Tyler Herro says the quiet part out loud about this Heat team

There's no secret about it: this version of the Miami Heat has been a breath of fresh air to watch for most of the season. Despite beginning a season without Jimmy Butler for the first time since 2018, this group has been playing some high-level basketball. Recently, Tyler Herro said the quiet part out loud about this team when speaking about their connectedness.

"This team, we're young, we're fun," Herro said. "We got energy. I think being on the sideline, that's one thing that I've noticed. Since the season started and I'm seeing the game through a different lens, obviously not being on the court. Everyone is coachable, everyone is understanding of each other so far, and everyone is just for each other this year. I think that goes a long way."

This really perfectly encapsulates what has separated this Heat team from past seasons. There’s a looseness to the way they’re playing, but not in a careless sense. It’s confidence mixed with freedom, and it’s allowed guys to grow into roles without constantly looking over their shoulder. Miami still plays hard and competes every night, but it’s doing so without tension.

Part of that comes with the psychology of knowing that you're not expected to be a top dog in the East anymore. There's something that happens in the minds of athletes when they're being counted out and told they won't be what they were last season. The players in Miami's locker room took some of the offseason disrespect personally, and they're showing it on the court every night.

Tyler Herro praised his team's energy and connectedness

The bench energy Herro referenced has been anything but accidental. The Heat have looked more engaged from top to bottom, with role players fully bought into doing the small things. There’s a sense that everyone understands what’s being asked of them, which has made Erik Spoelstra’s job that much easier.

What’s also stood out is how sustainable this style looks. This isn't just some temporary hot streak born from shooting luck or favorable matchups. The Heat are generating quality looks and look like a well-oiled machine when they're at their best offensively. Even when shots aren’t falling, the process has remained sound, which is usually the best indicator of long-term success.

There’s still a ceiling question with this group, and that’s fair. Miami doesn’t have a singular, late-game force the way it once did. But what it has instead is balance and a bunch of guys willing to contribute toward something bigger than themselves. Those traits sometimes matter more than raw talent.

For a franchise that has always valued culture above all else, this season feels like a a very appropriate recalibration. The Heat wasted no time in re-forming their identity following the departure of Butler, and the results are speaking for themselves.