Heat offense going through adjustment period. Also, Nikola Jovic on role and Jaime Jaquez Jr. hurt
The Miami Heat is happy to have guard Tyler Herro back, and Herro is happy to be back in the mix. Now, Herro wants to help the Heat’s offense get back to its fast-paced, high-scoring style.
The Heat won the first two games after Herro returned from September ankle surgery, with Herro leading the team in scoring in both games. Herro scored 24 points in his season debut to help the Heat defeat the Dallas Mavericks on Monday and then totaled 29 points in Wednesday’s win against the Milwaukee Bucks.
But those games also represent two of the Heat’s three lowest-scoring performances of the season. Miami, which entered Friday averaging the second-most points per game in the NBA this season at 122.9, scored 106 points in both games with Herro back.
Those games also represent two of the Heat’s three slowest-paced games of the season. Miami, which entered Friday playing at the fastest pace in the league at 105.8 possessions per 48 minutes, played at a pace of 101.5 possessions per 48 minutes in Monday’s victory against the Mavericks and 101 possessions per 48 minutes in Wednesday’s win over the Bucks.
“I want to score 150, as well,” Herro said ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons (8 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Sun and WPLG Local 10). “That looked like a lot of fun on the bench. So I’m trying to make it work. I’m not here to take over the offense or do anything. I told all the guys to just continue to play the same way, and I’ll find my spots and fit in as I can. But I want everyone to continue to play the same way they were playing before me. I want to score a lot of points, as well.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra pushed against any potential narrative that the Heat’s offensive dip in the last two games has to do with Herro’s return.
“The last two games, it’s not because Tyler is coming back,” Spoelstra said. “It’s because teams will try to scheme against what we’re trying to do. Teams will try to slow us down, and we just need to be better at what we do.”
Heat players also pointed to recent adjustments they’ve noticed from opponents that have led to the recent slow-down on the offensive end.
“I think a lot of people know how fast we play, so they kind of try to junk up the game a little bit,” Heat guard Davion Mitchell said. “Playing a lot of zone, kind of slowing us down a little bit.”
The Heat’s offense has played the most possessions in the NBA against zone defense this season.
“We just got to work through it,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said. “That’s the biggest thing about it, man. But the thing I love about this team is we’re willing to go through that. We’re willing to work guys in and figure out how we can get this thing as like a well-oiled machine to where it doesn’t matter who’s out there. We’re still picking up the pace, we’re still running, we’re still getting stops and playing fun basketball.”
But it’s going to take time. Between the Heat having a healthy roster for the first time this season and opponents trying different things to slow Miami’s offense down, there’s going to be an adjustment and a re-acclimation period.
“It’s going to be a work in progress,” Herro said. “I didn’t have a training camp or preseason games, I didn’t have anything with this team. I kind of just got thrown right into the fire two days ago. And then, obviously, we’re having a full roster healthy. I want it to work. I’m doing everything I can to make it work, and I’m just excited to see where this goes.”
JOVIC DEALING WITH IT
With the Heat’s roster fully healthy for the first time in Wednesday’s win over the Bucks, forward Nikola Jovic was the odd man out. Jovic fell out of the Heat’s rotation and received his first healthy scratch of the season.
“I’m good,” Jovic said of dropping out of the rotation. “It’s something that happens, you know, I guess every season now. I’ll be back. I’ll get back on the court again. I’ll get a chance and I’ll show that I can play again. And then the circle comes around.”
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Jovic is referring to the other times he has fallen out of the Heat’s rotation in past seasons before finding himself back in the rotation weeks later. Like last season when Jovic received six straight DNP-CDs (did not play, coach’s decision) before logging double-digit minutes in his final 32 appearances of the regular season.
But those experiences don’t make this one any easier.
“It’s still difficult,” Jovic, 22, said. “You don’t want to be out. It gets a little confusing. But now it’s really become a, I guess, normal thing. The good thing is I have examples like Duncan [Robinson] before, who would be a big piece and then not play at all and a lot of stuff like that. So I’m just chilling and waiting for my opportunity.”
Jovic, who is in his fourth NBA season, signed a four-year, $62.4 million extension with the Heat in October.
“I think if I’m the 11th guy on the bench, I think we have a pretty good team,” Jovic said with a smile.
JAQUEZ INJURED
Heat sixth man Jaime Jaquez Jr. did not practice on Friday because of a strained right groin. He’s listed as questionable for Saturday’s matchup against the Pistons.
Jaquez has been one of the Heat’s top producers this season, lifting himself into the early conversation for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award. He’s averaging 16.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 53% from the field this season.
In addition to Jaquez being questionable, the Heat also listed Norman Powell (left groin strain) and Andrew Wiggins (left hip flexor strain) as probable for Saturday’s game.
The Heat ruled out Myron Gardner (G League), Vlad Goldin (G League), Kasparas Jakucionis (G League), Terry Rozier (not with team) and Jahmir Young (G League).
Meanwhile, the Pistons will be playing the Heat on the second night of a back-to-back set after hosting the Orlando Magic in Detroit on Friday night.
