3 early takeaways from Miami Heat’s hot start to 2019-20 NBA season
1. Heat getting it done at both ends of the floor
Not only are the Miami Heat getting solid contributions from multiple players, they are also getting the job done as a collective whole. For starters, they’re scoring eight more points per game than last season, which has helped them move from 26th to ninth in this category.
From a defensive standpoint, the story gets even better. Miami is currently 11th in opponent’s field goal efficiency at 43.4 percent. And before Tuesday’s loss, they held their previous three opponents to just 40.8 percent shooting.
more heat. By the numbers through first 6 games. light
Miami’s defense is even stingier from 3-point territory, with opponents shooting just 27.6 percent. By the way, this is the second-best mark in the league.
To bring the point home even further, the Heat are ranked 16th in offense (106.5 points per 100 possessions) and are fourth in the league in defensive efficiency (99.8 points per 100 possessions). The last time Miami was in the top 10 in both categories was 2012-13.
When Jimmy Butler chose to sign a multi-year deal with the Heat, it was perceived as a move that wasn’t going to put him in position to compete for a championship. Yes, it is way too early to label this team as a title contender.
Each franchise's best duo. dark. Next
At the same time, if they continue to play at this level throughout the course of the season, they will be competing for either the third or fourth spot in the East, something that wasn’t expected when the season began.