The Miami Heat have set out to take more 3s this season, and the early returns have been promising. Through 13 games, the Heat are averaging 39.2 3-point attempts per game, 10th-most in the NBA and 5.5 more than last season.
So, have the Heat become one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the league? Here’s where they rank in terms of 3-point shooting efficiency.
As our measure, we’re going to use 3-pointers made per 100 possessions, which accounts for volume of 3-pointers taken and the rate of conversion.
Here’s where the Heat rank among the best 3-point shooting teams in the NBA.
- Boston Celtics: 16.7
- Golden State Warriors: 14.7
- Dallas Mavericks: 14.5
- Sacramento Kings: 14.3
- Milwaukee Bucks: 14
- Cleveland Cavaliers: 13.8
- New York Knicks: 13.7
- Brooklyn Nets: 13.5
- Atlanta Hawks: 13.5
- Memphis Grizzlies: 13.2
- Oklahoma City Thunder: 13.1
- Indiana Pacers: 12.9
- LA Clippers: 12.9
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 12.8
- Miami Heat: 12.8
Middle of the pack? Why doesn’t Miami rank higher?
Despite the Heat ranking in the top 10 in 3-point attempts, they are converting at the 12th-best mark in the league (37%), while teams like the Thunder, Clippers and Timberwolves are shooting fewer 3s but making a higher percentage (all better than 38%).
As you can see, the margin is thin. The Heat are half a made 3 away from cracking the top 10. As the season goes on and the sample gets larger, the Heat should climb these rankings.
Of course, it would help if the Heat got some 3-point shooting contributions from players besides Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson.
Herro is shooting 45% from 3-point range this season. Only Anthony Edwards (4.8) and LaMelo Ball (4.5) are making more 3s per game than Herro (4.4). After a slow start, Robinson is shooting 36.6% from distance, including 41% over his last two games.
Terry Rozier has struggled, making just 33.3% of his 3-point attempts, and Bam Adebayo hasn’t been the proficient 3-point shooter that his Olympic run and preseason suggested. Jimmy Butler has made just three 3-pointers all season.
The best of Miami’s other shooters just aren’t doing it at a high volume. Alec Burks is on the fringe of the rotation, and Haywood Highsmith is shooting 44.8% from 3 but on just 2.6 attempts per game.
Getting more volume from the better shooters and better efficiency from the core rotation would help Miami emerge as one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the league.