Tag Archive for: Tyler Herro

Five Takeaways from the Heat’s Final Preseason Game

The Miami Heat finished off a great preseason run with a win against the Boston Celtics. Miami was working with their entire squad for this one, generating some chemistry with their new and improved nine man rotation.

So, here are five takeaways from this game before completely heading into the regular season…

#1: A look into the new Heat rotation: the substitution process.

Last season, the substitution process for the Heat was a bit interesting. It was a lot of staggering Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, with the absolute need for one of them to be on the floor to survive. Adding Kyle Lowry has fixed that element, and that was seen for the first time tonight. After the starting stint to begin the game, Adebayo and Lowry went to the bench, as Butler stayed in with the bench guys. Those pairings clicked all together, starting with the continued connection between Butler and Dewayne Dedmon in those side pick and rolls. Lowry then came back in as Butler went to the sideline for more positive minutes with the bench unit. And in many ways, that stretch is the Tyler Herro enhancer, since it’s pretty clear Lowry elevates his game tremendously.

#2: Some Tyler Herro-Jimmy Butler flashbacks.

Jimmy Butler drives to the middle of the floor, does a 180, and finds Tyler Herro at the top of the key for a three in stride. Bucket. Am I describing late-game madness in Herro’s rookie season against the Chicago Bulls or tonight’s game against Boston? Actually the answer is both. That duo is playing together for their third straight season, but that type of connection hasn’t been seen since that initial year. Herro shooting with confidence over the top of defenders while Butler is creating with hard attacks into the teeth of the defense. If this combo is clicking, I think of this offense in a totally different way. With Herro playing at this incredible level when the ball is in his hands, it’s only making Butler’s life easier. And there will be a lot more smiles throughout the season than there were this last season.

#3: Bam Adebayo trying to find himself early on.

To be completely honest, this was far from Bam Adebayo’s best game early on. He struggled majorly on both ends of the floor from the very beginning: late rotations or cut-offs leading to easy lay-ins, over-dribbling in the post, etc. But when I said struggle, did you notice aggression wasn’t something I mentioned? He was taking shots, even though they weren’t great shots by any means. The point is that if the only issue in his “down” half is in terms of effort or things in the flow of the game, then it can easily be tweaked. He was second on the team in field goal attempts at the half behind Herro, showing flashes of getting the ball up at the rim. He did just that in the second half when Butler and Lowry were on the bench, and that’s exactly what is needed. Dominate the paint while Herro and company play the perimeter.

#4: More Duncan Robinson.

It feels like we may have come full circle in terms of the discussion surrounding Duncan Robinson. Last season we were clamoring to abandon the dribble hand-off in many ways, ultimately to allow the stars to just attack. Tonight, the stars were attacking, but even with some shot attempts and efficient shooting from Robinson, it felt like we may need more in the offensive flow. The starting group clearly needs more time to gel. The half-court offense wasn’t the greatest when those five shared the floor, but a main takeaway was a jumbled up interior. The counter to that is flying Robinson off back-screens and pin-downs for the intent of letting him fire, instead of as a constant decoy. Once again, this is only preseason, so we will see more of this stuff, but it definitely caught my eye in this one.

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#5: Kyle Lowry’s role is simple.

We all know Kyle Lowry is highly capable of putting the ball in the basket. Whether he needs to a ton is a completely different story. In this case with the Heat, I don’t believe his PPG will be super high. He will have big games when others are struggling on that end, but his goal is to force high attempts for Herro, Adebayo, Butler, etc. And well, he did that tonight. It wasn’t in the assist column, but he just causes controlled chaos on the break and half-court in a good way. As I said before, many have been predicting Lowry’s skill to propel Adebayo’s offensive game, but that is aligning with Herro just as well. That backcourt has looked incredible in their minutes so far, and we will see that combo plenty more. It’s just giving Erik Spoelstra more and more options, handing him the keys to that creative ability that he loves so much.

 

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5 Takeaways from Heat’s Home Preseason Match Against Charlotte

The Miami Heat basically rolled out the entire season rotation on Monday night, except for a main factor: Jimmy Butler. Continued reps for the very important duo of Kyle Lowry and Bam Adebayo, a rough shooting night for Tyler Herro following his three game master class, and some lineup fun from Erik Spoelstra.

Anyway, here are five takeaways from this game…

#1: Caleb Martin gets the start…and I think we see this often.

With Jimmy Butler out, Caleb Martin slotted into the starting lineup against his former team, seeing a familiar match-up in Cody Martin. Looking at the history of Erik Spoelstra, two-way guys are essentially starting lineup replacers. Why is that? Well, he’s never been interested in messing up the chemistry of the rotation, leading to him pulling a guy up from the bottom of the roster. Just ask Gabe Vincent and Max Strus. Martin has looked like he can handle that responsibility as well, not just through his shot creating actions on the offensive side of the ball, but his gritty defensive presence instead. Just looking at this game for example, Martin was immediately inserted into the Jimmy Butler role, crossing the half-court line with the ball in his hands. I believe we see more of that.

