After a blistering start to the season, the Miami Heat are back at an offensive crossroad. And it's imperative that if the Heat are going to continue to be the surprise of the Eastern Conference, Erik Spoelstra figures out a way to revamp this team's offense.
Over the last few weeks, the Heat have grown stale on that end of the floor, and it does seem as if the rest of the league is beginning to "figure them out" to a certain extent. While many have been quick to blame Tyler Herro and his return to the starting lineup, I'm not sure it's that simple.
Sure, there are natural concerns about Herro and his skill set fitting into what the Heat have built on the offensive end of the floor, but there are some schematic alterations that may be needed if the rest of the league is catching up to the Heat.
The Heat's offense has tanked over the last few weeks
Over the last few games, the Heat have still playing at the fastest pace in the league, but the results of that quick pace offense haven't been good enough. Since November 24, the Heat have dropped to 17th in points per game. They're also 22nd in offensive rating. Their struggles on the offensive end of the floor have also dropped Miami to 19th in net rating.
For reference, the Heat were ranked No. 1 in points per game, No. 13 in offensive rating, and seventh in net rating from the start of the season through November 23.
Something clearly changed, and it wasn't just the return of Herro (even though the dates do line up).
There needs to be some sort of shake-up for the Heat offensively, and Spo (and the rest of his coaching staff) must figure it out.
Can Spo find the right formula to solve their offensive problems?
I don't think there are many concerns in Spo. If given the time to do so, you'd have to imagine he'll find a way to introduce a new wrinkle to the offense. The question is, does he have enough turnaround time to do so in-season?
It's far from a guarantee. However, this "mini-break" after losing in the NBA Cup Quarterfinals to the Orlando Magic may have given his staff the perfect time to get things back on track.
Time will tell, but if the Heat are going to remain relevant in the East standings, there's no question that something needs to improve on the offensive end of the floor. Soon, we'll find out if that will end up being the case or if the rest of the league has indeed figured out this new and improved Heat offense.