Miami Heat: What the team is missing two games in

The NBA is officially back, which means we are no longer overanalyzing preseason games that don’t matter; instead, we can read way more into the first couple games of the regular season than we need to.

Judging the Miami Heat based off of their first two games is difficult.

Obviously, because it’s early and there’s not much there, but also because we’re expecting to see a different Miami squad here in the upcoming games.

There have been a lot of talks centered around James Johnson and Justise Winslow currently being sidelined due to injuries, and how badly the Heat need them.

And it’s true; Miami misses their solid four, as well as what Winslow brings to the court, especially on the defensive end.

However, it has been great to see Rodney McGruder and Derrick Jones Jr. step up.

Both players grabbed the starting positions, in the Heat’s first two games.

McGruder went off for 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting against the Washington Wizards. That same night, Jones Jr. elevated his game with 17 points in just 24 minutes; the second-year player also came up with the game-sealing move, off of Washington’s last inbound play.

Head coach Erik Spoelstra’s position of finding minutes for these guys will not be envied by anyone around the Association.

The young duo has stepped up when needed.

Where Miami is taking the biggest hit, is the lack of Wayne Ellington, who is also out.

The league is speeding up. Everyone is playing faster and trying to find more possessions per game. Last season, Spoelstra said that’s not the style the Heat would play and would instead focus on defense winning games.

As the league continues to play faster, Miami is ranked 18th in points per game. Two games in, we won’t look too deeply into the stats. But where Miami could find success in this department would be from Ellington.

His off-ball movement is incredible. It fuels his ability to get open and earn his praise as the Man with the Golden Arm.

When you look at other teams who have a big man worth playing around such as Hassan Whiteside and Bam Adebayo, the Heat could find the same success.

Take the Bucks for example.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez as powerful players, they find success because they pass well. Often they can find a way to get the ball out to one of the many 3-point threats that the Bucks have surrounded them with.

While Miami’s big men can dominate with their backs to the board, a player like Ellington who can find separation heading to the corner, adds a bigger threat to their game.

The corner is where he becomes what the Heat needs.

Ellington gives Miami that push they are lacking, while trying to keep up with the pace of the rest of the league.

Goran Dragic came to South Beach looking to continue his fast pace, Josh Richardson works well in a system that does, and Jones Jr.’s athleticism compliments it as well.

Through many aspects, Ellington could be the key for the Heat and give them the push that we haven’t seen to start out the season.