Offense Is The New Thing For Miami Heat

Two months ago, I wrote an article that made the point that the Miami Heat need more offense on their team. Of course, one of the biggest reasons for that was that Miami was plagued with injuries on their team.

During that time, Chris Bosh wasn’t playing (during an injury that was not at all as serious as the one he has now), and Hassan Whiteside had not emerged as the defensive and offensive threat that Miami now has.

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Now, the times have a-changed, and are looking up for Miami. Bosh is still out of the lineup, but this time, he will be out for the rest of the season. Things are not down and out yet for the Heat, as some may have predicted. The Heat are 3-1 since getting Goran Dragic from the Phoenix Suns, and they look much improved on the offensive end.

Before playing Orlando Wednesday night, Miami had averaged 107 points per game in their previous three games, with them even scoring 118 points on the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night.

Miami’s tempo has been raised as well, something that I’ve argued needs to be done in order to score more points. Now that the team has Dragic, Dwyane Wade won’t be called upon to handle the ball all of the time anymore. On plays where Miami forces a turnover, or collects a long rebound, they will be able to turn up court and run.

The person who will personally benefit the most from this is Luol Deng. Originally, it seemed as though Deng hadn’t found his place in Miami, especially because of the incredibly slow pace that the team was playing. He would often have to go one-on-one and try to beat defenders to spots. Now, he can utilize his speed downcourt to get easier shots and also go to the free-throw line.

It showed a lot last night when Deng scored 29 points. Yes, he was very hot from the field, dropping 11 of his 14 shots, and yes, it was Philadelphia, but I think that Deng is bound to benefit from an offense that allows him to move. Before, Miami’s offenses have been much more about spacing, which doesn’t do much in allowing movement for a player like Deng.

Now, things will be different, but this time around, Miami will have to options to create their own shot. If the shot clock winds down, who was getting shots off while Wade was injured? Generally, the ball went to Deng or Bosh at the end of the shot clock for a three-point shot that might as well have been a full court heave.

Defensively, Miami has been there also, only giving up 95 point in the last three games. The only loss that the team had, came to the New Orleans Pelicans, which I will attribute to early pangs. Dragic had just come to Miami, and Wade had just come off of an injury and looked rusty.

Wade is a guy who shoots better than 50 percent from the field consistently, and shot terribly in that game. One would have to attribute that to being rusty.

Some of the players who were coming off the bench last night were players who were in the starting lineup just two months ago, and leading this team. The group has been transformed in the last week, and because of that could make some real noise going into the playoffs.

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