Andrew Wiggins put up 42 points to lead the Miami Heat over the Charlotte Hornets, break a 10-game skid and notch his best game in a Heat uniform.
He poured in 16 of his 21 shots, including 6 of 8 from beyond the arc, and provided the kind of DIY shot-making this group has lacked over this past stretch. Let’s take a look at some of the shots he made and talk about what it means for the Heat’s offense.
The Heat need this version of Andrew Wiggins.
This shot has been in Wiggins’ wheelhouse since he came into the league more than a decade ago. When this shot is falling, in particular, you know he’s feeling it.
But Heat coaches want him to get downhill. In transition, off screens, in isolation, whatever. This group needs someone who can put pressure on the defense and Wiggins, with his size and athleticism, is the best option.
Wiggins uses an aggressive first step and his broad shoulders to dig his way into the paint, then finishes with some finesse as he softly lifts up for this running floater. Whereas Miami’s old 22 would have leaned his way into a foul and gotten his shots at the line, Wiggins avoids the contact and focuses on making the shot.
But this looks a lot more like that old 22. Isolation on the wing, jab step, get into the mid-post and hit a tough push shot over the defender.
The Heat have been missing this element since the Butler trade. Having Wiggins operate out of the mid-post can unlock a lot of the actions that Butler used to trigger. Beyond the scoring, Wiggins found Tyler Herro for a 3-pointer and Kel’el Ware for a lob while reading the floor from this spot.
At the risk of comparing Wiggins and Butler too much, one of the big differences between them is Wiggins being a willing 3-point shooter. Coaches need his work on the ball, but he’s just as comfortable working off the ball.
Here, Wiggins spaces the floor from the corner as Herro and Ware work a pick-and-roll in the middle of the floor. Wiggins’ defender digs too much into the paint, Herro makes the right read and Wiggins makes the easy jumper. Note the quick release.
There’s very little dip on his jumper.
Wiggins is averaging 6.2 3-point attempts per game for the Heat, the most since his last season in Minnesota. The Heat need this aspect of his game, just as they need all the other stuff he can do on the ball to create better looks for others.