Last season, the Miami Heat struggled with injuries, using 34 different starting lineups, which is not ideal for any team. It's crucial for the Heat to establish consistency in their starting lineup for the upcoming season, despite the likelihood of some injuries.
The Heat can't afford to have 34 different starting lineups again.
After six years of building around Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro, it's still unclear how well these three players mesh on the court, which is a significant problem.
Miami has faced regular-season issues during this era, and if they want to avoid the play-in tournament this year, they need more stability in their starting lineup.
Adding Terry Rozier to the starting lineup and having a full training camp should help, but Rozier missed most of his time in Miami due to a neck injury. Keeping Rozier healthy with this group will be key. Once Miami finds rhythm in its starting lineup, we will see what it is truly capable of.
Avoid offensive struggles
Miami's offense has struggled during the Jimmy Butler era. With players in and out of the lineup, it's been challenging to find consistency. M
Miami is known for its excellent defense, thanks to coach Erik Spoelstra. However, offensively, Miami last had a top-10 ranked offense back in the 2019-2020 season when they utilized a lot of dribble handoffs.
In recent years, the Heat have been in the middle of the pack offensively. While having a top-five offense would be great, aiming for an offensive rating around 10-15 is more realistic -- and would be a significant improvement.
Clearly, Miami's offense needs to change. Improving the offense should be a priority to start the season off on the right foot. Here are some quick fixes that Miami could consider to enhance its offense.
- Play Tyler Herro off the ball more
- Bam Adebayo and Nikola Jovic pushing the pace after defensive rebounds
- More player movement off the ball, such as cutting, screening, etc.
Bad vibes
After a tough season, Miami fans and NBA fans were eager to see how Jimmy Butler would approach training camp.
Butler arrived with the right mindset, saying at media day, "I just want to play basketball and be available, like Pat was talking about."
Despite arriving a few hours late due to flight issues, he expressed his commitment to making everyone happy. His positive vibes on Instagram, including hanging out with teammates and enjoying time with Nikol Jovic by the ocean, have contributed to a good atmosphere in Miami.
It's important for Miami to maintain this positive energy throughout the season, as it can have a positive impact on the team's performance. Despite a disappointing season, it's great to see the team bonding and enjoying each other's company.
Hopefully, this positive atmosphere will carry into the regular season.