#2: The size Bam Adebayo has put on is a difference maker on many possessions.

Bam Adebayo has shown major differences in the way he’s going about things in the preseason. Operating from the mid-range wing instead of the elbow, giving him more room to operate with the ball in his hands, ultimately opening up his driving game. The other big difference maker with Adebayo is his noticeable added size. How does that change things? It’s not something you’re going to see on a stat-sheet, or something that’ll jump off the TV screen, but he’s finishing possessions in ways I don’t think he would’ve last season. Grabbing rebounds in traffic, hooking defenders in the post (which I don’t think is legal,) and taking it to the rim stronger for more free throw attempts. There’s no doubt it’ll shift many parts of his game in a positive direction.

#3: The minute distribution of Tyler Herro was preparation for the regular season.

When you see Martin inserted into the starting lineup, it was an indictment on the recent play of Tyler Herro. That should go without saying since Herro has led the league in scoring through three games, but as much as it’s preseason for players, it’s coaching reps as well. Developing some type of rhythm in the rotation is necessary, and that’s what was seen for the role of Herro. Entering at the six minute mark of the first quarter, and exiting at about the two minute mark of the second quarter. The point is that Herro is going to get plenty of playing time, and it’ll be with a bunch of different combos. Today was unique since he won’t be in many lineups with 4 other bench guys, but being the lead man is important as well. And truly, Butler will plug many weaknesses that may be seen.

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#4: Once again, Markieff Morris needs to be a mid-range spot-up guy instead of the three-point spot-up guy.

Markieff Morris is an interesting piece for this Heat team. He has played his defensive role perfectly with the extra size on the interior, but the offensive stuff is still in question. Outside shooting hasn’t been his closest friend so far, but does it have to be? I mean, it would be very helpful for the team’s offensive success, but combining high volume and low efficiency isn’t a great mixture. Moving to different spots on the floor, like the middle of the court, has shown to be a much more comfortable spot for him. It places him into a simple role: corner kick-out, lob pass to the big in the dunker spot, or a mid-range jumper. Making that his home-base on the offensive end will do wonders, but I guess it is just the preseason.

#5: Kyle Lowry at the forefront of all of Miami’s most effective offensive sets.

This may be a pretty obvious statement to just throw out there, but it’s pretty much transferred over perfectly in every way you look at Miami’s offense tonight. Kyle Lowry may be that fast-break presence who can truly push the pace to get the ball up the floor, but his half-court control is what this team has missed. Running plenty of that two-man game with Bam Adebayo is a great starting point. And it’s not just about that coveted lob pass that Adebayo will see a ton this season, but instead Lowry’s ability to hunt his teammates’ mismatches. That’s an incredible skill to have, especially considering Adebayo has been a guy who has needed that extra push. And yet, it’s only the preseason. Back-to-back wing triples from Lowry may stand out from tonight, but it’s everything else that really matters.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

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Tyler Herro: The Art of the Mid-Range

“For my first two years, a lot of people said that’s an inefficient shot,” said Tyler Herro on Friday night following a mid-range jumper master class.

“After watching the Finals, you saw Booker and Chris Paul, you saw how they worked the mid-range and got to their spots, but they were really efficient in those areas. That was an emphasis we had all Summer, working on that and being able to be efficient, not just take those shots, but make them.”

Herro has always been a bit different from the rest. When there was no doubt he would be attending the University of Wisconsin after graduating high school, he ended up shifting to play at Kentucky for a better opportunity.

When people doubted him on the floor, he continued to play his role and be a huge piece of a team that made the NBA Finals in his rookie year.

And now, when many love to look at the stats for shots around the rim and three-point bombs, he’s finding that middle ground.

As Herro said after the game, that Phoenix Suns team with Booker and Paul may have changed some people’s opinion following their play-style in the post-season. Against drop coverage, it’s a killer attribute to have that pull-up at the elbow that Herro utilized his first and second year in the league.

But to truly be effective from that area, you must have that creative blend that Phoenix duo had last season. And well, Herro’s already showcasing flashes of that development.

So, what is exactly the difference? Here are some examples…

Spacing Understanding

When watching the flurry of mid-range shots from Herro against San Antonio, it’s clear what his approach is: finding dead spots, finding dead spots, and finding even more dead spots.

Like I mentioned earlier, when running the normal pick and roll against drop, there are spaces on the floor that are being handed to you. But many defenses can live with the “inefficient” long two on a consistent basis through 48 minutes. Well, at least when they’re clanking off the rim.

Herro is at his best when those spots on the floor are being given to him, mostly due to that mental block disappearing. What I mean by that is it almost feels like a wide open jumper in an open gym when he slides inside the arc. His defender is most likely way behind, while he has the dropping big essentially in his palm.

