Miami Heat: Three keys to making the NBA playoffs

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) and Goran Dragic (7) smile alongside coaching staff and teammates in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons at AmericanAirlines Arena on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 in Miami. The Heat won, 108-74. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images)
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) and Goran Dragic (7) smile alongside coaching staff and teammates in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons at AmericanAirlines Arena on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 in Miami. The Heat won, 108-74. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images) /
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Justise Winslow (20) y Josh Richardson (0), jugadores de los Miami Heat. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images)
Justise Winslow (20) y Josh Richardson (0), jugadores de los Miami Heat. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images) /

You gotta go with what works

The Miami Heat happened upon a good thing when Hassan Whiteside went down with a hip strain three weeks ago. With Whiteside sidelined, Bam Adebayo was inserted into the starting lineup at center in his place. This allowed the Heat to start Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk together in the front court.

The big duo combined with the wing and backcourt combination of Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow and Dion Waiters has been dynamite. So good, in fact, that this lineup has outscored their opponents by a staggering 18.4 points per 100 possessions, and in the eight games they’ve started together they have scored 127.6 points per 100 possessions, and their net rating is +21.6.

Mind you, this is over a small sample of just 10 games and 108 minutes, but it sure looks to be the catalyst that sparked the Heat surge. When something works this well, you don’t mess with it, you gotta go with what works.

As for Whiteside, he’s been excellent coming off the bench with Goran Dragic and Dwyane Wade. With an experienced bench and fresh young legs in the starting lineup, the Heat have a surprising rotational advantage against a number of teams.