3 problem areas confronting the Miami Heat at the quarter season mark

1. 3-point shooting

Through 23 games, the Heat rank fourth in 3-point attempts, but just 19th in accuracy. The lack of efficiency is notable when you compare the returns in their wins and losses this season:

• Wins: 39.2 percent
• Losses: 32.8 percent

So while the team is struggling as a whole, it’s been specifically the drop in performance from some key players that has hurt the Heat significantly.

Dion Waiters emerged last season as a key piece of the team that reeled off a 30-11 finish to the year. But after signing a four-year, $52 million deal this offseason, Waiters has struggled to find any consistency in his game.

Despite averaging 15.0 points and 3.7 assists per game, Waiters has shot at just a 39.0 percent clip from the field, and 31.1 percent from long range. When you consider that he’s leading the Heat with 6.4 attempts per game, this is clearly cause for concern.

Another inconsistent performer has been Tyler Johnson, who, after enjoying a career year in 2016-17, has come back down to earth with a thud. Having averaged 13.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game last season, Johnson’s numbers have plummeted, posting 9.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

However, his shooting returns of 36.2 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from long range have really hurt the Heat, especially when you consider this represents a 7.1 percent drop in field goal percentage and a 4.9 percent drop in 3-point efficiency.

The final member of this trio is Josh Richardson, another player who was rewarded this past summer with a contract extension. However, things have not gone to plan, as Richardson has connected on just 29.5 percent of his 3-point attempts, easily a career-worst return. Although he has rebounded somewhat in recent games, this is clearly not what the Heat had in mind when he was signed to his four-year, $42 million deal.

Overall, the Heat are catch-and-shoot oriented on the perimeter, ranking second to just the Houston Rockets in catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts. However, ranking 19th in accuracy at 36.9 percent has certainly put a dent in their efforts to punish the defense in this manner.

Possible solution

The lack of 3-point attempts early in the shot clock while the defense is unsettled is an area the Heat can look to rectify. Through 23 games, the Heat rank 26th in the league with just 3.8 attempts per game with between 18-15 seconds remaining on the shot clock, while converting at just a 29.6 percent clip. Compare this to the Houston Rockets, who lead the league with 8.1 attempts per game while converting at a 39.1 percent clip.

One valid explanation for this has been the lack of transition opportunities thus far, with the Heat ranking 22nd with 13.4 transition possessions per game. Furthermore, they are 26th in transition points at 13.6 points per game.

Also, the Heat have the dubious honour of ranking third in the league in 3-point attempts with just 4-0 seconds remaining on the shot clock, attempting 3.8 per game and hitting at a lowly 26.4 percent clip.

Considering the ball-handling options the Heat have at their disposal, and their clear inclination to value the 3-point shot, it couldn’t hurt to push the ball and attack earlier in the shot clock in order to raise their efficiency in this department.