The Miami Heat are in the driver’s seat of their own destiny this season. Well, they always are, especially with the never say die mentality and Culture that permeates the team, organization, and building they call home.
With that though, this season seems and feels different. That’s because it is.
With the additions they’ve made and the development of their returning group, they should be squarely in the running for contention, be that for their conference and for the whole darn thing.
On that development from their returning guys though, one guy has been a key source of polarization when it comes to the Miami Heat fanbase.
That guy is Tyler Herro. Raging through the NBA Bubble during his rookie season and as apart of a Miami Heat Finals run, he put on full display what he could do when he’s right.
Miami Heat: Tyler Herro’s Weight Room Work Doesn’t Seem Like ‘Urban Legend’
However, on last season, he didn’t live up to the expectations of many, leading to tons of trade speculation and rumors. Regardless of the fact that he improved across most statistical categories and without a ton of efficiency drop-off, the perception based on what he was able to do in the Bubble is, at least, fair.
One of the main issues for him last season was not being able to get his stuff off, to his spots, or deal with the increased physicality that a bubble showing like his might garner.
Bulking up and adding strength has been a constant thing for him among those who support and follow the Heat.
He knew that too, hinting at that very fact throughout the offseason. He has literally spoken about it.
Aside from that, there have been little nuggets and other things throughout the offseason to further affirm that fact as well, however, you still had to be skeptical of angles and picture-capturing illusions.
It happens, all too often, in this new digital and social media age.
Miami Heat: More Gain For Tyler Herro Means More Pain For The Opposition
Well, that can all now be put to rest. In the below photo from his Instagram account, a straight-on look at things, it does, indeed, appear that he has bulked up.
With the way that he excels at finishing off of wanky platforms, you would like the fact that he would be the one totally in control of when that is necessary now. Increased strength should do that for him.
Specifically, when he goes to make those crazy type finishes, the runners, the layups, the floaters, the underhanded flips, along with everything else and off of all of the many platforms that he is capable of doing it off of, you want him to be the one dictating when, where, and how difficult of a finish he has to make in those scenarios.
Physical defenders that are able to knock him off his spots and rhythm were the dictating force behind a lot of what he made happen, or not, in past seasons. That is a huge part of why you love the fact that Tyler Herro actually does appear to be bulking up.
It’s more reality than ‘urban legend’, at this point. And that could be scary for everyone else.