The Miami Heat have come to rely on a ton on their three-point shooting in recent years and Duncan Robinson has been a huge part of that. A huge part of what he can do has come via the usage of the dribble-handoff action and mainly, between he and Bam Adebayo.
The numbers tell the story too. The Miami Heat led the league in frequency of plays that were handoffs last season and more specific than that, Duncan Robinson was second in the league in frequency of a player’s plays that were handoffs.
While it’s been extremely effective for them up until this point, there were times last season that saw the defense appear to run the action for Robinson, it seems. Even if they weren’t a step ahead of him on his own play-call, they found ways to throw him off of his rhythm, mostly by being physical with him.
Along with what Duncan can do as an individual player to get better, stronger, and become more versatile on his own accord, is there something that can be done schematically to help? More specifically, when is enough… enough with the dribble-handoff?
The Miami Heat rely a ton on shooting, Duncan Robinson, and handoff actions amongst their play-calls. When is enough… enough with the handoffs though?
The issue isn’t a frequency thing for them as much as a diversity thing, which falls on the shoulders of Bam, Duncan, and Coach Spoelstra. Adebayo has to take more of those opportunities upon himself, an issue with that particular play that highlights an overall issue with him, being more aggressive and selfish, at times.
Duncan has to, as mentioned, continue to diversify his offensive game as well, not allowing himself to be so predictable. Coach Spoelstra has to continue to develop new wrinkles, looks, deployments, and mechanisms by which he chooses to go to the DHO, among other things too.
It all sounds complicated, but it’s really the natural progression of things and the work that should be done during each and every offseason anyway, continuing to hone in and get better, but it’s worth a mention. So, when it comes to the DHO, there really isn’t ever enough and especially if it’s working.
They just have to be more aware of the times when it’s not working and of the fact that other teams have become in-tune with it as well. It’s brought Duncan and the Heat this far, so you can’t abandon it completely.
But with all you know now, the stats mentioned above in example, you have to have a few more tricks up your sleeve to go to at this point… just in case that one isn’t getting it done.