Erik Spoelstra downplays changes to Heat’s offense: ‘We’re not running a math class here’
The Miami Heat appeared to follow the math this preseason, tweaking its shot profile in hopes of producing more efficient offensive numbers. That means fewer non-paint midrange twos and a higher volume of efficient looks from three-point range and around the rim.
The preseason numbers show a drastic shift in this area for the Heat after finishing last regular season with the NBA’s worst location effective field-goal percentage (a predictor of what a team’s effective field-goal percentage would be if it shot the league average at each location based on their shot selection).
But Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is downplaying this story line.
“I find these discussions somewhat interesting,” Spoelstra said following Monday’s practice, as the Heat continues to prepare for Wednesday night’s regular-season opener against the Orlando Magic at Kaseya Center. “We’re not running a math class here. We’re trying to win basketball games. So you guys are trying to turn this into a math class. I was horrible at math. That’s not our intention right now.”
Instead, the Heat’s intention is simply to be a more efficient offensive unit this season after finishing the last two seasons with a bottom-10 offensive rating. Whether it’s by going with a more efficient shot profile or just by making more of the shots that it took last season, the goal is to score more points this season.
“We’re just trying to get on the same page, put together a game that makes sense for our team,” Spoelstra continued. “We’re not reinventing the game of basketball. We’re not re-inventing it for us. These are supposed to be some subtle, hopefully some level of sophisticated improvements. But that’s really all it is. I just want our guys comfortable. I want them knowing how we’re going to play, what’s going to lead to winning and get to that more consistently.”
If the preseason is any indication, part of that plan is to avoid long two-point shots.
The Heat finished its exhibition schedule averaging the fifth-most shot attempts at the rim and 12th-most three-point attempts per game in the NBA. Miami took the sixth-fewest non-paint two-point shots per game this preseason.
But what’s important to Spoelstra is the Heat’s offensive process that leads to that more efficient shot chart. It’s also important that the Heat continues to run its offense through its leading duo of Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler.
“It’s about the finer details, and I think these things make sense for Jimmy, they make sense for Bam,” Spoelstra said. “As long as he’s getting to his game, if we can find a way to help [Butler] get to his game at the highest level, it’s not rocket science — that makes sense for all of us. We have great success when he’s playing at a high level, the same goes for Bam. The other guys, I want them feeling comfortable working around that orbit, where they can be super aggressive and confident.”
CONTINUING THE RELATIONSHIP
Even after waiving Isaiah Stevens, Zyon Pullin and Warren Washington from their Exhibit 10 contracts on Saturday, the Heat hopes to keep them in its development program by transitioning them to its G League affiliate (the Sioux Falls Skyforce) this season.
But ultimately, Stevens, Pullin and Washington will decide what they want to do next. However, their Exhibit 10 deals provide some incentive to play for the Skyforce this season.
Stevens, Pullin and Washington are each eligible to earn a bonus worth up to $77,500 if they spend at least 60 days with the Heat’s G League affiliate this season. All three players went undrafted this year.
“That’s what we talked to them about,” Spoelstra said of the plan to keep Stevens, Pullin and Washington in the Heat’s developmental pipeline. “Ultimately, they have to decide what they want to do. But that’s where we feel like we can make the biggest impact is a longer relationship. We would like to continue that development. It’s the lifeblood, Sioux Falls, for restocking our talent.”
The Heat also hopes guard Caleb Daniels joins the Skyforce this season after cutting him earlier this preseason. Daniels also spent last season with the Heat’s G League affiliate after going undrafted in 2023.
There’s also a chance that forward Nassir Little could end up with the Heat’s G League affiliate this season — if that’s what he chooses for the next step in his basketball career. The Heat waived Little on Saturday from his nonguaranteed contract.
NEW NETWORK
There’s a new name for the Heat’s television home.
Bally Sports Sun rebranded to FanDuel Sports Network Sun on Monday. The network is set to broadcast at least 78 Heat games this regular season, beginning with Wednesday’s opener against the Magic.
Channel positions for FanDuel Sports Network Sun have not changed, and the channel remains available on Comcast Xfinity (now on the Ultimate TV package), AT&T U-verse, DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hotwire, Blue Stream Fiber and Breezeline in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area.
In addition, the Bally Sports app has become the FanDuel Sports Network app. Users who have automatic updates enabled will see the app automatically transition. If not, they will be prompted to update the app. Login credentials remain the same and subscriptions purchased through Bally Sports remain active.
INJURY REPORT
The only two Heat players who did not practice Monday were Josh Christopher, who sustained a right big toe contusion in Sunday’s practice, and Josh Richardson, who continues to work his way back from March surgery on his right shoulder.
The Heat will issue its first injury report of the season for Wednesday’s opener on Tuesday.
