The key to Heat success unsurprisingly falls on All-Star duo

After the Miami Heat finally pulled the plug on the Jimmy Butler era prior to this year’s trade deadline, championship expectations quickly vanished. However, the roster still has the talent to be a playoff team in the Eastern Conference.

The problem is that they haven’t shown that potential. Since the trade was finalized, Miami has limped to a 2-8 record. 

They are also just 3-7 over their last 10 games, and remain three games below .500 heading into Friday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers. Shortly before the inevitable Butler trade, the Heat were slotted in the East’s sixth seed. 

Now, they are currently five full games back from that seeding in a weaker conference. It could be easy to just shift excuses to new faces needing time to gel, but the fact is that an Andrew Wiggins-headlined trade return was never going to move the needle.

Even so, it was arguably the best offer that was possible after Butler’s antics tanked his trade value.

The key to this Miami Heat team winning games has been well documented over the last two matchups. 

In Monday’s loss in Atlanta against the Hawks, the All-Star duo of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo both struggled heavily offensively. The pairing combined for just 25 points on 9 of 32 shooting (28%). Miami was outscored by 19 points total in that game in their minutes. 

Luckily, the Heat bounced back in a win during the following matchup when they hosted Atlanta just two days later. And to no surprise, Herro and Adebayo had their imprints all over the game— along with some strong contributions from Davion Mitchell, Duncan Robinson and Haywood Highsmith.

It seems pretty clear what the recipe for success looks like moving forward, at least until next season when some more possible reinforcements could come via trade or free agency.

Miami is going to go as far as Herro and Adebayo can take them, even if that ceiling is a second round playoff appearance. And the team won’t be able to afford for even one of them to have an off night if that’s the case, let alone both of them. 

Ideally, this Heat duo would pose as perfect second and third options on a championship team. That notion could potentially be addressed sooner rather than later, as a trade market headlined by the coveted Kevin Durant is just months away during this upcoming offseason. 

But for now, Miami will need consistent All-Star caliber efforts from Herro and Adebayo if they want any chance at some 2025 postseason success.