Is The Skepticism For The Miami Heat Fair?

There seems to be a lot of skepticism around the Miami Heat and where they’ll end up
in the latter half of the year. As a Heat fan, it’s somewhat difficult for me to
distinguish between bias and what’s actually being shown in the standings and, more
importantly, on the court, including who’s available to play. Injuries have been our
biggest issue year after year. Last season, Terry Rozier went out with a neck injury
towards the end of the year, and Tyler Herro played only 42 games. These two players
are critical to the Heat’s success, especially as high-percentage three-point shooters.
Terry shot 37% from three in his 31 games with the Heat, and Tyler hit 39% from
beyond the arc, averaging 20 points per game.

Terry reached 16 points per game in his short stint with the Heat after the big
midseason trade. To be fair, he was averaging 23 points per game with Charlotte
before the trade, so he had to familiarize himself with his new teammates and
acclimate to the Heat’s culture while figuring out his role in the rotation. This was
surely a big adjustment, especially considering the Hornets’ struggles in the standings
over the past few years. Coming to Miami had to be somewhat of a culture shock.
I believe Terry can be a huge X-factor if he stays on the court. He and Tyler Herro
could form a very dynamic backcourt if everything goes right. Both have proven they
can score 20 points per game and possess tremendous playmaking ability both inside
and out. Building and maintaining chemistry with Bam Adebayo in pick-and-pop or
pick-and-roll situations will be essential to the Heat’s half-court success.

Additionally, with Jimmy Butler on the last year of his deal (assuming he won’t accept
his player option), his performance on the court will be critical. He’ll need to start
strong and stay consistent, especially if he wants a max contract in what could be the
last major deal of his NBA career. Jimmy has already proven he can lead the team to
the finish line, making the Finals twice in the last five years alongside Bam, but now
it’s about finishing the job and securing another title for the franchise — the first for
this group.

History shows that players often improve after participating in the Olympics, and
Bam demonstrated how crucial he was to Team USA’s success in securing the gold.
His partnership with Anthony Davis in the frontcourt during those games was one of
the most lethal we’ve seen, which speaks to Bam’s steady year-to-year improvement,
allowing him to play at a level comparable to AD’s.

I also believe Kel’el Ware will be a key player for us moving forward, especially in
terms of exploiting matchup mismatches. It’s refreshing to finally have a 7-footer on
the roster who’s not unplayable. Ware’s dominance in Summer League showed his capabilities, and while I’m not expecting him to play out of his mind right away, there’s a lot to look forward to.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. is entering his sophomore season after already proving his worth in
his rookie year, showcasing versatility on both ends of the floor. While he may not be
a lockdown defender or a reliable three-point shooter just yet, he demonstrated
efficiency as a scorer in the high post, off cuts, and drives with the ball in his hands.
There’s a lot to be excited about with this team, and they have what it takes to
compete with the heavy hitters in the Eastern Conference. They’ll just have to prove
everyone wrong once again. This group has the potential to win the Larry O’Brien
trophy next June, but a lot of things will need to fall into place for that to happen.