It's still early in the season, but Miami Heat guard Norman Powell is dominating on his new team, potentially on track for a career year after having his best season in 2024-25.
And no one is shaking their heads more than Los Angeles Clippers fans, whose team traded the veteran guard after a career season. Los Angeles moved Powell to acquire forward John Collins and guard Bradley Beal. Powell has been a decent piece off the bench.
And Beal...hasn't come anywhere close to that. In fact, he is averaging 8.2 points on 37.5 percent shooting this season, on pace to have easily the worst year of his career. Los Angeles has been ravaged by outside scrutiny with this move, including from the Hoop Collective podcast.
“They thought they could get 80-90 percent of Norman's production from Beal, and then get [John] Collins as a really nice piece off the bench," Tim MacMahon said on a Nov. 10 episode of the show. "Collins has been good off the bench, but Beal ain’t holding freaking Powell's jock with a wheel barrel right now.”
Powell is averaging 23.3 points on 46.2 percent shooting from 3-point range. He's been the Heat's No. 1 scorer in the absence of All-Star guard Tyler Herro, fulfilling his role as a pure backcourt scorer. His addition to the Heat in the summer elevated the team to potential playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference.
MIAMI HEAT TIE HOME SUCCESS WITH HISTORY
The Miami Heat had a few tough losses in their recent four-game Western Conference road trip, but came back home and put together a couple of strong victories against the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers.
They won both games by scoring an average of 131 points and shooting 51.3 percent from the field. A great scheme of offense by the Heat, which hasn't been seen very often in recent years.
Also, holding both opponents to an average shooting of 41.7 percent from the field. They're getting it done on both sides of the court in a very effective fashion.
It’s worth nothing that the Heat accomplished those things, along with the victories, without All-Star center Bam Adebayo, who was recently diagnosed with a left great toe sprain. It speaks highly about the team’s depth.
The Heat currently sits with a 6-4 record, with four of those wins coming from home. It recently shed light on a record that brings hope for the team as the season progresses.