We’re 13 games into the Miami Heat’s season and have a little break in the schedule, so it’s the perfect time for the All U Can Heat staff to get together and reflect on the season so far.
Q: What is the biggest concern you have about the Heat through 13 games?
Brennan Sims: The Heat are hovering above mediocrity at 6-7. There have been highs and lows, but not much consistency outside of one sharpshooter. Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler have displayed flashes in different games, but they must put it all together if this team has any shot at accomplishing anything. The overall defense has risen to 12th, so that is a step in the Heat basketball direction.
Stephanie Meadows: My biggest concern with the Miami Heat is consistency. Despite having to change it occasionally, coach Spoelstra has to nail down the rotations. We have seen hopeful glimpses, but our best players have to play their best basketball on both ends of the floor moving forward. We always find a way to make a comeback, but the time is now!
Daniel Riccio: My biggest concern is without a doubt the play from Terry Rozier. His stats aren’t just drastically down from his Charlotte Hornets tenure, but worse than his half-season in Miami earlier this year as well, which was already in decline. He is a core piece to what the best version of this team looks like. Perhaps a sixth man role move can help, but if not, the Heat have a serious Rozier problem.
Brandon Di Perno: My main concerns about the Heat are complacency and consistency. At their worst this season, Miami has appeared complacent and aloof. At its best, we see major offensive contributions from everybody. The problem is you can’t count on a player game-to-game except maybe Tyler Herro.
Q: How are we feeling about Jimmy Butler’s “contract year?”
Sims: Butler's contract year doesn't feel typical. Players usually elevate their performance to secure a new deal, yet he just had his first 30-point game of the season. He's 35 years old, though. Backing up the Brinks truck for him in 2024-25 is a team-building no-no when the team is far from contention. Trading him at the deadline might be wise to avoid losing him for nothing, even if it's tricky due to his past achievements with the team. Prioritizing the Heat's best interests is the main thing here.
Meadows: Butler has made it clear that he isn’t interested in playing for the money, what he wants is a championship. With Jimmy’s age and unpredictability, it may be wise that a trade may be in his future. I personally love Butler and his character and tenacity as a player, but I want what is best for the team.
Riccio: I strongly believe that Heat fans haven’t seen the best of Butler yet this season. He has essentially bet on himself going into this contract year, so it’s on him to put himself in the best position for one final payday. Butler is the catalyst to Miami’s success, even at the age of 35. As long as he stays involved and engaged in the offense, this team still has potential to make noise.
Di Perno: Not great. It’s hard to say that after such a great outing against the Sixers, but the fact of the matter is Jimmy has not been a 1A. He’s struggled to mesh with the offense, and it’s telling that his best outing was without Rozier and Jaquez. Miami needs more.
Q: Does Heat Nation owe Tyler Herro an apology?
Sims: It depends on your previous thoughts on Tyler Herro. If you said he isn't a lead ball handler, you'd still be correct. If you said, "He'll always be a role-playing six-man for his whole career," then yeah, you should be saying sorry to the Heat's best player (so far). Herro's bought into shooting better shots; give him his flowers.
Meadows: I don’t think we owe Tyler Herro an apology previously. He needed to mature and look introspectively. While he always put in the work, this season you can tell Herro’s energy and attitude were different, and his focus on wanting to stay healthy, and everything he was saying impressed me. The apology should be for doubting his ability to grow and work for the position he’s wanted for a long time. So far, he has lived up to his word, and this has been Tyler’s season. His shot selection and overall game have been All-Star caliber. #14 is here to stay!
Riccio: There shouldn’t be any apologies involved with Tyler Herro. It has been frustrating to see inconsistent play and availability issues over the years, considering he is such a polarizing part to the offense. The production he is putting out this year is All-Star caliber, which is what Heat fans always knew he was capable of amid all the criticism. His talent was always there, he just needed to finally put it together.
Di Perno: Absolutely. The hate Tyler was getting on social media last season was unacceptable. Since 2020 there have been hypothetical trades, with the consensus last season being the 24-year-old needed a change of scene to find success. I’m ecstatic he’s finally taking his game to that elite level.
Q: The East has, what, two good teams? Where would you rank the Heat?
Sims: The Celtics and Cavaliers have been the East top dogs, but the Magic are looking like a problem with Paolo Banchero out. The Knicks are hitting their stride on offense but have putrid paint defense with Mitchell Robinson out. Currently, the Bucks and the 76ers are terrible watches. Miami could turn it on and enter the playoffs as the fourth or fifth-best team in the East. This core has shown they can compete with anyone come springtime.
Meadows: The Heat can be a top 5 team in the Eastern Conference. Call that optimistic, but if we start playing consistent and fluid basketball, come playoff time we can be a contender. I am not saying we will win the championship, but I have faith that this team will make it exciting as always no matter the outcome.
Riccio: The silver lining of the weak Eastern Conference is that the Heat have plenty of time to turn things around and make a push. This team is in desperate need of a breakthrough, and luckily the standings are in their favor. Miami could secure a top-four seed, regardless of their struggles. And I’d feel confident with a healthy Playoff Jimmy against anybody in this league. The path to another NBA Finals is wide open, but will the Heat take advantage?
Di Perno: I might be overly pessimistic - but I don’t think this team can compete for a championship. The path for this team to find any success depends on the health of an injury-prone roster, and the small sample size of games so far doesn’t offer much hope. It’s time to reset.