Miami Heat: 3 keys to winning the 2022 NBA Finals
By Jack Simone
Keys for the Miami Heat to win a championship: Elite defense
With the way the roster is constructed, most believe the Miami Heat will be one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Now, they just have to prove it on the court.
They have two All-NBA defenders in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo on the roster. On top of that, Kyle Lowry and PJ Tucker are two additions who can also be elite on the defensive side of the ball.
Defense will be the identity of the Miami Heat this season. On nights where their offense is struggling, they need to be able to depend on the defensive capabilities.
Last season, the Heat allowed 108.0 points per game. This ranked fifth in the entire league, behind only the Knicks, Lakers, Jazz, and Clippers.
With the additions they made, they could legitimately get close to allowing only single-digit points this season. Last year, the best defense (New York) allowed 104.7 points per game.
The last time a team allowed less than 100 points per game was back in the 2017-18 season. Both the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs accomplished it that season.
Offenses around the league have only improved since then, so it may seem like an impossible task. However, if Miami can even get close to that mark, they would be an absolute force.
Having the best defense in the league should not only be a goal for the Heat, but it should be a top priority. If they want to win the 2022 NBA Finals, they need to rely mainly on their defense.