Heat in 5: Tyler Herro's patience, Lowry and Highsmith playing their roles, and more
It's the first edition of Heat in 5, a weekly space where I discuss five things I liked and disliked about the Heat from their recent slate. I will start on the optimistic side, with four things I liked from the Heat's last two games and only one thing that is not working.
By António Dias
1️⃣ Tyler Herro's patience
Tyler Herro's injury comes at a really bad time, with the young guard playing some of the best basketball in his career and a Heat team on the rise. Herro is leading the team in points per game and is second in both assists per game and usage percentage, shooting 41% on 7 attempts per game. But after an awkward landing on Wednesday night's game against the Grizzlies, he will be sidelined for at least two weeks, possibly more. Still, there were some interesting flashes from him during the Lakers game and the first quarter in Memphis.
It's interesting to notice how he's reading plays coming off pick and rolls. He'll still shoot some ill-advised shots, but he has cut down on that and has begun to look more actively for good shots, understanding what the defense gives him.
Here are three examples in this clip:
In this first play, Davis is defending in drop, leaving Herro space to operate off the pick and roll. He takes that space to go for an early but efficient floater before he can react.
In the second play, he rejects the screen when he sees Prince's position, keeps him on his hip, uses his shoulder to keep him away and goes for the runner off the glass.
The last play has him working with a ton of space going middle. Look how he gives a hesitation move to get Jaren Jackson Jr. off his position on the switch and once he hustles to get back into the play, Herro stops and goes for a quick step back in the lane for an easy score.
But he's not been patient only with his scoring. His passing has improved - 6.4 assists per 100 possessions - a clear increase from last season. He's gotten better at scanning the floor and manipulating defenses before finding an open teammate.
Here are three more examples:
In the first play, he fakes three defenders on two different instances. First by faking a pass to Bryant, with Reddish lurking around to help Max Christie. Then he fakes the pass to Richardson to make Reaves commit and ends up finding Robinson on the opposite corner for the 3.
Check out the second play, in transition, Herro decelerates to allow Bam to come into the play and then hits his big man with a bounce pass when the defense commits.
On the last play, Herro comes to the handoff and attracts the attention of the whole Grizzlies team. So he takes one extra dribble to scan the floor, knowing Lowry is at the top, and looks the other way before hitting his open teammate.