Snake dribbles, calm positioning, and a simple rise-up with nobody in sight. That is the formula.

The interesting wrinkle to this is that we’ve seen some positive flashes when the defense is switching as well. In the first clip above, he flows to his left following the switch and uses his momentum to get a shot off with his typical right to left step-back: bucket.

This is a new Herro. Combining downhill pull-up savviness against drop with comfortable maneuvers against switches is picture perfect for his game. And it’s pretty clear that two on-court focuses this off-season were mid-range efficiency and added layers in those areas.

The Go-To Without a Screen

A common topic with Herro’s offensive game has been the amount of separation he can create. We’ve seen his way of manipulating screens from possession to possession, but with the clock ticking down late in the shot clock, can he create a bucket for himself in isolation consistently?

That will always be about the added combos that he can use before rising up for a shot, but it seems like Herro is almost finding middle ground in a sense.

Take a look at the first two clips above. It’s not that he’s creating a bunch of separation on these plays, but he’s getting good shots off in a different way: rising up over defenders while they’re still planted on the ground.

His new way of doing it is keeping defenders on their toes a bit more, waiting for his next move. Not knowing when that pull-up is coming goes a long way, especially when your release point is as high as Herro’s on those type of shots.

And now, take a look at the last clip. Herro is looking so much more comfortable when he gets the favorable switch against opposing bigs. At first glance, that possession didn’t look much different than past years. Three simple cross-overs before bursting back right for that fall-away jumper.

But well, take a look at that clip again.

Yes, the dribble combos are simple, but there’s a common denominator between all three of these plays without a screen: his hesitations. He’s using these hesitation dribbles to get to the spots he wants on the floor, and that can be a major difference maker.

Of course it’s only the preseason, but this can also be looked at like defenders won’t be able to help as freely if Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Bam Adebayo, and company are all on the floor with him.

Probing Dribbles and Fade-away Jumpers

After discussing Herro’s ability to find dead-spots, use hesitation dribbles, and fade-away from defenders with confidence, this is pretty much a combination of all of that.

We’ve talked about the deep twos and elbow pull-ups, but finding ways to be an “attacker” without actually being at the rim every play is huge. One way he has gone about that is with the floater. It allows him to break down the defense a bit deeper, while also minimizing the odds of the shot being blocked.

And most importantly, it’s something he’s comfortable with. Tyler Herro just has to be Tyler Herro. If he’s most comfortable with the one handed push shot, then shoot one handed push shots.

But something else has entered the equation.

Herro’s actually finding ways to collapse the defense, then pop out a bit to get that fade-away shot off that I’m discussing. In the first clip, he denies the screen to attack the basket, quickly leading to the big man sliding up and the corner defender sliding over.

The usual option here would be a corner kick-out, but the defense can usually recover pretty quickly on those type of reads. This new Herro wrinkle is to loop back through for a shot that quite frankly can’t be blocked without committing a foul.

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The second clip is similar, but also different. It’s another possession of him using his momentum to get to his spot, before spinning back around for that close push-shot.

His touch has always been very good around the rim for those scoop layups that he loves, but it’s not something he can go to too much since defenses will begin to react quicker. This stuff, once again, dissolves that predictable element.

“Tyler is the one guy that has been extremely impressive. He’s been playing his butt off. He’s the one guy who truly impressed me,” said Kyle Lowry following Thursday’s game against Houston.

He’s quickly earning the respect from everyone around him, since he’s walking that thin line of hard work in the off-season and immediate production from that development. But as Herro said recently, “I haven’t done anything yet.”

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over San Antonio

The Miami Heat’s rotation may have looked a bit odd if you turned on your TV on Friday night. Many guys sit out for the typical back-to-back, but preseason back-to-backs basically leave coaches looking in the crowd for a starting five. That left Miami with 8 available players, beginning with Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson running the show to start.

But five takeaways are still necessary, even after a game like this…

#1: Tyler Herro showing out once again, displaying expanded mid-range comfort.

Tyler Herro was clearly going to have the ball in his hands more than usual tonight with the long list of guys resting, and it feels we learn more and more about his updated offensive skill-set every preseason game. We’ve seen him get to the line more, shoot at a better rate off the catch, and now, an improved mid-range attribute. That elbow pull-up has always been there for him out of the high pick and roll, but the drifting feel once he steps inside the arc is something new. Step-backs, wild fade-aways, and many more lead-up combos seem to be the go-to in that area, and the key element is that he’s doing it both controllably and comfortably. This preseason scoring run is no fluke, since it’s just the product of a true off-season.

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#2: Increased minutes for Omer Yurtseven means much more controlled playing time.

