The Miami Heat have had a pretty good last few games. Other than the fact that they have managed to win them, it’s the context of the play that went into the wins that really makes the difference.
While the most recent contest was also the debut of Victor Oladipo in a Miami Heat uniform, the phenomenon at hand was still at play there, however, you have to note that. Still though, it seems something else changed about the Miami Heat after the NBA Trade Deadline.
Perhaps it wasn’t just about who the Miami Heat were able to bring into the fold, but also about who they didn’t ship out. While that matters for the team as a whole, it matters in the best ways and truly, because of how it impacted the individual players in question.
The Miami Heat didn’t move Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson at the trade deadline and their play since has reflected clear minds.
When it comes to Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson, they look like totally different players since the trade deadline passed. Tyler Herro couldn’t buy a three point bucket, while his usual electric and bouncy offensive game had started to come up… flat.
Duncan Robinson, the usually automatic type shooter, had gotten so bad that wide open looks were a literal crap shoot. Then the deadline passed.
Almost immediately, they were back to normal. Tyler Herro was back to sinking clutch buckets and making defenders look bad.
Of all the looks these teams have missed tonight, Duncan gets this one to go. pic.twitter.com/DRIgVFjkLi
— Couper Moorhead (@CoupNBA) March 30, 2021
Duncan Robinson was back splashing four or more triples a game, it seems, and sinking tough shots over the competition. Take the tough shot over R.J. Barrett in a recent game against the Knicks, for example in that category.
If that isn’t enough, the numbers tell the same story. In the four games immediately prior to the deadline, Herro averaged 11 points, a little over 4 rebounds, and 3 assists on 3/21 shooting from downtown.
In the four games after the deadline, he averaged over 19 points, almost four rebounds, and just over four assists per game on 12/29 from downtown. That’s pretty clear.
Duncan’s numbers look the same. In the four games prior, he shot just 10 of 35 from three, while he hit 20 of 35 in the four games after the deadline.
The proof is in the pudding but none of it even matters, as long as it happens. With their newest additions and two of their core weapons back firing on all cylinders, the Miami Heat might just be primed to make another Finals run.