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Miami Heat 1-on-1: What’s contributing to the team’s current struggles?

By Priscilla Elliott Morganfield

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 30: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat handles the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 30, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 30: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat handles the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 30, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 30: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat and Rodney McGruder #17 of the Miami Heat hi-five during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 30, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 30: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat and Rodney McGruder #17 of the Miami Heat hi-five during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 30, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

And what is your most hated lineup so far?

Morganfield: Some members of this Heat team simply play better when they’re lined up with certain people. Also, there has been so many different lineups, that it’s hard to remember them all. One lineup I know I’m not a fan of though is Dwyane Wade, Rodney McGruder, Winslow, Josh Richardson and Bam Adebayo. This lineup has been played six times and averages only 18 points a game, with 31 percent shooting from the field, and an abysmal 14 percent from downtown. On defense, the group averages 11 rebounds (which, considering the players, isn’t very much) and two blocks. This lineup doesn’t do well on offense and they’re pretty average on defense too. Fortunately, this group doesn’t play together too often and when they do, it’s not for too long, averaging about 14 minutes a game. It’s not too clear who’s doing what with this lineup, and it shows in their performance.

Rahming: Of course, I took an analytical approach to this. I looked up all the lineups and searched for squads that have players I don’t like to see on the court all at the same time. My search included Winslow and McGruder on the court, with Goran Dragic and Wayne Ellington off the court. I believe that McGruder can really be productive on offense, but I don’t like when he plays the small forward position. At 6-foot-4, he’s shorter than almost every matchup he faces. Having Dragic on the floor, as well as Richardson, helps create space for the three guards to operate and the bigs as well. Here’s my least favorite lineup: McGruder, Richardson, Winslow, Olynyk, and Hassan Whiteside. As I pointed out before, Winslow and Olynyk are a dice roll away from allowing the opponent to score on them. Combine that with the fact that the Whiteside/Olynyk pairing hasn’t quite worked as well as we thought and you could really have a problem. If you get the Great Wall of Whiteside to show up, having Olynyk by his side may clog things up for him near the rim and lessen his effectiveness. If Winslow isn’t hitting the corner 3, he might as well not be out there because his man is going to help off and put more pressure on Richardson. This lineup has seen 20 possessions of action and has a turnover rate of 20 percent. This unit also fails to make enough free throws to warrant their fondness of slow pace and lack of spacing.

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