When predicting forward on this team through the off-season, I felt Miami could end up using Omer Yurtseven a bit sooner than expected, following a fantastic showing in Summer League. But the transition hasn’t been as flawless as I may have thought. The scoring side of him hasn’t really been there since he’s still trying to fit in and play a specific role, but we saw a slight shift within that tonight. Who would’ve thought more minutes at this level would do the trick? Well, possibly all Heat observers. His offensive game begins with slick post work and pure outside spacing, but one of those has stuck out more. It feels like the reliance on the pop-out is the way to go, since his high release point is a match-up struggle for any opposing big.

#3: Max Strus continuing to keep his theme: consistency.

When you’re describing a spot-up shooter in this league, consistency is the best adjective there is. But when I’m using this term in this sense, I don’t just mean outside efficiency. Instead, it’s more about the consistency within the role of Max Strus. That’s been the case since day one, when it became a joke on the team that he somehow always makes his first shot no matter the circumstance. Now, it just feels like he’s putting his fingerprints on every game, practice, and scrimmage in the same exact way. You take a look at the stat sheet during a commercial break and his effectiveness almost comes as a surprise. Yes, it’s known that he’s playing well and putting the ball in the basket, but it’s still a bit unexpected for some reason. What does that mean? It means that the Heat have a straight shooter inside their rotation who shouldn’t have any limitations placed on him. Strus just consistently does the right thing with supreme confidence.

#4: A big picture takeaway: could Jimmy Butler at the 4 be coming?

Markieff Morris got some first half minutes tonight after being listed as questionable, and although he’s a veteran, there’s still some necessary things to showcase in terms of effectiveness and role. I’ve talked about using him as a roller/inside threat more than a spot-up outside shooter, and not one three was attempted in his minutes. Just 6 shots inside the arc, shooting 2 for 6 from the field. As we know, he isn’t the most efficient player, KZ Okpala is basically unplayable at this stage, and Omer Yurtseven still needs a bit more time. The point is that the front-court depth has a couple question marks at the moment, all relying on the health of PJ Tucker. An undeniable positive lineup wrinkle would be Jimmy Butler minutes at the 4, but it won’t be something looked toward a lot. But if it could be used from the 12 to 6 minute mark in the 4th from night to night depending on the match-up, then there’s definitely something there.

#5: In tonight’s exhibit 10 match, Micah Potter was the clear stand-out.

The Miami Heat were able to continue Summer League evaluations into training camp development, and in many ways, that’s what the preseason is for too. They all were given a path to extended minutes tonight, except for Dru Smith who was held out of the game as well. DJ Stewart and Javonte Smart are two young guards with offensive potential, but Yurtseven’s back-up for the night, Micah Potter, ended up being the one jumping off the screen. Between getting plenty of shots up down low and shooting that mid-range/three-ball with confidence, the coaching staff got a taste of his offensive game. He hasn’t been the greatest rebounder up to this point, but tonight was a different story. Aside from the numbers, his positioning principles actually stood out, and when evaluating the exhibit 10’s on the Heat, the small stuff matters. A lot.

 

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Five Takeaways from Heat’s Preseason Win Vs Rockets

The Miami Heat basically had a copy and pasted version of Monday night, coming out the gates with a fast-pace, good defensive principles, and plenty of scoring. The Jimmy Butler-Kyle Lowry dynamic was seen for the first time, but it was actually the Tyler Herro-Duncan Robinson show.

So, here are five takeaways from the second preseason game…

1: The voice of PJ Tucker: a missing piece on the past Heat roster.

Before looking into the X’s and O’s of this game altogether, something sticks out even more. One thing pops out inside a Miami Heat practice, and it’s that Jimmy Butler isn’t the loudest player on the court at all times. PJ Tucker never stops talking, and not in a bad way. From discussing things with teammates to yelling at referees in an in-house practice scrimmage, he’s constantly invested. We saw that a bit tonight when Rockets coach Stephen Silas caught the ball as it traveled out of bounds, leading to Tucker reacting as if it was a blown call in game 7 of the Finals. And well, Miami’s missed that one thing more than anything.

#2: Oh yeah, this Heat team needed a true point guard.

We can’t talk enough about the acquisition of Kyle Lowry to this roster. Point of attack defense, off-ball abilities, and pure scoring on the ball. But while Miami can use all of that, nothing seems as crucial as that play-making skill that he brings every night. No more Bam Adebayo head swiveling as a passer every play. No more overusing Jimmy Butler through 82 regular season games. They have a quarterback now. Starting the game with a Lowry pass to a trailing Adebayo then following it up with a lob to Butler sums up the acquisition. He plugs Miami’s weaknesses, and it’s only the second game of the preseason.

#3: Duncan Robinson had a fantastic 14 point first half, and it wasn’t close to his full potential.

