Tyler Herro is set to return to the Miami Heat's lineup Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks, and when he does, there are some huge concerns that he'll have to calm for fans. Most of them revolve around whether he'll be able to fit in the Heat's new and improved offensive philosophy.
With how the Heat have played through the first month of the season, it's a fair (and understandable) question. Even though Herro is coming off an All-Star-level season, you can't help but wonder how he's going to be acclimated back into a Heat offense that seems to be clicking almost perfectly.
The good news is that there should be some clarity on all those concerns soon. Heading into Herro's season debut, let's explore a few of the big questions that all Heat fans will be seeking answers to.
Will Tyler Herro fit alongside Norman Powell?
Through the first month of the season, Norman Powell has been the team's best offensive player. He's been the straw that stirs the Heat's offense and has thrived in Spo's new offense. But how much will that change when Herro returns? It's an honest question considering they're expected to share the backcourt responsibilities.
If there is any difficulty in Herro and Powell meshing together as a duo, it will naturally raise some big questions about this team's future, one that needs to be decided sooner rather than later.
Will Tyler Herro fit in Spo's new offense?
More specifically, there are not just questions about how the dynamic between Herro and Powell will be, but there are also concerns about Herro's fit, individually, in this Heat offense.
This new offense that the Heat is running has cut the majority of pick-and-rolls and screen actions out of the scheme. This is an offense that is predicated on pace, cutting, and drive and kicks. While Herro is a proven offensive force, most of his damage (in a Heat uniform) has revolved around getting opportunities in the pick-and-roll or by using screens.
With that no longer a big part of the offense, how will that affect his game? How will Herro be able to thrive in the Heat's new offense?
Can he add value for an offense that's already clicking?
One of the final big questions that Heat fans want to know the answer to is, how will Herro add value to an offense that is already thriving? Miami is just 13th in offensive rating, but because they're the No. 1-ranked team in the league in pace, that hasn't mattered much. The Heat are still the highest-scoring team in the league, averaging 124.9 points per game.
The question is, how much of a difference will Herro make? It's hard to imagine that the Heat is going to average more points per game than they already are. Maybe their offense gets a little more efficient. Maybe they create more assist opportunities? Then again, the Heat also leads the league in assists.
It will be interesting to watch all these storylines unfold. In theory, adding an All-Star guard to the lineup would indicate a good thing. But many fans need to see the proof of that before they get overly excited with Herro's return.