Miami Heat: Who will be the X-factor in restart success?

The Miami Heat could be a dark horse candidate in the NBA’s upcoming restart, but who could be their X-factor as they look to make a deep run?

With a 41-24 record, good enough for the 4-seed in the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat earned a trip to Orlando for the NBA’s nearing restart. With their championship betting odds sitting somewhere around +2500 on some books, they are a team getting overlooked.

They are not the most star-studded group by any means. Still, led by Jimmy Butler, they surprised many by making their way into the upper half of the Eastern Conference this season. This team relies heavily on their young core and a mix of experienced veteran role players, making them an exciting matchup regardless of their opponent.

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With such a variety on their roster, who exactly their X-factor could be up for debate, but the most viable answer appears to be fan-favorite Tyler Herro.

Although only a rookie, Herro asserted himself as one of the figureheads on this Miami Heat team, putting together a fantastic campaign. Limited to 47 games due to injury, Herro made the most of his time on the court as he averaged 12.9 points in 41.4 percent field goal shooting and a stellar 39.1 percent from 3-point territory.

In a rookie class with the likes of Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, and other immediate stars, Herro’s season understandably got neglected as he embraced a much different role. Rather than being handed the keys to the franchise, Herro instead welcomed his role as an offensive spark behind the arc, primarily coming off the bench.

Herro provided a considerable contribution to Miami’s 38.3 percent 3-point shooting as a unit, tied for first place with the Utah Jazz. This trigger happy offense allowed Herro to thrive offensively, particularly late in games. Jimmy Butler is typically the guy that his teams rely on down the stretch in close games, but Herro has also shown that same confidence with the ball in his hands with the game on the line.

In clutch situations this season, Herro shot an eye-opening 8-for-15 from 3-point territory, an impressive 53.3 percent. The rookie has showcased that he is not afraid to take big shots in big moments, and the Heat will need that. Not only was Herro’s presence felt late in the game, but it also has provenly impacted the Heat’s stature as a whole.

When Herro went down with an ankle injury in February, the Miami Heat seemed discombobulated, as they went 7-8 with the 20-year-old on the sidelines. Although a rookie, Herro’s absence certainly negatively impacted this team on offense, and they will be ecstatic to have him back on the court fully recovered in the coming weeks.

Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are unquestionably the leaders of this team, but Herro’s impact made them a much more lethal team. A case could be made for anyone from Andre Iguodala to Jae Crowder to be the true X-factor to this team, given their unique makeup as a unit. Still, Tyler Herro seems to be the most logical answer, given his vital production this season, and the team’s visible decline without him.

Herro will not be involved in the Rookie of the Year conversation due to others in his class, but the No. 13 overall pick in last year’s draft undoubtedly made a lasting impression in his first season so far. The 20-year-old recently shared that he wants to be an All-Star in the future, and given how this season went up until the stoppage, he could be well on his way.

Before any All-Star talk, Tyler Herro and the Miami Heat will look to make some noise in Orlando as the NBA gears up for a restart.