Miami Heat Need To Get Things Going On The Perimeter
The Miami Heat have some things they need to improve upon and their play on the perimeter is one of those areas.
The Miami Heat have been able to find some success this season, as they have a record of 18-13 and are in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference. They have been able to cover up for some of their shortcomings with how slow they play, ranking second to last in pace in the NBA at 94.59 possessions per 48 minutes.
One of the areas they need to improve upon as the season goes on is on the perimeter.
The Heat have some talent out there, as Goran Dragic and Dwyane Wade are a strong backcourt duo. Tyler Johnson has been solid off the bench, while Luol Deng, Gerald Green and rookie Justise Winslow all bring something to the table on the wing. Even with that talent, the Heat have struggled on the perimeter, specifically from the three-point line.
After watching what the Golden State Warriors did to the NBA en route to the NBA title this past June, teams are beginning to play smaller with an emphasis on the three-point ball. The Heat are not one of those teams, and it is probably time they start to get with the times.
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The Heat are tied for 24th with the New York Knicks in team three-point percentage, knocking down 33.2 percent of their attempts from deep, making only 6.7 three-pointers per game. There is not much to get excited from beyond the three-point line for the Heat, who have very few threats from beyond the arc.
Outside of Chris Bosh, who is having a career season from deep, Gerald Green and Luol Deng, the Heat have very little production from the three-point line. Tyler Johnson has a solid percentage, but is making less than one three-pointer per game. It would be nice for the Heat to see Goran Dragic get on track, as he is well below his career average of 35.7 with 27.7 percent.
This is an area of concern for the Heat, as they just do not have the personnel to keep up with teams shooting three-pointers. That is a problem the Heat knew they would have coming into the season. One they were probably not prepared for was on the defensive end.
While their 33.5 opponent’s three-point shooting ranks them eighth in the NBA and 7.6 makes allowed has them tied for ninth, it has been a problem area in recent games. One or both of those numbers has been surpassed by their opponents in seven of their last 10 games, including the big comeback win by the Brooklyn Nets on Monday when Wayne Ellington led the aerial assault with seven three-point makes.
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Surprisingly, the Heat still have a winning record over that span of games, going 6-4. That record could be better though if they could have slowed down the Nets, but it could have easily been a losing record as well had a couple breaks not gone their way. The perimeter play is something the Heat will have to clean up as we head into the New Year if they want to hold onto a playoff spot in the improved Eastern Conference.