If you shared the belief that Tyler Herro's return from left ankle surgery would decide everything about the Miami Heat's season, then your imagination must be running wild based on how incredible he's looked so far. Because for as much as this team impressed without him, they weren't challenging for the NBA crown in his absence.
And while it's maybe premature to suggest that's what Miami is doing now, it's clearly sending a message about its prominent position within the hoops world's hierarchy. If the Heat can simultaneously keep up what they were doing without Herro while welcoming his scoring punch, perimeter shooting, and playmaking back into the fold, then you're looking at a team demanding mentions in any championship conversations.
Herro just might be the missing piece of Miami's championship puzzle.
The Heat found a winning formula without Herro that was built around trademark dominant defense, an egalitarian approach on offense, and Norman Powell's latest breakout. It was masterclass-coaching from Erik Spoelstra—and still a formula that felt like it was missing a key ingredient.
Miami didn't know where to turn for those had-to-have-them possessions during winning time. Having Herro back provides a definitive answer to that search.
Throughout his career, he has proved that he'll never shy away from the game's biggest moments. And Miami has, rightfully, already returned him to the closer role. He's had 17 fourth-quarter points in his first two games back; no one else on this team had more than nine, per NBA.com. He's also had two of the team's five field goals and one of their four assists during clutch situations (the final five minutes with a scoring margin of five points or less). He even delivered the dagger in his first game back.
"It's amazing that he can come back and have that kind of rhythm, that's only going to get better," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters. "... Just wait until he gets comfortable shooting the catch three and playing off the catch that way."
Within Spo's quote, there's a scary realization that the rest of the NBA will soon make. Herro is still adjusting to a radically reshaped offensive approach. He should be even better as he gets more comfortable in this new attack.
Some might naturally wonder how much better he can be when he's already netting 26.5 points on 63.6/42.9/100 shooting. The truth is, though, there's plenty of room for improvement here. His three-point volume could turn all the way up (3.5 three-point attempts so far; he averaged 8.7 last season), and his assists could see a similar spike (3.5 now; 5.5 last season).
While he is clearly making his presence felt (plus-9.9 net differential, second-highest on the team, per NBA.com), he's also just getting started. Better days should be coming, which is a terrifying thought for everyone else with Miami already in the middle of a six-game winning streak.
If the Heat keep this up, they're about to change the meaning of their best-case-scenario season. They looked like they might be a plucky first-round playoff opponent, but with a healthy Herro and all of the gains made without him, they just might be ranking members of the Eastern Conference's elite class.