Examining what makes the Miami Heat’s defense so good

A surging offense has fueled the Miami Heat’s recent turnaround, but let’s not forget the team’s most consistent element: defense. We take a look at what makes the NBA’s 6th ranked defense tick.

Rim Protection

When examining the Heat defense, there’s no better place to start than rim protection. This season, Hassan Whiteside and Willie Reed have given the Heat a luxury few teams possess: 48 minutes of it.

Standing at 7 feet, Whiteside is one of the premier shot blockers in the NBA, ranking 5th at two rejections a game. The 6-foot-11 Reed doesn’t quite have the same knack for sending shots back, but holds his own against backup centers for the 15 minutes Whiteside’s not out there, ranking second on the team in defensive rating.

Together, they form one of the stingiest interior tandems in the league. According to NBA.com, Heat opponents are shooting 55.9 percent within 5 feet of the basket, 3rd lowest in the league.

Reed is currently day-to-day with right ankle bursitis (and already missed Saturday’s loss to Dallas). In that contest, the Heat went with a combination of Okaro White and James Johnson at center, standing at 6-foot-8 and 6-foot-9, respectively.

It didn’t go horribly, as the Mavericks went small as well, but there was a noticeable gap in the interior without Reed in the lineup. Don’t get me wrong: J. Johnson has held his own in the post this season, notching 1.1 blocks a game, but Reed is the better option at the 5.

Besides, the rim protection Whiteside/Reed provides impacts the rest of the defense.

Opposing Team’s Shot Selection

With a defensive menace always lingering, speedy guards like Goran Dragic, Dion Waiters and Tyler Johnson are able to play up and run shooters off the line. As a result, opponents attempt the 2nd fewest attempts from deep, and shoot the 5th worst percentage.

But no defense is structured to stop everything, and if there’s one soft spot in the Heat’s it’s the midrange.

With the guards overextended and a rim protector in waiting, opposing players often stop short of the goal, pulling up for a jumper. Watch here how Reed doesn’t step up all the way, allowing Indiana’s Rodney Stuckey to take the midrange jumper.

According to NBA.com, the Heat give up the 2nd most attempts between both 5-9 feet and 10-14 feet. Their opponents shoot the 7th and 5th highest percentages from those distances, respectively. But with the arc and rim neutralized, it’s something the Heat are willing to give up.

Besides, your legs will get tired.

And the midrange is considered the least efficient zone to take shots from.

Per NBA.com, the Heat give up the 10th most attempts from 15-19 feet, but it’s the opponent’s percentage from that distance that wanes as the game progresses. In the first half, opponents shoot 43.8 percent from 15-19 feet (25th best), compared to 38.1 percent (4th) in the second frame.

Next: Spoelstra named East's Coach of the Month

So the next time you curse at the red colored jerseys on the screen for giving up open midrange jumpers, take a breath. And wait for the second half.