2025 Miami Heat Regular Season Thread

[greg4012]

So we had the 3rd best defense in the league before Bam got hurt, he gets hurt and we drop down to the 15th best defense. Bam comes back for 2 games and we instantly jump up 10 spots back into the top 5. It is a damn shame the best defender of this generation isn’t going to finish his career with at least 1 DPOY because of narratives, and basic counting statistics like BPG and SPG.

Yup, as mentioned Miami had the 3rd best DRTG in the NBA with Bam through the first 7 games of the season at 109.9. Miami's defense ranked 19th during Bam's absence (resulting in a 15th ranked defense overall after that stretch). In the 2 games Bam has been back for, Miami's DRTG has been tops in the league at an absurd 94. Effectively, Miami has a DRTG of 106.3 in the games Bam has played fully. That would be good for 2nd in the league behind OKC at 103.

All of this while maintaining the fastest pace in the NBA and having an ORTG hovering around 12th.

If Spo can work some magic to insert Herro without too much defensive drop-off, we could be cooking for real.

[greg4012]

I think the lineup and minute questions that will arise with Herro return and hopeful health for the roster will just result in a deeper rotation and potentially result in no one playing more than 30 mpg. If Miami can do that, that's great for managing the roster considering the toll of running the fastest pace in the NBA. Good approach for hopeful sustainability.

[lastb1ckman]

Yeah with our play style and tendency to get hurt, I can't imagine why folks wanna do a consolidation trade or get off Herro. Powell or someone is going to get hurt, we need more bodies, especially plus scorers and rebounders like Herro

[Daffy]

Would definitely be a game changer if he can find some sort of consistency in his play from last night. I’m skeptical because he’s looked borderline unplayable for the most part but I’d gladly be proven wrong.

MWP, if you’re out there somewhere I know you watched Keshads performance with a smile on your face last night

Where is MWP?

No clue, he disappeared after Giddey signed his extension with the Bulls after we were pushing the “get Giddey” agenda all summer

Damn. I hope he's okay.

[Beenie]

Yeah with our play style and tendency to get hurt, I can't imagine why folks wanna do a consolidation trade or get off Herro. Powell or someone is going to get hurt, we need more bodies, especially plus scorers and rebounders like Herro

Because as surprisingly good as this team is, it's clear that they are not title contending good.

Mia lacks a true star player who can control the game in the last 5 minutes against title contending teams.

If the goal is just to make it into the playoffs and maybe win a round, then the current roster and play style looks to be sufficient.

But If there are bigger goals in play, a consolidation trade to acquire a star capable of matching or even outplaying the opposing team's star will be a necessary add.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

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[Beenie]

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A Lakers trade made sense prior to the start of the season, but now it doesn't.

Unless it's involving a 3rd team, I don't see what LA can offer Mia that's attractive to them.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

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A Lakers trade made sense prior to the start of the season, but now it doesn't.

Unless it's involving a 3rd team, I don't see what LA can offer Mia that's attractive to them.

Agreed and also agreed on your prior post about needing a true superstar for this team to get serious. That starts with packaging Tyler and hopefully Terrys salary when opened up with assets seeing as we’ve played great without him. We need a 2 way superstar and then this thing really gets interesting

[3ammy3uck3ts]

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[greg4012]

So we had the 3rd best defense in the league before Bam got hurt, he gets hurt and we drop down to the 15th best defense. Bam comes back for 2 games and we instantly jump up 10 spots back into the top 5. It is a damn shame the best defender of this generation isn’t going to finish his career with at least 1 DPOY because of narratives, and basic counting statistics like BPG and SPG.

Yup, as mentioned Miami had the 3rd best DRTG in the NBA with Bam through the first 7 games of the season at 109.9. Miami's defense ranked 19th during Bam's absence (resulting in a 15th ranked defense overall after that stretch). In the 2 games Bam has been back for, Miami's DRTG has been tops in the league at an absurd 94. Effectively, Miami has a DRTG of 106.3 in the games Bam has played fully. That would be good for 2nd in the league behind OKC at 103.

All of this while maintaining the fastest pace in the NBA and having an ORTG hovering around 12th.

If Spo can work some magic to insert Herro without too much defensive drop-off, we could be cooking for real.

Obviously early season (small sample), but for the sake of closing the loop on this:

In the 9 full games Bam has played, Miami has a net rating of 10.5. That would be good for 3rd in the league, just behind Denver (10.7) and just ahead of Houston (10.4). OKC going wild with a net rating of 16.3.

Let's get healthy & build off of the good we've seen.

[CWebb2491]

Who do you think Herro replaces in the starting 5?

Bam
Wiggins
Powell
Herro are locks.

It comes down to Mitchell, Larson, Ware.

Ware is finding his stride, playing his best basketball BUT we only have Jovic and now KJ as back up bigs

Larson has proven to be a staple in the rotation, hitting 3’s, getting to the line, playing defense. He may very well continue to develop into a Thunder Dan mold.

Mitchell has done EVERYTHING asked. Elite defense, scoring, and the assist to turnover ratio is elite.

It’s a hard decision to make.

[Wiltside]

Who do you think Herro replaces in the starting 5?

Bam
Wiggins
Powell
Herro are locks.

It comes down to Mitchell, Larson, Ware.

