Player exit review: Willie Reed makes big strides

Best performance: January 6 vs. Phoenix Suns, 22 points, 18 rebounds, 2 blocks

This was just Reed’s second game as a starter, and he was certainly keen to make the most of his opportunity. Playing 32 minutes, Reed shot 11-of-16 overall from the field, and was a plus-6 while on the court, despite the Heat’s 99-90 loss.

For a player starting in just second game for the season, and the seventh time in his career, reed’s impact on the game was profound. Here is a comparison of the Heat’s number’s when Reed was on and off the floor:

Offensive rating:

On court: 113.4

Off court: 55.4

Defensive rating:

On court: 102.9

Off court: 119.9

(Note: offensive rating = Heat’s points per 100 possessions; defensive rating = Suns’ points per 100 possessions)

An overall net rating difference of 75.1 is extraordinary, and demonstrates a couple of things. First, it clearly indicates how terrific Reed’s performance was on the night. But also, it points to just how much the Heat were struggling at the time. With a 10-26 record, performances such as these were becoming all too common.

As can be seen from the highlights above, Reed displayed a variety of skills on the offensive end. Short jump hooks, catching the lob and finishing, crashing the offensive glass, and even putting the ball on the floor to get by his opponent were just some of the tools he used on the night.