Miami Heat sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 12-6 record, and there is more to it than just their strong start on paper.
After having to move Jimmy Butler last season, Miami have bounced back right away. Erik Spoelstra’s team have put together a strong run, despite being hit hard by injuries.
In the team’s first 18 games, Bam Adebayo has participated in only 11. Tyler Herro, meanwhile, only made his season debut against Dallas last night. Even with two All-Stars missing for long spells, Miami are finding ways to win.
The meeting with the Mavericks was meant to be the first time all season that Miami had their full squad available. But another absence cropped up just before tip-off.
Tyler Herro responds to Norman Powell news ahead of Mavericks game
Just before facing Dallas, Miami announced that leading scorer Norman Powell would miss the game after picking up a left groin strain in the matchup against Chicago. In Herro’s absence, Powell had stepped up as the team’s top option.
Herro said after the game that he was looking forward to seeing everyone together for once, so it was a blow to hear about the guard’s injury just before tip-off.
“I was bummed out when I saw Norm was out tonight, you know. I just wanted to see all that come together. And talking with [Assistant Coach Chris Quinn] a little bit, it’s going to be a process,” the 25-year-old stated.
“We’ve already played about 20 games and I’ve missed almost all of them. So just to be acclimated back into the starting five, you know, and I’m seeing how well Norm and Wiggs and everyone’s playing off each other.
“Just trying to come in and, you know, make the right play and let those guys be themselves.”
Tyler Herro shines in first game back from injury
Herro made an immediate impact, helping Miami edge out a 106-102 win over the Mavericks. Spoelstra’s team needed every bit of his playmaking and shot-making to get the job done.
He finished with 24 points and seven rebounds on 12-of-18 shooting, looking comfortable despite it being his first game since ankle surgery.
This performance shows just how deep Miami’s roster is. Any one of their top players can step up on a given night, and this time it was Herro who provided the spark they needed.
This time, the standout players were Herro and Kel’el Ware, with the latter delivering a dominant performance with 20 points and 18 rebounds.
However, throughout the season, the team has benefited from the stepped-up play of Jaime Jaquez Jr., along with contributions from Adebayo, Powell and Andrew Wiggins.
The NBA is moving away from relying solely on star power at the top of the roster. Instead, it is teams like Miami, who have balanced talent across the board, that find consistent success.
Whether or not they finish at the very top of the East during the regular season, do not be surprised if Miami make a strong push for another Finals appearance.
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