Heat is learning the hard way that playing faster doesn't mean playing better

Erik Spoelstra seems adamant that the Miami Heat must play fast. For the past two years, he's been preaching about the importance of the offense playing at a great pace. And since making the shift at the start of last season, the Heat have successfully been at the top of the league in pace.

However, the overall offensive results haven't exactly been encouraging. The Heat are playing fast, but they're not necessarily a good offensive team. And haven't been for the past calendar year. Despite some signs of a good offense, especially at the beginning of last season, the Heat have plainly been bad on that end of the floor through the first 11 games this year.

But if their year-plus sample size of the Heat's underwhelming "space-and-pace" offense isn't enough, there is significant evidence from other teams across the league that reinforces the harsh reality that playing faster doesn't necessarily mean playing better.

Playing fast hasn't translated to a top offense in the NBA this year

Through the first 11 games of this season, only one team (the Portland Trail Blazers) that is top 10 in pace has a top 10 offense. The Heat, specifically, are third in pace but just 18th in offensive rating.

Last season, the Heat were No. 1 in the league in pace, but just 12th in offensive rating. Somehow, they've been significantly worse this season with Giannis Antetokounmpo. That shouldn't be possible.

That said, I'm not sure how much stock should be put in this stat, especially just 11 games into the season. However, at the very least, there should be some conversations about whether playing fast is truly worth it for the Heat.

I don't think the Heat should completely abandon the space-and-pace offense, but perhaps there is more to picking their spots. After all, even though the Heat are 18th in offensive rating, they're 10th in half-court offense, per Cleaning the Glass.

The Heat probably shouldn't muddy up the entire game by refusing to run when given the opportunity, especially not with Giannis, one of the best transition players in the league on the team, but a more organized and slowed-down offense could help the Heat more than they realize.

At the time, it made a ton of sense for Spoelstra and the Heat to embrace a faster-paced offense. They just didn't have the star talent to compete consistently in the half-court. But I'm not sure that's still the case.

And the Heat have quietly learned the hard way through the first 11 games into the season that playing faster, even with Giannis, doesn't necessarily equate to better offense. It may be time for Spoelstra to pivot.

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