Miami Heat: The 3 Most Noticeable Improvements Thus Far

Miami Heat: With What Looks Like Improvement This Season, They Can Be Scary

When the Heat roster was formed this offseason, we knew that they would be a great defensive team. So far, they have been absolutely spectacular.

3. Defense

Although it has only been five games, their defensive stats have been very eye-opening. Let’s take a look at some of the stats.

First, the Heat are leading the NBA in the defensive rating, allowing only 92 points per 100 possessions game while averaging 110 points on the other end. They also lead the NBA in opponent field goal percentage, limiting their opponents to 39.2 percent shooting from the field.

Four of the top five players in defensive win shares are all members of the Miami Heat. They are as follows: Jimmy Butler, P.J. Tucker, Kyle Lowry, and Bam Adebayo.

If you looked at the top 15, then that makes five Heat guys. Tyler Herro, amazingly enough, comes in at 15.

All around, the Heat are a great team defensively. Especially, when even the weaker defenders like Herro and Duncan Robinson have shown some improvement on that end of the floor or at least, some more urgency.

However, two players are largely responsible for such an outstanding display of defensive basketball. Those players are Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

Jimmy Butler is currently ranked second in steals, averaging 3.2 per game. He is an elite motivator and his presence is felt on the court.

Butler is great at intimidating players. The Miami Heat are usually hidden away from the spotlight that a team like the Los Angeles Lakers might be under, but they are starting to be feared by teams across the NBA.

Jimmy Butler is a huge reason why. The Miami Heat are also leading the NBA in rebounds per game.

The Heat’s leading rebounder is Bam Adebayo with 12.8 per game, which ranks him fourth individually. If Jimmy Butler’s presence has been felt on the defensive end, then Adebayo’s presence has really been felt.

Bam has been shutting everyone down. He has been tasked with guarding several stars, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Not only did Giannis have an off-night, but so did everyone else when guarded by Adebayo. He is currently holding his opponents to 36 percent shooting.

He is truly making a case for Defensive Player of the Year. If he keeps this up, he would be on pace to win it.

The Heat have played inspiring basketball to start off their season. The scariest part is that it is still early in the season and they will only get better.

With all of this in mind, the rest of the league better watch out.