Grading the Heat’s top 5 players three quarters through the season

The Miami Heat are surging at the most perfect time and in the midst of their best basketball all season long.

The Heat have won 11 of their last 14 games and have gotten to within just a half-game out of the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Miami has so much depth, arguably the best depth it has had in the five-year Jimmy Butler era.

However, from a statistical standpoint, it’s clear that the squad’s best five guys are Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier and Duncan Robinson. With three quarters of this 2023-2024 season over, it’s time to give out some grades for the team’s top five performing players so far.

The veteran Miami Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson went into this season coming off a terrific playoff run. It only naturally raised questions about whether Robinson would continue that level of play or fall back into the slump that mired most of the 2022-23 regular season.

However, he has made clear developmental progress in the Heat’s system. And three quarters into the season he has proven to be a legitimate X-factor.

After Tuesday's win against the Detroit Pistons, the Heat are 18-6 in games with Robinson in the starting lineup. Injuries to Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro and Josh Richardson have paved the way for him to climb the depth chart. The 3-point sniper has season averages of 13.3 points, 3 assists and 2.5 rebounds on 45.3% shooting and 40.5% percent from deep. 

He has made significant progress in facets of his game that were once his flaws. The improved defense, playmaking and ability to attack the basket have been huge for the 29-year-old. However, his starting stats do not reflect his stats as a bench player, which puts coach Erik Spoelstra in a tough position. It is clear that Robinson has significant on-court chemistry with a lot of Miami's starters, but the difference in his performances in different roles is what is keeping Robinson from getting that A grade.