Why do the Heat Struggle in the Regular Season
By Carmen Mendatto at Getty Images
In the Jimmy Butler era of the Miami heat, they've been to not 1 but 2 NBA Finals and 3 Eastern conference matches. Jimmy's been currently paired with the Versatile Big Man Bam Adebayo, and a young scorer in Tyler Herro. As the 8 seed in a competitive eastern conference, I think there’s space to question’s Miami’s standing in the regular season. Despite their “King of the East” rein of 2021 the team finds themselves without home court advantage three out of the four years.
Banking on Their Defense
The Heat have had an ongoing issue of finding scoring from their “Big 3”. In the 2020, 2022, and 2023 regular season, there scoring lands them in poor company. Finishing in the bottom five, three out of four years. These guys hang their hat on their top end defense. A defense that has been top ten every year of the era. Coach Spo has built a scrappy defense that always finds itself slowing down some of the best teams in the NBA. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo lead the way, posting defensive ratings of below 110 (Above league Average). Behind them is usually a series of strong and sturdy wings, or scrappy guards. The Heat are also notorious proprietors of the zone defense. This mindset has proved to thwart some of the best teams in the NBA. But also has limitations of its own. Some players are almost impossible to stop. If we take a look at the Heat’s last final run, they failed to keep the Nuggets in check. Every game Denver scored over 100 points they won. The Jokic - Murray pairing created matchup nightmares. Along with the resurging Aaron Gordon. The Heat fail to have Bigs that can help contain larger players as well as space the floor. Leaving a versatile, but ultimately small lineup.
Offensive limitations.
Currently Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro have only played 23 games together this season. A pairing of Jimmy and Bam has obvious limitations as well. The team sits in the latter half of the NBA in offensive rating, even sitting at the bottom in some seasons. As neither of them are high volume 3 pt shooters, it drags down the overall ceiling of their offense. The Terry Rozier addition meads the missing points but there's reason to believe he won't stay long term. Even with “Playoff Jimmy” the Heat need another guy and that's been the standing conversation.
Conclusion
Overall, the Heat have been an interesting ream to watch. The quintessential dark horse of the NBA. Jimmy Butler’s postseason success has been an electrifying watch in the new era, There’s still a chance the Heat can still win the east. They've done it before, and they are only one win streak away from home court advantage. Just my thoughts.