Ware is finding his stride, playing his best basketball BUT we only have Jovic and now KJ as back up bigs

Larson has proven to be a staple in the rotation, hitting 3’s, getting to the line, playing defense. He may very well continue to develop into a Thunder Dan mold.

Mitchell has done EVERYTHING asked. Elite defense, scoring, and the assist to turnover ratio is elite.

It’s a hard decision to make.

My guess would be Larsson, but I’d probably want it to be Mitchell. I don’t want Powell or Herro guarding the 3.

Herro can pick up the playmaking slack or Davion, and he’s just a significantly better offensive player. We give up something defensively, but Herro is also a good rebounder for his size too.

[CWebb2491]

Who do you think Herro replaces in the starting 5?

Bam
Wiggins
Powell
Herro are locks.

It comes down to Mitchell, Larson, Ware.

Ware is finding his stride, playing his best basketball BUT we only have Jovic and now KJ as back up bigs

Larson has proven to be a staple in the rotation, hitting 3’s, getting to the line, playing defense. He may very well continue to develop into a Thunder Dan mold.

Mitchell has done EVERYTHING asked. Elite defense, scoring, and the assist to turnover ratio is elite.

It’s a hard decision to make.

My guess would be Larsson, but I’d probably want it to be Mitchell. I don’t want Powell or Herro guarding the 3.

Herro can pick up the playmaking slack or Davion, and he’s just a significantly better offensive player. We give up something defensively, but Herro is also a good rebounder for his size too.

I feel Larson would get lost in translation if moved to the bench.

Ware and Mitchell have proven they can play at this level coming off the bench.

But eventually Ware is going to become a starter, whether this season or for sure next season if he’s not traded for a Giannis like player.

[marson]

Herro
Powell
Larsson
Wiggins
Bam

I’m guessing Dru and Davion will split the backup duties. Wiggs is the only one averaging 33 minutes per game, and every other starter hover around 30 minutes, that kind of playing time for every player would be huge given the pace we're playing at. We are deep AF.

[Heat_Down_Under]

Herro
Powell
Larsson
Wiggins
Bam

I’m guessing Dru and Davion will split the backup duties. Wiggs is the only one averaging 33 minutes per game, and every other starter hover around 30 minutes, that kind of playing time for every player would be huge given the pace we're playing at. We are deep AF.

Hmmm that starting line up will probably be it… I would rather see wiggs at SF, bam PF and Ware C.. but not having a back up C makes that hard..

[DayofMourning]

Can we play Ware, Bam, Wiggs, Powell and Herro together without crashing out on D? Id love for one of Powell or Herro to come off the bench.

[Bishop45]

Can we play Ware, Bam, Wiggs, Powell and Herro together without crashing out on D? Id love for one of Powell or Herro to come off the bench.

Herro off the bench feels like it makes some basketball sense with the chemistry that's already been formed, I don't see that flying though

Herro PG will happen for better or for worse. In this offense, maybe it works, don't know until we try.

I hope Ware/Bam gets a chance to fail or succeed, they've looked really good together overall imo

[Crazy-Canuck]

Can we play Ware, Bam, Wiggs, Powell and Herro together without crashing out on D? Id love for one of Powell or Herro to come off the bench.

Need to hide herro, so put him on opponents worst player.

Powell on a good day can at least be average on ball while being among the worst off ball defenders in the league. I'd put him on the primary ball handler.

Ware is the rim protector.

Bam and wiggins plug up all the holes on help.

Rebounding should be markedly better too.

Davion comes in first for powell.

Then Jaime comes in for wiggins.

Then keshad comes in for Bam.

Davion, herro, Jaime, keshad, and ware play the midv1q.

Dru, powell, Larsson, wiggs, Bam to close the 1q and start the 2q.

Herro, powell, wiggins, Bam and, mitchell or Jaime or ware to close the half.

[Crazy-Canuck]

Can we play Ware, Bam, Wiggs, Powell and Herro together without crashing out on D? Id love for one of Powell or Herro to come off the bench.

Herro off the bench feels like it makes some basketball sense with the chemistry that's already been formed, I don't see that flying though

Herro PG will happen for better or for worse. In this offense, maybe it works, don't know until we try.

I hope Ware/Bam gets a chance to fail or succeed, they've looked really good together overall imo

Herro is up for an extension, he won't come off the bench.

Ware, bam, and wiggins makes too much sense. The problem is then there's no back up big unless keshad grabs the opportunity.

They still need a trade for a 3rd big who can play 4/5.

[CWebb2491]

Herro
Powell
Larsson
Wiggins
Bam

I’m guessing Dru and Davion will split the backup duties. Wiggs is the only one averaging 33 minutes per game, and every other starter hover around 30 minutes, that kind of playing time for every player would be huge given the pace we're playing at. We are deep AF.

I feel Larson is blossoming right before our eyes. His ability to draw fouls is insane for a 2nd year guard. His defense is great and he does all the dirty work, little things. He’s Udonis Haslem with hops and a 3pt shot if UD was 6’5 and was Swedish.

Him and Jaquez have been pleasant surprises this season. Imagine at the end of last season that Jaquez, Mitchell and Ware would be blossoming and were wanting Larson to start over them because he’s blossoming as well. It’s a good problem to have.

VERY curious to see what level Herro plays with this team. He was looking elite to start last season playing off the ball.