Miami Heat: Tyler Herro’s point guard play is an answer, not a question

Tyler Herro’s development in play as point guard may serve as an answer to a longterm question about the Miami Heat’s future. 

In an unsurprising twist for the Miami Heat, rookie Tyler Herro started -and thrived- as their starting point guard against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night. He finished with 25 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds in 35 minutes on the floor.

Miami was without both starter Kendrick Nunn and second unit lead Goran Dragic against the Suns, with both expected to be back and available for playoffs. It ended up being their second straight loss, albeit without Jimmy Butler, with three remaining regular-season games to go.

But even in their defeat, the Heat may have answered a pressing question about their future. Both of the absentee point guards aren’t viewed as longterm cornerstones for what this team hopes will be a championship contender come the 2021-2022 season, or sooner.

Dragic is entering free agency after the season’s end and will attract a flock of contract proposals after the season he’s had off the bench for Miami. And Nunn, despite this year placing him in the finalists for Rookie of the Year, is only on a non-guaranteed salary for next season.

Whether or not he’ll be with the team after that is unknown, and largely doubted. That’s raised questions among their own fandom and the league as to who’s going to be the starting point guard come the days they are (or hope to be) competing for a title.

Last night may have proven the answer, and don’t think for a second it isn’t the buzz of today’s meetings inside the front office. Herro wasn’t being groomed for a larger role at point guard (that we know of), but he aced it if last night was a test from the coaching staff.

It wasn’t stat-padding, no, his assists were legitimate and took vision to pull off:

If this is the kind of production head coach Erik Spoelstra can get out of Herro on a night-to-night basis (consistently, eventually), then he may be the answer to their point guard quandary.

He’s now up to 4.6 assists per game over Miami’s five games inside the bubble, albeit with two turnovers. While still putting up 15 points and grabbing five rebounds per game.

His ability to not only pass the ball but still impact the game in the other two ways is just why the point guard hype might be worth buying into. All great point guards today, those that are considered “stars,” can both pass the ball while still getting a number of their own looks to drop.

Any questions about Tyler Herro and his play against Phoenix put them aside. Instead, rest assured that Pat Riley and the Miami Heat office may have answered a longterm uncertainty.

Most signs point toward Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn rejoining the team in the coming days, at least by playoffs. In the meantime, it seems Tyler Herro can handle his own for the Miami Heat.

They’ll take on TJ Warren and the Indiana Pacers next, on Monday night, in one of their three remaining regular-season games. Tip-off is at 8:00 pm est.