The off-season improvements from Duncan Robinson have been interesting to keep track of. Seeing him drive the ball to the basket in isolation for a bucket shows that he’s slowly building the secondary options in his bag, yet the primary skill’s consistency still holds the most importance. In the first half, he scored 14 points, knocking down 3 triples, but something else is essential to note: that wasn’t close to his best offensive showing. That box score almost came as a bit of a surprise, since he’s held to such a high standard at this point. But the overarching takeaway is one thing and one thing only: Robinson fits this current roster perfectly, and the longer the season, the more he will shine.

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#4: Bam Adebayo seems like he isn’t getting bored on the offensive end again.

One comment from Bam Adebayo on media day summed up last season. He mentioned trying to mix up his offensive game without getting bored in scoring from specific spots. Those areas last season consisted of that elbow jumper and play-making kick-outs/DHO reps. And if you watched the first half of this game, it’s not just about the 15 points in the scoring column as the team leader at the half, but instead the diversity in his shot attempts. Fast-break scoops from Lowry, lob passes on the roll, and surprisingly, some good looks in the low post. While many were worried about him stretching his range out to the three-point line, I’d like to see him utilize his game under the basket a bit more. And that seems to be the case at this stage.

#5: Biggest change from year to year: energy and smiles.

Once again, we’ve talked a lot about the on-court aspect of this new Heat team. But when watching these games on TV, something truly jumps off the screen: the smiles on everybody’s face when playing. I haven’t seen them enjoying basketball this much since the bubble, which makes a ton of sense, since we’re essentially seeing a team play in 3 different seasons in the past 365 days. Combining a true off-season and a change of scenery on the roster seemed to do the trick, and rightfully so. Tyler Herro is a huge proponent of that, since his overall attitude to put in the work is hugely translating to his on-court play with another big performance. And when Herro is playing with all smiles, he is at his best. Just go re-watch his rookie season.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Breaking Down Lowry’s Impact, Herro’s Role, and Adebayo’s Pacing

The Miami Heat came out in their first preseason game in an interesting fashion. With Jimmy Butler getting the night off, Tyler Herro stepped into the starting lineup with the usual crew, playing next to newcomer Kyle Lowry.

Before diving into specifics, there is one overarching thought that should be addressed: the things discussed about Lowry’s immediate impact on this team weren’t being overstated.

He changes the speed of the team, the energy of the team, and well, it’s something fresh.

Just like Bam Adebayo stated on media day, he was getting bored of being in the same spots on the floor every night. When playing next to Lowry, though, you must always be on your toes for that ball to fall right into your hands in stride.

Guys like Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin had great flashes as well, but in this piece, we’re going to focus on that starting group only. So, let’s hop right into it…

Lowry-Herro-Adebayo Three Man Sets:

I focused a lot on three-man sets when predicting the offensive actions Miami would run. The difference is that I said the Lowry-Robinson-Adebayo trio would be run the most.

But after Herro was inserted into the starting lineup, they began to run things with a purpose, looking like that group has been preparing in these slotted roles throughout the entire camp.

Looking at the first clip above, it’s simple: Lowry orchestrating, Adebayo screening for Herro to come off the curl, a 2 on 1 is forced, and Herro lobs it up for Adebayo to throw down. You know what I notice here? Comfort.

The other thing about this grouping is that it doesn’t always have to be Lowry setting others up, since his off-ball skill is absolutely a treasure. When I watched that scrimmage last Friday, one of my main takeaways with Herro was that the ball was going to be in his hands a ton. Emphasis on “a ton.”

And yet, that carried over quite a bit.

In that second clip, Herro comes up to receive the ball as Lowry relocates to the right wing. The 2 on 1 is forced pretty effortlessly as Adebayo slips, but something else stands out more.

Just watch Lowry and Trae Young. Obviously focusing on the defensive stuff with Young isn’t important, but notice the downhill space Herro is given. There’s no cut-off at the nail with Lowry being such a spot-up threat, leading to more and more lob opportunities. Or better yet, the floater.

Herro talked a little bit after the game about using that floater, even though it’s been in his bag for some time. He mentioned finding that middle ground instead of continuing to take it up on centers at the rim every play.

What is the difference with that floater now? It’s slowed down. He knew when the lob pass was being thrown up or when to shoot up that tear dropper. Even when the game is being played at a faster pace, he looks like he’s playing slower with the ball in his hands, and that’s a difference maker.

Finally, in the last clip, we see something a bit different. It clearly ended up in a failed lob pass, but the stuff run before that is more important. DHO’s have been a staple of this Heat offense for some time now, and while many hate to hear that phrase after it was previously spammed and overused, it isn’t going anywhere.

In fact, it’s going to be expanded upon. What I mean by that is that it won’t just be a Robinson-Adebayo set every time, since others can be mixed in positively. Just look at that final clip: Lowry hands it off to Adebayo and Adebayo hands it off to Herro for the double DHO.

DHO’s won’t be stagnant anymore. This stuff keeps the defense moving, and enhances each of those guys best skills. Let me just say, that three-man group will be effective. And it’s also clear the speed will be faster when all three of them are on the floor together.

