Here are the Top 3 things on the Miami Heat’s Christmas list! Check out other articles in this series like this one here on the Toronto Raptors Christmas list. The Heat beat Toronto tonight. I was in Toronto earlier this year when they got blown away, so pheww. Let’s get to the good stuff.
#3 Christmas list item: Tyler Herro comes back learning to play off the ball
Tyler Herro is a very talented basketball player. But, he is a volume shooter and doesn’t play off the ball. He is hurting the Heat offense with this game. This offense works best when they are sharing the ball and moving the defense around. Comparatively, Tyler Herro should copy how Duncan Robinson has improved as a shooter. Even though, everyone will say Herro is the much better player, Duncan starts over Herro for me. He should be running his defender into the ground off screens. He should master back cuts and move “in space” to collapse the defense. The Heat offense would move to “elite level.”
#2 Christmas list item: Bam Adebayo‘s hip heals in a Christmas miracle.
He has been having such a great season so far. He is truly moving into the level of a top tier player, not just “the promise of a top tier player.” Check out this article here from Bleacher Report that there is no timetable for his return. The Heat have had injury problems at the wrong time with players that have hurt their chances to win a title (Kyle Lowry in ’22 playoffs, Tyler Herro in ’23 playoffs, Jimmy Butler in NBA Finals.) Bam is such a good professional and is so integral to the offensive game plan. You root for him.
#1 Christmas list item: Heat bench carries elder starters through the winter
Jimmy Butler has been missing games with injuries. Bam has a bruised hip, Tyler Herro sprained his ankle and Kyle Lowry can’t afford to get injured. Check out the NBA bench rankings this season here on Lineups.com. The Heat are in the Top 10 of best team benches. Thomas Bryant has been scratched lately because he is a liability on offense. Check out an article here from SI.com on why he’s losing minutes. Above all, he needs to work on his offensive game. Jaime Jaquez is a perfect fit of a Heat player. Duncan Robinson has worked his butt off to fit the mold.
