Head Coach: Erik Spoelstra (12th Season)
Record: 41-24 (4th in Eastern Conference)
All-Stars: 2 (Jimmy Butler – 5th, Bam Adebayo – 1st)
Scoring Leaders: Jimmy Butler (20.2 PPG), Bam Adebayo (16.2 PPG), Goran Dragic (16.1 PPG)
Rebounding Leaders: Adebayo (10.5 RPG), Butler (6.6 RPG), Jae Crowder (5.8 RPG)
Assists Leaders: Butler (6.1 APG), Adebayo (5.1 APG), Dragic (5.1 APG)
Offense: 112.2 Points Scored/Game (15th)
Defense: 108.9 Points Allowed/Game (11th)
Key Wins: Bucks x2 (131-126, Oct. 26; 105-89, Mar. 2), Rockets (129-100, Nov. 3), Raptors x2 (121-110, Dec. 3; 84-76 Jan. 2), 76ers x3 (108-104, Dec. 18; 117-116, Dec. 28; 137-106, Feb. 3), Jazz (107-104, Dec. 23), Mavericks x2 (122-118, Dec. 14; 126-118, Feb. 28)
Season Summary: The Heat are full of young talent but have the veteran experience to make some noise in the playoffs. The Heat are led by Jimmy Butler and the emergence of third-year player and budding superstar Bam Adebayo. Add in the impressive play of rookies Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn and the Heat have a very impressive core for the future. They have shown they can hang with the rest of the East’s elite, with at least two wins apiece over the Bucks, Raptors, and 76ers. The Heat weren’t primed to win now heading into the season, but the impressive play from their veterans mixed with the emergence from the young core could result in a deep run.
When the season was paused, Miami led the league in 3-point percentage (38.3%), while also ranking in the top ten in assists, free throws, and field goal percentage. Both Duncan Robinson and Herro are connecting at around a 40% clip from deep. Add in Defensive Player of the Year candidate Bam Adebayo and lockdown defender Jimmy Butler and the Heat have the pieces to give teams fits in the postseason. With seven players who average double-digits in scoring, Miami embraces a committee approach to scoring and will be a tough out for anyone in the playoffs.
Memorable Moment: Both wins over the Milwaukee Bucks. It’s not a single moment, but the Bucks are 53-12 and are the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Their young star Bam Adebayo stepped up while playing great defense on Giannis Antetokounmpo in both games. Adebayo put up 19 PTS, 13 REB, 8 AST in the first matchup, then followed it up with 14 REB, 13 REB, & 5 AST while holding Antetokounmpo to a season-low 13 points. The Bucks look unstoppable at times, but the Heat have proven to be a tough matchup.
Player To Watch: Bam Adebayo – The third-year player is having a breakthrough season, having been named an All-Star for the first time. Bam Adebayo has been mentioned in Defensive Player of the Year conversations as well as Most Improved Player. Adebayo is averaging 16.2 PPG, 5.1 APG, & 10.5 RPG to go with 1.3 BPG and 1.2 SPG. Bam did not have a single triple-double prior to this year and has already had three this season. Adebayo is an emerging star in this league and his versatility makes the Heat a tough matchup in the postseason.
