since the 2013-14 season. Butler is also averaging 6.9 free throws per game, his lowest total in a season since joining the Heat.
