The Miami Heat entered this season as one of the true wild cards of the Eastern Conference. However this season played out, the team could either become a legitimate contender or fully embrace a rebuild in the now post-Jimmy Butler era. Even with those middling preseason predictions, the team is overperforming to the point where they could finish as one of the top seeds in the East.
Bleacher Report released an article, updating their original win-loss predictions from the preseason. The Heat were originally predicted to finish with a 42-40 record. After their strong start to the regular season, they are now seven games ahead with a projected 49-33 finish.
"Along with Detroit, the Miami Heat are the East's biggest gainers," the article wrote. "They're easily the more surprising of the two, as nobody could have seen this level of offensive glow-up coming. The Heat have abandoned the concept of screen-setting, opting instead to play in as much space as possible while embracing a historically fast pace. It's been over 30 years since any team averaged more possessions per 48 minutes than Miami is now. The Heat get the ball over halfcourt at a dead sprint after made baskets, which effectively allows them to play entire games in transition. Everyone attacks off the dribble, and the rest of the offensive players wheel in unison around the driver, creating passing and cutting angles in dynamic fashion."
Their success comes with the emergence of backcourt options putting it all together. The scoring has been a big reason why this team is viewed as well as they are at this point in the season.
"Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been reborn as a relentless downhill driver, and Norman Powell is thriving when catching the ball in advantage situations — which feels like every possession," the article added. "The Heat are nearly a top-10 offense, a major achievement after finishing among the bottom 10 in each of the last three years. What's more, their new style isn't hindering things on the other end. Miami is also a top-five defense. Note, too, that Tyler Herro has only been back for a handful of games. He's going to like his team's new-look offense as much as anyone."
Herro's return to the court should only help the offense. With Powell's All-Star campaign and a now-healthy Herro and Bam Adebayo, the Heat could establish themselves as one of the teams to beat in the East.