The Miami Heat are 18-16 on the season, three wins improved from last season’s 15-67 abomination. Superstar shooting guard Dwyane Wade has regained the form that made him 2006 Finals MVP. Wade is averaging a league-leading 28.7 points per game on 47.9% shooting. With Wade scoring from all angles, the Heat rank 20th in points scored per 100 possessions.
Offensively, Miami runs a lot of high screen-and-rolls designed to free Wade on the perimeter. Seventy-one percent of Miami’s shot attempts occur outside the paint. Only the Mavericks, Hawks, Spurs (surprisingly), and Raptors shoot more from mid-range and beyond.
Despite being severely undersized with 6-9 center Joel Anthony at center and 6-8 Udonis Haslem at power forward, Miami ranks 12th in points allowed per 100 possessions (105.7) and 5th in defensive field goal percentage.
Miami’s defensive efficiency is a testament to first-year Head Coach Erik Spoelstra. Spoelstra has implemented an aggressive ball-hawking scheme that takes advantage of Miami’s speed and length in the backcourt.
Wade is averaging 2.24 steals per game. Rookie point guard Mario Chalmers averages 1.91 thefts per contest. Wade, Chalmers and small forward Shawn Marion are excellent at playing the passing lanes and recovering for one another.
If the season ended today, Miami would capture the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference, but there is a sense that the best is yet to come. Rookie Michael Beasley has been up-and-down as the number two pick continues to struggle defensively.
I had a chance to chat with the Palm Beach Post’s Chris Perkins before Miami’s game versus Denver Wednesday night and Perkins confirmed that Beasley has had a hard time adapting defensively. It didn’t take long for Perkins’ words to ring true as Beasley scored 10 first quarter points, but picked up 3 quick fouls in the first half.
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January 9th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I like this article. Well written. The 5 or 6 times this year I have watched the heat, Joel Anthony’s activity impressed me. He’s a pretty good low post defender/rebounder for a guy his size.
January 10th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Good article, and I definitely think that Miami’s defense (along with Wade’s health and return to brilliance) has really been the key to their season.
And it’s a shame that high school and college coaches don’t push their best players defensively. It’s really hurting Beasley on the next level, but at least it seems like he wants to improve himself.