Mailbag: Will Heat guard Kendrick Nunn’s start to the season prove to be sustainable?
The Miami Herald Heat mailbag is here to answer your questions.
If you weren’t able to ask this time, send your questions for future mailbags via Twitter (@Anthony_Chiang). You can also email them to achiang@miamiherald.com.
@CG_thetruth: As much as I want him to, I don’t think Kendrick Nunn can sustain his production and shoot in the upper 40 percent range from the field and upper 30 percent range from three. Do you disagree?
Anthony Chiang: Let’s start with this: Heat guard Kendrick Nunn is shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 34.9 percent on threes this season. Those are solid numbers for a rookie, especially for one averaging about 14 shots and six three-point attempts per game. Recently, though, Nunn has been in a bit of a shooting slump. During the past five games, he has averaged 10 points on 29 percent shooting from the field and 20 percent shooting on threes. These cold streaks are going to happen with a player who’s taking 43.4 percent of his shots from three-point range.
I think Nunn’s current shooting numbers are pretty sustainable, though. Around 42 percent from the field and 33 percent on threes seems doable. While he’s currently in a bit of a shooting slump, he has proven he can get hot, too.
One interesting thing about Nunn’s shot chart? He’s shooting an efficient 50.9 percent on shots against tight coverage (closest defender within 2-4 feet), according to NBA Advanced Stats. Nunn’s ability to make contested shots is an encouraging sign.
But one thing you would like to see more from Nunn is the ability to get to the free-throw line. Among players averaging 13 or more shots attempts per game this season, Nunn is averaging a league-low 1.3 free-throw attempts.
@TimTurane: I enjoy the way the team is playing right now. What are they doing to reduce the turnovers in practice? Could coach preach a little selfishness to stop throwing the ball away when a layup is two points?
Anthony: This Heat offense is based on ball movement. Cutting down on ball movement to limit turnovers would be counterproductive. The Heat’s goal should be to reduce its turnovers without changing the way it moves the ball. But turnovers are a major issue for this team, and really the one glaring issue that has followed the Heat throughout the season. Miami is averaging a league-high 18.2 turnovers per game, which in turn has the Heat averaging a league-low 83.1 shot attempts per game. That’s a lot of wasted possessions.