Lowry’s First Three Tells Me Everything I Need to Know

When I say “Lowry’s first three,” I don’t mean ever. You may think that’s unnecessary to state, but it’s actually very necessary.

Aside from that, this one possession tells me a lot about this Heat offense this season.

Let’s start with that “speed” that continues to get brought up. The ball crosses half-court with 20 seconds on the shot clock, and the ball is being released with 18 seconds on the shot clock. That hasn’t been Miami Heat basketball up to this point, but it has been Kyle Lowry basketball.

Early offense could be crucial for this squad. Why is that? Well, the stuff that can be run early in the shot-clock heavily benefits this roster. Double drag ball screens, or just a simple drag as seen here.

Now, what is the second thing that stands out on this play? And no, it’s not Lowry.

Going back to that DHO discussion from before, it got pretty bland after a while because Adebayo was being forced into doing it every single time. When the team acquired PJ Tucker, I saw a plan rising out of nowhere.

Tucker may be somewhat limited offensively, but running hand-offs like this above is what will propel Adebayo even more. This allows him to play off the catch a bunch, and as seen yesterday, he got even more ball-handling reps than I originally expected.

The reason he was able to do that was because he was finally freed up. Tucker’s job will be simple this season, and Adebayo has needed “simple” in the front-court next to him for a while.

And of course, the last thing about this play is that Lowry above the break three. Miami has needed a guy who can punish defenses for going under on screens, and Lowry will do just that. It’s not about milking clock with him, it’s about getting the ball up when there’s an opening.

And once again, this Heat team missed that.

Is Adebayo’s Pace Just Due to Lowry’s Presence?

A hot topic since adding Lowry to this team was the pace that they could potentially play at. Coach Spo has typically played much more in the half-court in the past, but it was time to tend to the personnel.

I even asked Adebayo about playing at that speed in the scrimmage, which he said it’s important to get easy layups and fouls, since that’ll lead to open threes. And well, that was seen immediately in the first preseason game.

I talked about Adebayo getting in the open court nonstop last season, but this team translates to that way more. But is it just because of Lowry?

He’s a big part of that, but I wouldn’t say it’s just him. The first clip above will tell you why it’s not.

Lowry and Tucker defending the PnR, leads to Tucker stepping up for the steal and hitting the deck. Adebayo scoops and runs up the floor for the eventual foul.

What’s important about that? Well, that would’ve been Adebayo on the floor last season. They now have others who can play in the action at a high level, which hugely benefits Adebayo.

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Now, of course, the majority of the credit goes to Lowry. Spo called him a quarter back to begin training camp, and that’s exactly what he is: full-court hit aheads, feeding the post, and the pure swing on the perimeter.

The second clip above is a true example of that. Lowry receives the ball on the run as the shot clock resets, and Adebayo is throwing it down on the other end with 20 seconds left on the clock. This looks different, but it’s a good different.

Some Spain PnR Already?

Not to continually bring up the DHO of the past, but there was a reason it was used so much: the team lacked offensive weapons, so they couldn’t really expand the offense broadly. But that changes this season.

We already got to see some Spain PnR, shout-out to Nekias Duncan of the Dunker Spot, and it didn’t consist of Butler and Lowry. I saw it a couple times in that Friday scrimmage, where Butler would have the ball, Adebayo would screen, and Lowry would screen the screener for the wide open lane.

Now we’re seeing it on the big stage with an interesting mix of guys. In that original clip, we see it lead into another Herro floater, and the reason is that he has the space every play to get it off.

For one, when Robinson screened the screener, that pop out to the wing will always pull the defender out with him. Nobody is leaving Robinson open on that pop out, which means more and more good things inside the arc for the downhill threats.

It’s not as much about them running stuff like Spain PnR yesterday, but instead, the ability to mix it up in a way they weren’t able to in the past.

Yeah, Half-Court Offense/Ball Movement is Different

This one play essentially is the theme of this team. Bringing up Lowry as a quarterback and a fast paced player doesn’t always mean in the open court. It’s more about how they can spread the floor, swing the ball, and create good looks.

Herro dribbles and passes to Lowry, Lowry throws a skip pass to the opposite corner to Robinson, Robinson gets to the middle of the floor and kicks it back out to Lowry in the corner, before a final swing to Herro for a contested three-point make.

That is new.

Now, I don’t want to sit here and compare the first preseason game to a playoff series last season, since they’re incredibly different circumstances, but it must be brought up.

It was stagnant offense, limited movement, limited passes, and just an offensive identity that wasn’t clear at all. Right now, I see a team that has more than enough space to work with on that side of the floor.

Go back and watch that play again. I don’t remember the last time the Heat had that much room in the half-court like they did yesterday. And while you may think a non-shooter like Butler could shrink the court, the passing and downhill gravity of his will only make this better.

