Are The Miami Heat Underrated?

Overtime Heroics Editorial

2136 days ago

The NBA season is just a few weeks old, and teams are starting to take shape. Some teams have overachieved, some have struggled. One team that has been consistent is the Miami Heat. Even despite Jimmy Butler missing the first few games, the Heatles have played really well. They have beaten quality teams such as Milwaukee and Houston. They have also beaten teams they should like Memphis and Atlanta. So what are the biggest reasons for this hot start and their 5-1 record?

Balanced Scoring

This team is just beating teams with so many different players. They currently have seven players averaging over 10 points per game (8 if you include James Johnson’s 17 in his one game this year). Even off-season acquisition Myers Leonard is averaging 8.8 points and 5.7 rebounds as well. The biggest reason for this balanced scoring? They move the ball well, averaging 27 assists per game which is 3rd highest in the NBA. It’s tough to stop a team when you are getting beat by so many players.

Rookies Stepping Up

Image result for kendrick nunn & tyler herro" — The Heats rookie duo

All of the talks before the season about Heat rookies centered around Tyler Herro: and don’t get me wrong Herro has been great, averaging over 15 points per game. But the big story in South Beach is the emergence of Kendrick Nunn. Nunn leads the team in scoring with over 19 points per game. He is doing so shooting 48% from the field and a blistering 44% from three-point range. If Nunn and Herro continue to play well, look out for this team all year long.

Strong D To The Fence

The Heat quite simply has locked teams up all year. I said in my season preview that the Heat was intense defensively last year, and they continue to be this season. The Heat went from seventh best a year ago to being fourth even without Hassan Whiteside. They have done so by averaging seven blocks per game, which is second-best in the league. Steals wise, they average ten, which is the third-highest. Erik Spoelstra continues to be a phenomenal coach and has the Miami Heat playing some gritty defense.

What To Expect This Week

This week will provide us with a better analysis of what this team could be throughout the season. The Heat was able to beat the Bucks in overtime, but the rest of the teams they played are nothing special. They have three games this week, all on the road, and against teams that are performing well. They open with the Nuggets before they visit Phoenix and the Lakers. I expect the Heat to go 2-1 this week, despite their opponents being a combined 14-5 on the year. The Suns have over-performed, so I expect them to take that game, as well as their game against Denver. The Miami Heat will be 7-2 at the end of this week.

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