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The Miami Heat sit atop the highly competitive Eastern Conference at the All-Star break with a 38-21 record. The Heat were in the NBA Finals two seasons ago and are trying to make it back against many other contenders.
Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are the team's stars, with great depth and role players surrounding them. Kyle Lowry was a major addition in free agency that has set up the Heat for a deep postseason run. Having a good roster is one thing, but building great chemistry and a strong culture is another.
Heat president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra have built the culture well, with all players buying in. The Heat are predicated on their hard work and disciplined habits on and off the floor. The roster is constructed with players who fit this mold, most notably Butler, Adebayo, and Lowry.
While most guys on the team have played at a high level this season, one player on the roster has a ton to improve. He is the one Heat player with the most to prove after the All-Star break.
Duncan Robinson
Robinson was once one of the best shooters in the NBA but has struggled to be consistent this season. But although he has been inconsistent, he can get back on track in a flash. This season, he is averaging 11.8 points per game on 39.8% shooting from the field and 36.4% from long distance.
The 2019-20 season was by far his best campaign, as he was crucial for the Heat's run to the NBA Finals. He averaged 13.5 points per game on 47.0% shooting from the field and 44.6% from behind the arc.
Robinson is in the first year of his five-year, $90 million deal, and he needs to step up his play. His contract seemed fair at the onset, but his performance this season has not warranted that much money. He will need to pick up his play in their remaining games and into the NBA Playoffs to prove his worth.
Butler is having another great season and can help Robinson get back on track. Butler is one of the best leaders in the NBA and is excellent at getting the most out of the players around him. He is averaging 21.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per contest. Butler is also one of the top defensive players in the league, averaging 1.8 steals per game.
Butler takes the defense's attention, which creates more open looks for Robinson. However, those open looks have not been as frequent, with more and more defenses keying in on him from three-point territory. Robinson needs to increase his efficiency to get back to being one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA.
The Heat still have a long season ahead. There are multiple teams in the Eastern Conference that can win the title, including the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Brooklyn Nets. There are also dark horse teams that could make a run, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Toronto Raptors. With so many talented squads, the Heat won't have any easy trip to the NBA Finals.
Robinson's play will be vital down the stretch as one of the Heat's best shooters. If he can get going, they will be a difficult team to knock out.
