Miami Heat: 5 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season
By Simon Smith
1. The Heat will finish top 10 in both Offensive and Defensive Rating
As has been well documented, the Heat reversed their 11-30 start to last season by finishing with the exact opposite, a 30-11 finish to the season. This was engineered on both ends of the floor.
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From Jan. 17, when the Heat commenced their 30-11 ruin that included a 13-game winning streak, the team had an offensive rating (points per 100 possessions) of 109.7, which was good for eighth overall during this span. Furthermore, they recorded a defensive rating of 103.3, which ranked third among all teams.
Granted, no one is predicting the Heat to play at a 60-win pace this season, or to consistently pull off 13-game winning streaks. But the manner in which they played, and what they were capable of when fully healthy and acclimated with playing together, was more than impressive.
Keep in mind, entering the 2016-17 season, the Heat had a significant turnover in their roster. Gone were Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Luol Deng, Amar’e Stoudemire and Gerald Green. That’s not only half the roster out the door, but an incredible amount of experience and familiarity with the Heat system.
So it was only natural that the likes of newcomers Dion Waiters, James Johnson, Wayne Ellington and Rodney McGruder were going to take some time to adjust to their new surroundings. And this is without mentioning the now departed Willie Reed, Luke Babbitt and Derrick Williams, who were also newcomers to the Heat last season.
Now with a full season behind them, and the offseason additions of Olynyk and No. 14 overall pick Bam Adebayo, the Heat are understandably excited about their prospects. Defensively, a top 10 finish shouldn’t be an issue, as the team finished fifth overall with a defensive rating of 104.1 last season. Despite their strong finish, the Heat overall ranked 16th in offensive rating, finishing at 105.2.
Last season, just three teams finished in the top 10 for both offensive and defensive rating: the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors. How many teams do so this season is anyone’s guess.
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But when combining the Heat’s strong finish to last season, and the significantly improved cohesiveness of the current roster, it’s not a stretch for the Heat to accomplish this feat.