After last night’s defeat of the New Orleans Pelicans, the Miami Heat find themselves at 10-5 through the first 15 games of the season. Throughout these games, the Heat have had a couple of very impressive victories. They have defeated the Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Utah Jazz twice. In this article, we will look at takeaways from the first fifteen Miami Heat games.
Takeaways From the First 15 Miami Heat Games
3. The Kyle Lowry Effect
When the Miami Heat acquired Kyle Lowry in this previous offseason, many individuals looked at the signing as a solid move but it looks even better now. Lowry has completely reshaped the way that the Heat play basketball. The Heat who were one of the bottom teams in pace over the last number of years, now love to push the pace with Lowry’s signature hit ahead passes. Lowry also takes the ball out of the hands of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo‘s hands, freeing them to post up and hit their signature shots. Currently, the Miami Heat are the fourth highest-rated offensive team in the NBA, in large part contributed by Kyle Lowry.
2. Tyler Herro, Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player?
Following last season, many people were down on Tyler Herro. He had played tremendously in the bubble playoffs but took a bit of a sophomore slump last year. This year, however, Herro looks like a man on a mission trying to prove the doubters wrong. Herro is averaging a career-high in every statistical category at 21.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He is also shooting very efficiently from the floor, shooting 45.4 percent on very high volume. In the offseason, it was crucial that Herro put on muscle and he did just that. By doing so, he is able to finish much better inside through contact, as well as get to his spot in the mid-range at the elbow. Currently, Herro is manning the second unit for the Miami Heat. However, with the recent injuries of Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry, Herro has been thrust into the starting lineup. While in the starting lineup for these past four games, Tyler Herro has scored 23, 27, 26, and 19 points in those games. We also have to remember that Herro is only twenty-one years of age.
1. Jimmy Butler for MVP
Jimmy Butler has been on an absolute tear to start the 2021-2022 NBA season. At the age of 32, Butler looks to be at the very top of his basketball powers. Butler’s statistical numbers to start this season are similar to LeBron James‘s numbers when the king ruled South Beach. This season Butler is averaging 24.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. As explained earlier when discussing Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler is playing more of his typical off-ball role. Being in this role, Butler can set off-ball screens to isolate himself on smaller defenders. Once this happens, Butler will typically post-up and take his signature turn-around jump shot or attack the basket and draw a foul. That is Butler on the offensive end, but, Butler on the defensive end maybe even better. Jimmy Butler typically ends up guarding the best perimeter player on the other team at some stage of the game. He is also great at playing a free-safety role on defense by roaming around, picking the ball from behind. If the Heat continue to pile up wins and Butler continues to play at this level he will definitely be in the MVP conversation.
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