The Miami Heat are off to a 1-3 start and no, that’s not, at all, ideal. With many pointing the finger in multiple directions at once—Kyle Lowry’s inconsistency, poor play by Dewayne Dedmon, or this team still needing to get bigger just to name a few among several more reasons out there, perhaps, it isn’t any individual one of these issues singularly.
And while there may be multiple instances of the above-described scenarios occurring, along with a few not specifically mentioned as noted, is there something else at the core of all of that? The answer is the key to the Miami Heat overcoming their rough start so far.
The Miami Heat are a team that does it a certain kind of way. In victory or defeat and hopefully, more victories than defeats, they go about playing the game in a certain manner when they are operating at peak capacity.
They rely on ball and man movement. Now, like all teams or players in sports, reverting back to bad habits happens, though the best of the best find themselves guilty of that the least, one would think and it seems.
And if you look at the Miami Heat this season, so far in this very small sample but like so many years prior, they are operating at their best when everyone is getting involved, in one way or another, to help their teammate do something good that, ultimately, helps the team be its best.
Miami Heat: Off To A 1-3 Start, ‘Symmetry’ On Both Sides At The Core Of Issues
In one example, here is this sequence from Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler from the Toronto defeat on Monday. It, not only, shows why you need Bam Adebayo to be as aggressive as humanly possible but what happens when you are in sync and symmetry with your teammates.
It’s that type of stuff that helped them carry a five-point lead into the fourth period of this game before losing it, as well as get a win over these same Raptors on Saturday. In that one, it allowed them to go up by as many as 24 points or so, before the Caleb Martin kerfuffle gave the Raptors a boost of energy big enough to disrupt the Heat’s dominance.
Being in symmetry shows up in more ways than just the philosophy though. Yes, the philosophy keeps you from going so Isolation heavy late in the fourth period of Monday’s Toronto defeat as the Miami Heat did for several straight possessions but it also expresses itself in a multitude of ways.
Bam Adebayo can be aggressive without worrying about stepping on anyone else’s toes.
Kyle Lowry can also get to his offense in rhythm, without feeling as if he is taking valuable touches from anyone else.
Being in better sync should also allow Jimmy Butler to not be so conceding, for lack of better terms, when it comes to his offense in relation to Tyler Herro’s offense, as it has seemed at times. Tyler Herro is the better all-around offensive player, but Jimmy Butler isn’t that far behind him there.
And Jimmy Butler’s style, trustworthiness, and track record so deem him the man for this Miami Heat team right now on offense. Tyler should have a huge part in whatever they are doing, but all that plays off what Jimmy Butler is doing.
Miami Heat: They Need To Develop The Proper ‘Ebb And Flow’ On Both Sides
And of course, Jimmy Butler is the “best player” because he does it in every facet of the game, whereas, the previous proclamations were more geared toward their offense. That means that there are situations where Tyler should take the shot, but you shouldn’t ever feel like Jimmy Butler is overtly taking a step back at any moment to allow that for Tyler, as that isn’t what’s best for the team.
That proper ebb and flow is the symmetry that can only be established as they play with each other in the starting lineup more. And this symmetry isn’t just on offense, as it is having an impact on the other side of the ball too.
They got used to having P.J. Tucker and though many people will say that “they only had him for one year and this is, pretty much, the same team that was here before he got here”, it doesn’t necessarily work that way either, though that notion is, somewhat, correct.
Just like they had to adapt to him being there, for as seamless or not as that may have been, there is a reprogramming that has to happen to account for him not being there anymore. That’s something that will take time and when you are talking about a guy as good on that side as Tucker is, but who also acts as one of your primary communicators and coordinators, that’s a pretty big readjustment.
Miami Heat: Being On One Accord As A Unit Is Key To Every Aspect Of Game
It also goes beyond that too, as they could always get aligned to do the basics. “Boxing out” has to occur as a unit, as one hole could allow for a rebound and worse, an easy bucket because everyone else is occupied “boxing” their assignment.
Take former Miami Heat first-rounder, Precious Achiuwa pulling down 22 boards in Monday’s defeat for example.
Stuff like this and the defensive lapses that allowed for crucial buckets down the stretch from the likes of Jayson Tatum or DeMar DeRozan were also results of congruency-based issues.
With the help being a step too late, a teammate being a hair off on a reaction or read, or with the whole unit being so disorganized that something pops wide open—it can all be traced back to symmetry and being in sync.
You aren’t giving this team a pass. They have to be better.
Heck, they’ve shown that they are, as they haven’t been dominated in any game and have had just as good a chance to win as the opposition has. Now, when you are the Miami Heat and win as you do, you have to be aligned in order to get it done whereas some other teams that rely on other things can do it differently.
But the way the Miami Heat do it is the most fail-safe and that’s why they are consistently a good program and team, rarely not meeting but exceeding expectations. As far as this group goes, it’s only four games in and don’t be shocked when they do the same.
And notice, not one time was “chemistry” said here, as they should have that with this core of players being the same or so very similar for so long now. But chemistry, liking each other and knowing one another’s habits, isn’t the same as symmetry, being actively aligned with and able to execute upon that knowledge.
Well, at least, in this particular case.
You have to give it 20 games if you’re being fair. And hopefully, by then, they’ll all be on one accord.