The Miami Heat are coming off another disappointing defeat Saturday night to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Starting the game off well, they would take a five-point deficit into the second period, before outscoring the T-Wolves by nearly 20 to take a double-digit lead into the halftime break.
However, after the half, the Minnesota team would continue to put up points while the Miami Heat team could not. They would score 40 plus points in the second period, while they only put up 37 in the entire second half.
That’ll get you beat every time. While this next quandary isn’t a direct cause of their defeat on Saturday, it did play a part, has played a part at times this season, and could directly serve to kill them moving forward.
The Miami Heat’s first-string quarterback, their floor general, their point guard in Kyle Lowry, has to shoot his shots.
Let’s look a little deeper.
Miami Heat: Kyle Lowry Has To Absolutely Shoot His Shots
They say you miss all of the shots that you don’t take and that feels like twice the impact when you have been as lethal as Kyle Lowry has been throughout his career—but isn’t letting it go at the rate you would like to see him do so now.
Averaging only 10 attempts per game, that would be his lowest in almost 11 seasons, save for the 2012-13 season where he averaged only 9.2 per game.
Though there have been a few elongated periods of inactivity, being sidelined due to personal reasons that you certainly give him the respect to take time away to take care of, he has only taken 15 or more shots in six of his 52 games played this season.
Think about that?
No, you don’t want him to be a chucker, but you do need his production. Across his last 16 games played, he has only taken 10 or more in five of those games.
You love the way he has increased the pace for this Heat team, allowing them to get out early off the rebound for easy buckets, you love the way he galvanizes the team, you love the fact that he plays defense, and takes the charges to turn the other team over—but at some point, you need his offense.
Miami Heat: Kyle Lowry Is The Tempo Of Team, But Has To Be A Shot-Maker Too
In the Miami Heat’s latest game against the T-Wolves and in their most recent defeat to Phoenix, it showed up more than ever. Though he took 12 attempts against Minnesota, he seemed uncertain at times while his lack of attempts, overall in this year, probably has an impact on him when he does decide to let it fly.
Even more drastic than that, he only took three attempts against Phoenix. You just can’t have that from one of the best players on your team and especially on a night where you are going up against the best team in the league.
Listen, the Miami Heat are still just fine and will be there when all the chips land, however, if they want the chance to add a little extra dip to their chip, then Lowry has to get back to a version of himself that can explode in the scoring department at any moment.
Again, you don’t want him to completely change the way he’s played, as that allows everyone else to be their best selves with his pass-first mentality setting the table.
However, in order for the team to be the best version of itself that it can be, they’ll need him to start shooting his shots a bit more regularly with confidence and that same certainty as he has all these years that he’s been in the NBA.