“Tyler Herro is “on fire!”” is what the Heat broadcaster Eric Reid said late fourth quarter. My fans, Tyler Herro is comparable to a baseball player hitting solo home runs. He doesn’t make the team better. The current offensive approach by the Heat allows Herro to show out, but it won’t lead to wins. Tonight’s game was tailor-made for Herro because the Heat were down. Herro could hog the ball and shoot. No doubt about it, he was “on fire,” as Reid said passionately. To win more, the Heat need more off-ball movement on offense and should trade Herro for a point guard (while his stock is the highest.)
Heat-Pistons old school reboot
The Pistons were very competitive and played very well tonight. They were athletic, quick and strong. Nikola Jovic and Tim Hardaway Jr. both had to leave the game because of injuries from play. The Pistons were athletic and smart on offense and defense. Instead of the usual, athletic and foolish. The game went into overtime and it was a relief, but the Heat played a herky-jerky game all night. Check out the fan site here of the Heat on SI.com for game stats.
Jimmy Butler didn’t play for the second consecutive game with an ankle injury. Tyler Herro brought the Heat back with his hot shooting. But, the storyline shows that there are more questions than answers for the Heat.
Heat ball movement non-existent
The Heat’s offense began their offensive possessions looking for help. Either Rozier or Herro would try to breakdown the team’s defense. The Pistons defenders weren’t biting tonight. Then, they would back off and pass to someone else. Strong side action, then weak side action, then shot. The ball handler would be searching for themselves. The other players would be static, waiting for the ball.
Bam Adebayo ran the fast break late in the fourth quarter. Something he hasn’t done this season. The only thing new so far in Bam’s game has been his three point shooting. The Heat didn’t disrupt the Pistons all game on defense. To use Erik Spolestra’s phrase, “we have to make them feel our presence.” A Jaden Ivey jumper to put Detroit up 11 exemplified that fact.
Life without Jimmy Butler
The Heat were at their best offensively last season in the half-court. Jimmy Butler would slow the game down and find scores. Now, the Heat are a bit more up tempo, but there is no “Jimmy Butler” to find scores. Check out what I wrote here on our site about their offensive tempo. Herro and Rozier are streaky and get confused between “pass or shoot.” Bam Adebayo is “the conductor of the possession,” because the game plan requires a versatile big.
Jimmy Butler will have a difficult time in this up-tempo offense. A “true point guard,” seems like the only answer. This means that either Herro or Rozier will need to go. Both guys look to “score first.” Bam Adebayo also looks out of place in the new offense. He needs to be relieved of his multiple responsibilities on offense and defense to have chances to score. Let him run the fast break sometimes.
Onto Indiana.
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