It’s only one game, or one preseason game at that, but there are too many positive flashes to not feel good about this team. And well, a full off-season makes it seem like they’re fully energized for the season ahead.

Who would’ve thought?

 

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Five Takeaways from the Heat’s First Preseason Match

The Miami Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks in the first game of the pre-season tonight in quite a fashion. No Jimmy Butler, no problem. The rotational guys looked as effective as ever, showing a theme that’s super essential: it isn’t one guy, it’s everybody. If this Miami “team” becomes a problem, then wins will closely follow.

Anyway, here are five takeaways from this game. (And more importantly, the first of many for the season ahead)

#1: Kyle Lowry doing Kyle Lowry things, rubbing off on teammates immediately.

Well, Kyle Lowry found himself in the starting lineup for the first time in a Miami Heat uniform on Monday night, kicking off the preseason. We know what Lowry brings on a nightly basis: high level passing, off-ball talents, and strong point of attack defense. But rubbing off on teammates is the thing I noticed most. After Friday’s scrimmage, a primary takeaway of mine was that Lowry-Herro-Adebayo minutes would be fast, and clearly, they were just that. Finding ways to get those young talents out on the break was crucial, and we saw it already. It’s not just about darting down the open floor, but being set up in the open floor. And yet, QB1 Lowry will hit you in your spots.

#2: Third year Tyler Herro is in full effect.

Tyler Herro has been putting in the work all off-season, ready to attack his third season head first. So, he decided not to waste any time by scoring 20 points in the first half, going 8 of 11 from the field. The efficiency stuff is obviously important, but the speed in which he’s going about it is even more important. Starting the game with 2 floaters and a lob pass to Bam Adebayo pretty much told you he’s much more controlled in the pick and roll. He’s had that floater and lob pass in his bag for some time, but the indecisiveness when to use each one wasn’t the case tonight. Herro’s playing with a purpose, he’s playing in a simplified role, and simply, he’s getting buckets.

#3: Bam Adebayo with some more ball-handling duties.

Of course, without Jimmy Butler playing, things look a bit different, but some stuff is bigger than who is in or out of the lineup. The ball-handling duties are going to be spread between Lowry, Herro, Butler, and the young centerpiece, Bam Adebayo. Don’t worry, Herro and Lowry got plenty of reps in that role tonight, but seeing them both deferring to Adebayo in the half-court was a beautiful sight. Why is that? Well, as Adebayo said on media day, he began getting bored in scoring in the same old spots on the floor every night. In the first preseason game, though, he was spread throughout the half-court. Freeing him up in this way to be the talented on-ball player that he is takes this team to the next tier.

#4: A consistent evaluation: among the young group at the bottom of the roster, Caleb Martin sticks out.

The Heat’s two-way spots are pretty much a revolving door. At one point in this game, Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, and Caleb Martin all shared the floor together for some pretty decent minutes on both ends. Why is that important? Well, not only is it abnormal for 2 past two-ways and 1 current two-way to be out there together, but more importantly, they all have a shot to contribute this season. Martin may have been the final addition to the roster, but it’s clear to many that it was an absolute steal. He is an athletic finisher, can create for himself at a high level, and really showed a hounding defensive presence on the perimeter. Coach Spo loves plug and play guys, and that is Caleb Martin. I’d expect to see him a bit this season.

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#5: Miami’s front-court depth may not be perfect, but they have options.

The Heat’s front-court looks a bit different this season. Adebayo and Dewayne Dedmon are the familiar faces in the rotation, but others are still trying to get acquainted. Omer Yurtseven and KZ Okpala may be at the bottom of that bunch as well, but rotational minutes don’t seem to be in reasonable reach to begin the year. The reason I discuss the team having options is due to PJ Tucker and Markieff Morris. Before Tucker went out with an injury, he showed his role: corner threes and running DHO’s for the offensive threats. Morris, on the other hand, wasn’t getting the friendly roll from beyond the arc, but getting him to the middle of the floor by the free throw line seemed effective. The front-court has different skills across the board, and while they aren’t perfect, options are more important on this new squad.

 

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Miami Heat Practice Scrimmage Recap

Addressing some of the overarching takeaways from the Heat’s scrimmage today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tyler Herro’s Third Season: Simply, a Flashback

When discussing young players evolving and taking on a new role to thrive in, there’s always one major thing people like to hear heading into that: a comparison.

Not as much “how will he be utilized,” but instead “who will he be utilized like?”

And in terms of Tyler Herro, I think my answer may be a bit different from the rest. Heading into his third season as the true bucket getter off the bench, player comps are flying. Most of them are linked to recent sixth man of the year winners such as Jordan Clarkson and others, but there’s one guy Herro will be playing exactly like.

Tyler Herro. Just a few years back.

