Here’s a stat: The Miami Heat have won the Southeast Division in nine of the last 13 seasons. Here’s another one: Since the Heat became a part of the division in 2004, they’ve won it 12 of 19 seasons. Put more bluntly, the Heat are kings of the Southeast.
How have they done it? Who cares! That’s not important. We’re done looking backward. It’s time to look ahead. The real question is if the Heat can do it again. Here’s one advantage they have over their division rivals, the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards.
Atlanta Hawks: Defense
There hasn’t been much to like about Atlanta’s defense for quite a while. Not since 2017 have the Hawks haven’t finished a season better than 18th in defensive rating, including last season when they ranked 22nd.
This is pretty much the opposite of the Heat experience. Despite some of the plodding and frustrating offenses that have become too common in Miami, the Heat have built their longstanding success on a foundation of defense. Last season, the Heat ranked 25th in offensive rating and eighth in defensive rating.
But matchups against Atlanta’s shaky defense present a rare opportunity for the Heat to look like an offensive juggernaut. So much so that the Heat in four games against the Hawks last season scored 118.6 points every 100 possessions – a mark that would have surpassed the Sacramento Kings for the best offense in the league.
It’s not hard to see why this is the case. The Hawks are built around star point guard Trae Young, who is an incredibly productive offensive player, but might also be the worst defender in the NBA. Miami loves a downhill attack on offense, and Young provides little friction at the point of attack.
Beyond Young, wing Deandre Hunter is Atlanta’s only plus perimeter defender, while Clint Capela – an elite rim-protector when healthy – hasn’t been healthy.
The Hawks didn’t do much this offseason to improve their defense (although trading away John Collins might be addition by subtraction), so new coach Quinn Snyder will have his work cut out for him to turn that unit around. For now, it remains the Heat’s biggest advantage against their biggest competition in the division.