The Miami Heat are headed to the postseason and with a ton of youth on the roster. Can we trust Erik Spoelstra to have them mentally prepared for it?
The Miami Heat are currently a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference as details begin to emerge on the NBA’s return. Set to tip back off on July 31st, the NBA will play some of their remaining regular-season games before jumping into the postseason.
The “bubble city” of Disney World in Orlando will serve as the host to the events, the closing of the regular season, and presumptively the postseason as well. All 30 teams won’t be back though, as only 22 will make the trip, 13 from the west and nine from the east.
Looking at the Miami Heat though among this group, they have something going for them or against them that most other teams don’t have, their youth. Ranked number one in three-point percentage, ninth in total field goal percentage, and 15th in points per game as a ball club, almost 46 of their 112.2 points per game come from three of their youngest, but most important contributors.
Duncan Robinson, the best three-point shooter in the game right now, averages 13.3 points per game on nearly 45 percent shooting from distance across 8.4 attempts per contest. Tyler Herro, the most drippy rookie in the game, averages 12.9 points per contest on nearly 40 percent shooting from three and only across 47 games played this season due to injury.
Kendrick Nunn, the coldest and most confident undrafted rookie you will ever see play NBA basketball, averages nearly 16 points per at 15.6 per game. He has started all 62 games he’s played in this season and leads the Miami Heat in field goal attempts at 13.7 shots per game.
The Miami Heat are taking a team loaded with youngsters to Orlando and into the “bubble city”. Can Spo keep them focused under the bright lights?
The question is this. With such youth as main contributors to your team, can you win big in the postseason?
That is a real question because people in the know often say that youth doesn’t win in the postseason, but is that true? In most cases, it may be but in this one, not so much.
When they are led by a man like Erik Spoelstra, a top coach in the game hands down, who is led by a guy like Pat Riley, confidence and comprehension is a moot point. The confidence comes into play as the bright lights of the playoffs may intimidate young players.
The comprehension comes into play where a young player might not grasp the magnitude of the moment in any particular game or part of said game. You don’t have to worry about either being missed with Spo at the helm though.
So, while counting on such contributions from the youth on your team is usually a negative factor when it comes to the playoffs, it shouldn’t be here with the leadership that is in place. That’s why we can trust the “Spocess” with Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, and Kendrick Nunn when it comes to postseason play.