The Miami Heat had a major offseason, making moves to help Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo win an NBA championship. The acquisitions of Kyle Lowry, Markieff Morris, PJ Tucker, Ömer Yurtseven, along with the re-signing of Victor Oladipo and Duncan Robinson, give the heat some versatility that was missing all of last season.
The additions were huge, but there is one question that remains. What does the Heat’s closing-five look like?
Obviously, Lowry, Butler, and Adebayo are locks, but who fills the two-guard and power forward spots? The new free agent signings make this a good problem to have.
It may come down to situational matchups, but every team should have a group that is recognized as the closing unit.
PJ Tucker is the favorite option for the four spot, as he has championship experience when it comes to closing games and would serve as a solid option on defense, whether it be in isolation, the pick and roll, or even just to the point of switching everything.
Though at only a 33.6 percent clip on 2.3 attempts last season, in totality, P.J. shot 39 percent from three on 1.7 attempts per game for the Milwaukee Bucks across 20 games. Offense wouldn’t be the main priority with the other four surrounding him though.
Miami Heat: What Does Their Closing Five Look Like In Coming Season?
Markieff Morris is another option that most people aren’t looking at to close ball games. He may not quite be on the level of a defender like Tucker, but he can certainly defend.
Morris’s three-point shooting decreased with his tenure in Los Angeles, but having Kyle Lowry as your point guard should create easier and wide-open looks for him. It is hard to argue that Morris might finish over Tucker, but Morris still isn’t a bad option should Tucker get into foul trouble.
The two-guard spot is where it gets tricky. Should the Heat prioritize playmaking and defense with Victor Oladipo?
The defense and extra playmaking only benefits the starting lineup’s strengths, but there is no clear answer on if he helps their weaknesses.
Shooting is the biggest concern with this group and if the defense collapses on Butler or Lowry, Tucker and Oladipo have to be the guys to knock down shots.
Oladipo has struggled with perimeter shooting over the past couple of seasons, but it is unclear whether this is a product of poor shooting or the result of a never ending injury cycle. Should they have a knock down shooter, in Duncan Robinson, next to a non-shooting Adebayo and a poor jump shooting Butler?
Robinson is an extraordinary shooter to have in that lineup. He fits well offensively and can bail the Heat out with tough contested shots.
The question is this. Can you trust him to play clutch defense?
I believe the answer is no. There is always an effort, but Robinson tends to commit silly fouls that bails the opposing team out.
I still think there is potential for him to grow and an opportunity for him to succeed as a defender with his long wingspan. Robinson improved on defense last season, but he’s going to have to keep improving, especially with the rise of Tyler Herro.
He’s just going to have to fight and earn that role in the closing unit.
Miami Heat: Is Tyler Herro Still A Huge Part Of How They Close Games?
Last season, the Heat ran Tyler Herro for nearly the entire fourth quarter. Herro, last season in the fourth quarter, averaged close to ten minutes a game.
During this time, he was averaging 4.4 points on 40% shooting from the field. Herro was ran with no clear answer in mind for the fourth and the different lineup pairings held the Miami Heat dead last in fourth quarter points scored, at just 25.1 points per game.
Tired legs and below average defense can lead to being a liability on the court. Tyler has proven he can hang with the starters, he just needs the correct minutes adjustment.
With Oladipo making a return, these quarters could be easier for Herro, allowing him to feel more comfortable and refreshed to handle the ball or score. There is no clear answer on who will be in the Heat’s closing five at the moment.
Idealistically, I think it has to be Duncan. If you can surround him with the tough defense that’s to be expected, you can get away with Robinson for the last couple of minutes.
You have two crafty playmakers on the court, who can both help set up Adebayo and Robinson. You paid him all that money, it’s time for him to take that next step and play both ends to help this team win.
Realistically, Herro is Miami’s guy and will continue to be until further notice. They’ve believed in the 21 year old since the moment they drafted him.
He had huge fourth quarter moments in his rookie year and still played nearly all 12 minutes this past year, despite the up and down season. Herro gives them playmaking and is another guy that can get to his spot.
If he is the answer for the missing spot, it’ll be interesting to see how they use him. Will they let him play his game, handling the ball around screens or turn him into a spot up shooter in the final minutes?
The Heat’s closing five isn’t a huge problem though, especially if you have Erik Spoelstra as your head coach. More than likely, Spoelstra already has the answer and as the season progresses, it’ll be more of a conversation than issue.
The Miami Heat made the changes necessary to win big and bring a new edge to their game and team. Now, it’s all about making the pieces fit and winning ball games.