Heat rookies Herro and Nunn made two subtle changes. Here’s what then happened
Heat guards Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro have displayed diverse offensive games that have catapulted them near the top of the NBA’s rookie scoring list, with Nunn standing second and Herro tied for fourth with the Knicks’ RJ Barrett.
Just as importantly, they’ve demonstrated an ability to adapt - a skill that was evident for Nunn at the beginning - and Herro toward the end - of Monday’s win against Utah.
Nunn - whose 16.2 points per game trails only Memphis’ Ja Morant among rookies - began Monday’s game by attacking the basket, using a nifty hesitation move to leave Donovan Mitchell in the dust for a layup, and then spinning past Mitchell for another layup. Later, he attacked two-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert for a layup.
This wasn’t a coincidence. After a 20 for 69 shooting slump earlier this month, Nunn studied the tape, determined teams “are defending me a little more aggressively,” and made the decision that “if teams pressure me, I will drive to the basket. I’m trying to get [more] easy baskets. I will still take threes when I’m open.”
Since Nunn revealed that new approach, he has shot 46.5 percent and averaged 18.5 points over nine games, while mixing mid-range and longer jumpers with forays to the basket.
He’s also getting to the line more - 24 times in the past 13 games, compared with 22 in the first 17.
Herro, meanwhile, said “as late as last week, I was taking a lot of midrange shots” but decided to “cut down on those” after a discussion with Heat coaches.
Instead, when he’s not shooting threes, he’s driving to the basket more for floaters. Of Herro’s four key baskets in the fourth quarter on Monday, one was a pull-up three-pointer in transition but the others were a 10-foot turnaround fadeaway, and 7- and 8-foot floaters, which - for him - are better shots than long twos.
“The game is really slowing down for me and credit to the coaching staff; they’ve really helped me with that,” said Herro, who’s averaging 14.0 points per game, which is tied for 80th among all NBA players.
Jimmy Butler said Herro “knows what he’s capable of. We know what he is capable of and I think if we don’t put enough confidence in him that he already has a tremendous amount in himself. That is how he was playing all year long since he became an NBA player. It is fun and for sure special. I’m glad that rookie is on our team.”
HEAT FEATS
Miami’s 22-8 record is the franchise’s best 30-game mark to start a season since opening 23-7 in 2013-14, which was LeBron James’ final season in Miami.
Butler doesn’t seem impressed.
“I think our record should be better than that, to tell you the truth,” Butler said. “I think a lot of guys around this locker-room would agree with that. We let some games slip away. We weren’t locked in in a couple games. I don’t think anyone is content with whatever we are. We have a long way to go if we want to get to where we want to get to.”
▪ Reinstated from suspension on Tuesday morning, Dion Waiters resumed workouts at AmericanAirlines Arena and is expected to practice with the team on Thursday.
▪ Butler has been listed as a forward on the All-Star ballot, perhaps making it more likely he will be a reserve than a starter.
▪ Bam Adebayo has 18 double-doubles in 30 games after producing 18 combined in his first two seasons in league, covering 152 games.
▪ Adebayo has had 12 games this season with at least 10 rebounds and five assists. Only Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (15) and Denver’s Nikola Jokic (13) entered Wednesday with more such games this season. Dallas’ Luka Doncic also has 12.
▪ Heat center Meyers Leonard has reached double figures in rebounds in consecutive games for only the second time in his career; the other was in April 2015.
▪ Heat swingman Duncan Robinson’s franchise-record streak of making multiple threes ended Monday at 14 consecutive games.
▪ The Heat on Monday tied the 1993-2002 Knicks for seventh in NBA history on the list of consecutive regular-season and playoff sellouts, with 433. Portland owns the longest streak at 814.
Miami’s streak, which started in April 2010, is the second-longest active streak in the league, behind Dallas’ ongoing 801-game streak.
▪ The Heat, which is a league-best 13-1 at home, returns to practice on Thursday after two days off and hosts an uncommon back-to-back set of home games Friday against Indiana and Saturday against Philadelphia.
This story was originally published December 25, 2019 at 1:00 PM.
