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Miami Heat: 3 bold predictions for 2019-20 NBA season

By Simon Smith

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 21: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat high fives Dion Waiters #11 against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 21, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Heat 106-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 21: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat high fives Dion Waiters #11 against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 21, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Heat 106-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

3. Heat finish top-three in defensive rating

Despite missing out on the postseason, one thing the Heat can always hang their hat on is their execution at the defensive end.

In finishing seventh in the league with a 107.1 defensive rating, the Heat have now finished no lower than eighth overall in defensive efficiency for four consecutive seasons. However, last season was no easy ride for the Heat in ultimately finishing among the upper echelon.

Dating back to the 2016 postseason, Hassan Whiteside had been entrenched as the Heat’s starting center. However, the league has changed dramatically in a very short space of time. So much so, and despite investing $98 million in him following his breakout 2015-16 season, Whiteside had slowly fallen out of favor with the Heat, among both coaches and fans alike.

Towards the end of last season, with Whiteside briefly sidelined, the Heat jumped at the chance to insert Adebayo into the starting lineup for an extended basis. And it’s safe to say, the results were more than encouraging.

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1163561003075985410?s=20

In his first full month as a starter, the Heat were 9.4 points per 100 possessions better off defensively with Adebayo on the floor for 15 games of March. Not only did the Heat post an 11-4 record during this time, but they also ranked third overall in defensive efficiency with a 104.1 rating.

The month of March also saw an impressive return for the three-man lineup of Kelly Olynyk, Dion Waiters and Adebayo. Among the 53 three-man lineups that played at least 270 minutes, this trio ranked second in the league with a 100.2 defensive rating.

Not only will this trio likely play significant minutes together this season, but with the arrival of Jimmy Butler on a wing and Justice Winslow likely to serve as the full-time point guard, the Heat could very realistically rank among the absolute elite defensively this season.

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