The Miami Heat's new offense has gotten off to a scorching start to the season. However, there's at least a small chance that Tyler Herro may not fit in it. And, if so, that will create a huge problem for the Heat and create a huge hurdle to all the momentum the team has built up to this point.
That' because the Heat's new offense is largely built around pace, drive and kicks, and moving without the basketball. In theory, that may not seem like a problem for Herro. However, where it does potentially become an issue is when you begin to realize how much Herro's effectiveness on the offensive end of the floor hinges on the pick-and-roll.
Herro can certainly take a defender off the dribble, but most of his damage has historically come off some sort of screen action. As the Heat have quickly moved away from being a heavy screen team, that premise will certainly be challenged when Herro comes back.
Tyler Herro needs to prove himself again
Interestingly enough, even after a career year, Herro will find himself in a position where he'll have to prove himself once again. Herro has evolved as a player before when he was asked to cut down on his mid-range attempts. He may have to do that again, moving into a role that will have him playing less on-ball and creating offense without heavy screen action.
That doesn't mean the Heat is completely opposed to letting Herro be Herro, even if it comes with utilizing pick-and-rolls to find his sweet spots, but it's clear that the team has made a concerted effort to move away from that offensive philosophy.
There will be a chance for Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra to blend the two styles, but it could be difficult to do so on the fly. Especially with the momentum the Heat have already built to start the season, there's at least a small chance that the team could fall into some growing pains when Herro returns.
Is there a chance that Herro will seamlessly fit into what the Heat have built on the offensive end of the floor through the first handful of games of the season? Sure. However, because of the way he's become accustomed to playing offensively, I'd imagine there's probably going to be some choppy waters when Herro does return.
Herro is probably still a couple of weeks (at least) away from his return to the Heat's lineup. However, there should already be some concern about how his impact may stunt the team's current momentum.
Obviously, the hope is that Herro will make this Heat offense even more lethal, but there will probably be some pains in the acclimation period before that's even a possibility.