Let’s take it all the way back to high school. Even though he was playing “point guard” at times during that stage, it wasn’t truly as a pure passer. By point guard, I mean he crossed the half-court line with the ball in his hands, and a lot of the time, that was a signal for a mixture of moves before putting the ball in the basket.

There were constant descriptions and adjectives floating around his game at the time, and that continues to the present day. Words like confidence (or drip), always come up when discussing Herro, and that’s due to his play-style being a bit different.

But the word that many may be overlooking is freedom. He had that at the high school level when he knew night in and night out that he had the complete green light, and that’s exactly what Erik Spoelstra will be giving him this season.

Coach Spo has been 100% confident in Herro since day one which goes a long way. In his rookie season, playing closing minutes on a nightly basis, before transitioning that same comfort in him during the bubble run. (Which by the way, Herro put together his 37 point playoff display exactly one year from the day.)

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There was never a doubt this team trusted him in any scenario, but the freedom element must now kick in, and the roster construction proves they’re doing just that. They went from a team with total offensive firepower and defensive holes to quite the opposite. And the offensive questions will be pointing right at Herro to take control of this season.

Speaking of that green light that seems to be on the way, here’s the percentages of Herro in his highest FGA of the season: 46%, 38%, 55%, 60%, 47%, 71%.

Up to this point, giving him scoring freedom has always translated really well. And if the efficiency stuff carries over, they’ve got exactly what they’ve been looking for.

Who do I see him playing like this season?

Well, a senior year Tyler Herro essentially. Crossing that half-court line with the ball in his hands and one thought on his mind: putting the ball in the basket. Ever since his rookie season, he’s been one step ahead. Expectations were so high because he set the bar high early on.

But after continually being a few years ahead, it’s time to revert back in the slightest fashion to maximize his talent. We’ve talked endlessly about the ways Miami will use him heading into the year, but the overarching topic is how he elects to approach the role given to him.

From constant on-ball reps in high school to straight spot-up reps in college, it’s time for Herro to connect the dots on his early years. And the common denominator among these different basketball levels is clearly the freedom he played with.

That returns this season.

 

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Who Will Close More Games for the Heat this Season: Herro or Robinson?

Who will close more games for the Heat this season: Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson?

According to Heat Twitter, it was a 50/50 split.

And well, that’ll most likely be Erik Spoelstra’s way of going about it this season too.

Many people love to harp on starting lineups when talking about rosters heading into a new season, but they’re pretty meaningless in the big picture, especially on a Spoelstra coached Heat team. The primary lineup to hang your hat on is the closing group that Spo will trust down the stretch night in and night out.

Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo are pretty much a given when talking about late-game play, but in my opinion, it feels like PJ Tucker will work himself into that tier pretty quickly. Not that he will be doing as much as Miami’s top 3 guys, but his impact has always been high, and those are usually the guys Coach Spo likes to keep on the floor with the clock ticking down.

So if those 4 defensive dogs are on the floor together, who will that 5th offensive weapon be? Well, like I said before, there’s a good chance it’ll end up like that twitter poll: 50% of the time it’s Herro, 50% of the time it’s Robinson.

When looking at the 4th quarter minutes of Herro and Robinson last season, they are once again neck and neck. Herro played 486 minutes while Robinson played 484 minutes. Some of that may be clouded by the injuries that occurred throughout the year, but the point still stands. It was a toss up in the past and it’ll be a toss up once again.

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There are certain implications that’ll trigger the team looking in one of their directions. It should come down to the thing they’re lacking on a specific night.

If guys like Lowry or Butler are rolling throughout the night, they will probably look to Robinson so they can have that gravitational  pull in their offensive actions, basically using him to get the team’s shot creators easy buckets.

If some of their shot creators are struggling from the field or have a tough match-up overall, I think they will look to Herro. Somebody who can handle the ball and run the actions, instead of just being a decoy in the action.

And when looking at these two scenarios, it still doesn’t feel like one is more likely than the other. Both can be impactful in their own ways, and if they both show major growth to start the season, it isn’t crazy to think they can both be out there.

But for the most part, it’ll be a judgement of the hot hand. Can Robinson find ways to score when defenses lock-in on him down the stretch? Can Herro create enough space in isolation to trust him running certain actions?

Those questions will soon be answered, but the answer to the original question is clear: both options are correct.

And as much as some people may start to equate this scenario to contract size, that isn’t the right way to go about it. Just because a player had a nice pay day, doesn’t mean we have to relate that to staying on the floor at the end of games. They paid him to play a role on the basketball court whenever it’s needed. If that means it’s utilized for the first 36 minutes, so be it.

This Heat team has much more lineup flexibility at the moment, so it’ll be interesting to see how they go about it. And well, that isn’t even considering the possibility of Victor Oladipo returning at a high level. Only five guys can be on the floor to finish a game, and knowing the history of Spoelstra, those five guys won’t usually be the same from night to night.

 

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