The Miami Heat's record (20-16) has been perfectly reflective of their season thus far. They currently sit in the No. 7 spot of the Eastern Conference standings but their season has been relatively up-and-down. The team underwent a hot start to the season but things quickly turned sideways with a brutal start to the month of Dec. However, they're starting to get back on the right track.
Bleacher Report released an article, giving one word to describe every NBA franchise at the moment. The Heat's word: "familiar."
"For all the early fuss about their revamped and innovative offense, the 'new' Miami Heat are starting to look a lot like the old version," the article wrote. "Miami continues to utilize the pick-and-roll less than any other team, but that innovation isn't producing nearly the same results it was in November. The Heat ranked among the bottom 10 in offensive efficiency during the month of December, dropping their overall offensive rating below the league average for the season. That's a comfortable situation for a Heat team that has only rated above 17th in points scored per 100 possessions twice in the last decade."
The offseason acquisition of Norman Powell reignited the Heat's offensive game even with Tyler Herro's absence. The team played at a faster pace than Erik Spoelstra's usual game plans, sparking a breakout from Jaime Jaquez Jr. as well. Now, the offense has tailed off quite a bit which is familiar to recent Heat campaigns.
"The good news is that the Heat are staying on brand in a more positive way," the article added. "They're third in defensive efficiency, continuing a trend of ranking among the top 10 every year since 2015-16. Whether the offense works or not, the Heat are always going to get stops."
The duo of Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware have been tremendous as of late for Miami and the former may be in conversations for an All-Star nod this season. Even if the offense has struggled, the defense has been consistently strong with Adebayo as the anchor similar to seasons past. If the Heat stay competitive in the Eastern Conference standings, they'll presumably make a trade for a player who scores to help the declining offense.
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