The Miami Heat didn’t do what many thought they would as they headed into the offseason. They didn’t move, the enigmatic, Tyler Herro.
While he is adored by many, a ton of folks still don’t know if he’s the guy for Miami. While all of the above may be true… or not, again, they didn’t move him.
With that, what will his upcoming year look like? Well, quite frankly, he should be primed for a bounce-back year.
Here are three reasons why.
Perceived Fall-Off
When you take a look at Tyler Herro last season and compare that to his rookie season, most people will say that he took a step back, on the surface. When you take a look at the numbers though, they tell a different story.
Across the board and besides for small dips in efficiency, his numbers actually improved. Yes, in most statistical categories, he went up.
How is that a fall-off? Well, here’s how.
He didn’t really have one and as noted, he continued to improve, however, the expectations were high as they could be after his NBA Bubble run during his rookie season. The bar won’t be as high going into this year though.
For what it’s worth, that’s probably due to the perceived fall-off. That’s the first reason he’s primed for a bounce back though.
Miami Heat: 3 Reasons Tyler Herro Primed For Bounce-Back – New Body
Tyler Herro is a very crafty scorer and finisher. He excels at finishing off of wanky platforms, off-balanced attempts, or in untraditional situations.
That’s just it though. You want him finishing that way because he wants to and because that’s the best way to get it done, not because he has to, meaning the defense is bullying him around.
Bulked Up
The first reason why Tyler Herro has a major opprotunity for a bounce-back, if you want to call it that, is because of the work he’s doing. He has noted it himself this offseason.
Here are a few comments he made on the topic prior to his Olympic Select Team work earlier in the summer.
"I think this summer is a huge summer for me,” he said. “I’m excited. It’s my first real offseason where I’m able to focus on different things that I want to work on. And I think one is definitely to get stronger, with my foundation, whether it’s my legs, and just my upper body, and just being able to come into more of an NBA body and really put some weight on."
It’s showing too, as you can see the muscle starting to build. Here’s a recent picture from his personal Instagram account that highlights some of the bulk he’s trying to add.
Compared to pictures from earlier in his career, just a few months ago to be honest, there is a difference there. That’s the first reason why he’s primed for a bounce back.
He’s attacking his weakness. But note though, in addressing those weaknesses, it’s also a way to be used as a means to improve on his strengths.
Miami Heat: 3 Reasons Tyler Herro Primed For Bounce-Back – Prime Position
The last reason has everything to do with everything else that’s now around Tyler Herro. With Kyle Lowry in tow, he’s out and out, not the third guy.
With some of the other talent around him, he might not have to be fourth guy every night, though he’ll be that or better. That’s it though, he can, sort of, just be… himself.
Prime Position
Though his role is a major role, it won’t come with the pressure of last season. With his performance in the bubble and with Goran Dragic getting back to 100 percent, Herro was expected to take a major leap in the eyes of some and in the form of stepping up behind Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler.
He failed to meet those expectations, while even having to deal with trade noise and rumors. The fact of it all is this for the coming year.
He doesn’t have the pressure of being the guy every night with other impactful second unit guys, though he can and should be. That’s the third reason he’s primed for a bounce-back.
All the pressure in the world, so to speak, won’t be on his shoulders for the Heat reserves. He should do the heavy lifting though, as he is more capable of taking that huge leap that some might of expected of him last season.
If he can do that, added to what else they brought in this offseason, then the Miami Heat have a chance to be as good on offense as they should be on defense.
That’s pretty good and those chances go up if Tyler Herro can, indeed, have a bounce-back year. These are the three reasons why he should.