As the Miami Heat gears up for the 2024-25 NBA season, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra addressed criticism and answered questions about the team's performance and ability to compete. Recent discussions have focused on pairing Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier in the backcourt and determining the starting power forward position.
After a productive offseason, training camp, and preseason, the players and coaching staff gained valuable insights. Spoelstra revealed his revamped starting lineup for this upcoming season, along with adjustments made to Miami's offensive and defensive strategies.
Since they became teammates in 2019, Miami’s current "Big 3" of Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, and Tyler Herro have played in 195 regular-season games together. However, last year, their playing time became limited to just 27 games due to season-long issues with player availability and injuries.
Spoelstra's decision to use a fresh starting lineup for this upcoming season, which features the trio of Adebayo, Butler, and Herro alongside new additions Rozier and Jović, signals an exciting change. But, there's a catch.
This five-man rotation combination has never been used in any regular season games. Preseason was the first time they played together since Rozier was traded to Miami from the Charlotte Hornets in January, and Niko was inserted into the starting lineup at the end of last season.
The Heat's improvements demonstrated in preseason are a promising direction for the team. Why do we think Coach Spoelstra's decisions are wise? I break it all down here on All U Can Heat.
New additions to the starting lineup: Rozier and Jović
Miami seeks to improve its offensive efficiency by accelerating its pace to create more favorable scoring opportunities in transition, given that the team has been among the five slowest-paced teams in the NBA over the past five regular seasons. The current starting lineup, featuring five players adept at initiating fast breaks, is leading the initiative to embrace a faster tempo.
Jović and Rozier bring new dynamics to this starting unit, highlighting Spoelstra's strategic decision-making. The addition of a skilled big such as Niko and a speedy scoring guard who can also play-make like Rozier is what’s different about this new Heat starting lineup. When Rozier was told by Spoelstra that he had logged zero minutes with the core players on the court, he responded with disbelief.
“It kind of does surprise me,” Rozier said when told that this lineup never played together last season. “Coach Spoelstra mentioned that there are going to be bumps in the road. We know it’s going to work, but it’s not going to be picture-perfect at first. But he mentioned that we had played zero minutes together. I think that is crazy.”
Alongside Butler and Adebayo, Herro and Rozier make up the Heat's backcourt. When Jović and Rozier were asked what they bring to the lineup after Miami's first preseason game, the consensus seemed to be wanting to play their respective roles well to help the team win, and having a collective excitement to play together.
“Playing in transition is probably the big part,” said Jović, who was drafted by the Heat with the 27th overall pick in 2022. “Defensively, I feel like now I’m comfortable with switches. So it for sure helps the team because I feel like guys like Bam and Jimmy can switch all the time. If I can help them do that, it’s a lot easier for everyone. "
Rozier chimed in, emphasizing his role as a point guard is to be more of a leader on the court, and have more awareness of his teammates.
“Quarterbacking,” Rozier answered. “Definitely like noticing if Bam hasn’t touched the ball two times down, same thing with Jimmy. Making sure Niko is in his spots, making sure that Tyler can score the ball, and that everyone is happy.”
The new lineup looked good on the court during the preseason. However, translating it from preseason to the regular season is a different story as we all know. A sentiment that Jović emphasized.
“I think we have a great kind of balance between physicality and shooting, game outside of the paint and game inside the paint,” Jović, said. “I feel like that’s what people see. I feel like that lineup will be very versatile. But we for sure need some time like everybody else. Nothing can just happen from the jump. So we’ll see. But we’re looking forward to playing together.”
Offensive strategy
The Heat's priorities were showcased this offseason in training camp, and during their five-game preseason which finished last week against the Memphis Grizzlies. Miami is focusing on enhancing its offensive strategy by aiming to generate a more effective shot distribution, following a second consecutive regular season in which it ranked among the bottom ten in offensive efficiency.
Each rotation, including the starters and bench, moved the ball more fluidly, released shots quicker, and generated high-quality scoring opportunities both near the basket and from beyond the arc while minimizing attempts from the long midrange area.
After Herro missed the preseason opener with a groin injury, the chosen group started the next three preseason games together before most of the regulars sat out Friday’s preseason finale against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Heat’s preferred starting lineup was a plus-12 this preseason.
As for the starting five's first game minutes together in preseason, Spoelstra said their defense was very active and disruptive. Then offensively, just flowed into actions without pauses and the ball was moving. He liked what he saw during the preseason.
“They’ve come in with the right intentions to work at it,” Spoelstra said about the Heat’s new starting group. “Terry and Tyler, they looked fast. They make our lineup fast. They both came in in great shape, ready to go and they give us a different dynamic of speed and quickness. Jimmy and Bam will be able to figure it out. They’re the anchors of what we do and so we’re always going to play through them. But Terry and Tyler give us that pop, which is what we need.”