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The Miami Heat continued their hot start to the 2021/22 campaign on Tuesday night as they cruised to a dominant 125-110 victory over Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. Tyler Herro led the way with 25 points to help Miami extend their win streak to five games.
Here are 3 takeaways from the Heat's performance.
3. Balanced attack
Erik Spoelstra's squad was electrifying offensively against the Mavs. We know they've been one of the best all-around teams in the Association early on and it showed on Tuesday. Four different players registered at least 22 points for the first time in franchise history. Herro had 25, Jimmy Butler dropped 23, while Kyle Lowry and Bam Adebayo added 22 apiece.
Obviously, this isn't going to happen every night. But the fact that all of these guys were able to have big games shows the chemistry and selflessness on the Heat roster. In fact, Butler, Herro, and Adebayo are all averaging over 20 points per game through the first six contests. Lowry has yet to really get going, but it was definitely a positive to see him thriving from a scoring standpoint vs. Dallas. The Heat currently sits sixth in the NBA in assists with 24.9 per night, which is a testament to their tremendous ball movement and ability to find open looks. That notion was on full display in their fifth victory of the campaign.
2. Heat continue to shoot the lights out
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Miami possesses a plethora of shooters on their roster. From Duncan Robinson to Herro to Lowry, there are lots of options out on the perimeter. Spoelstra's group has thrived from everywhere on the floor to this point, too. On Tuesday, the Heat shot a ridiculous 52% from downtown and the field, with Lowry draining six three-pointers, while Herro sank 3 of 6. Miami is seventh in the league with a solid 36.7 three-point percentage and a 47% clip from the field, which is also top-five.
Again, it comes back to their ability to facilitate the rock and get the best looks imaginable. Sure, the Heat were scorching hot on Tuesday, but they don't settle for a half-hearted shot. Comradery is key for a team that has championship aspirations.
1. Herro really has a point to prove
Herro didn't take the step the Heat were hoping in Year Two, but he's definitely showing out this season. The third-year guard is averaging 22.4 points, six rebounds, and 4.4 assists off the bench while draining 40% of his long-range attempts. The former Kentucky standout was in his bag on Tuesday, running the offense on numerous occasions. Not only did he pour in a team-high 25, but he was thriving in every way imaginable. Pull-ups, open looks, fadeaways, you name it. Herro couldn't miss a shot. The 21-year-old also showed impressive playmaking abilities and did a good job of getting his teammates involved.
Herro voiced recently that he deserves to be in the conversation with guys like Doncic and Trae Young. The confidence he's playing with right now could have him in the same category by the season's end. The Heat were expecting big things from him in 2021/22 and so far, Herro is delivering. With Butler and Adebayo proving to be the leading catalysts in South Beach, the development of Herro as the potential third star is going to be huge for Miami to be a legitimate Finals contender in 2022.
