The Heat committed $195 million to revamp their starting 5, and now they're dominating
- The Heat committed $195 million to Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, and PJ Tucker this offseason.
- The Heat are now 6-1, with the league's best point differential.
The Miami Heat's busy summer is paying off so far.
The Heat are 6-1, 1st in the East, with the league's best point differential, outscoring opponents by a whopping 16.4 points per 100 possessions.
Their two biggest free-agent signings - Kyle Lowry and P.J. Tucker - have bolstered their starting lineup with speed, shooting, defense, and hustle. Lowry, who was signed to a three-year, $90 million contract, was perhaps the biggest free agent signing off the offseason. Tucker signed a considerably smaller two-year, $15 million deal, but one that still resonated in the league, as Tucker is the type of defensive-minded, floor-spacing big man NBA teams desire.
The Heat also re-signed Duncan Robinson to a five-year, $90 million contract. While Robinson started all 72 games for the Heat last season, it was still a massive commitment to continuity and the valuable spacing Robinson brings as one of the NBA's best shooters. It was the biggest contract ever signed by an undrafted player.
The Heat's starting five of Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, Robinson, Tucker, and Bam Adebayo has smoked opponents this year - the lineup has a net rating of 7.4. The lineup had an even more impressive net rating of 13.7 entering Tuesday's meeting against the Dallas Mavericks. A slow start lowered the number, but the Heat still rallied back to win by 15 points.
Lowry and Tucker have been particularly impactful. With Tucker on the floor, the Heat have outscored opponents by 22 points per 100 possessions, while they've outscored opponents by 20 points per 100 possessions with Lowry on the floor - massive figures.
Lowry, in particular, has added an important element to the Heat offense: speed.
The Heat rank third in fastbreak points this year at 16.3 per game. Last year, they ranked 16th with 11 per game.
With Lowry, Butler, Tucker, and Adebayo, the Heat have a snarling defense that's giving up the fewest points in the league.
The above clip starts with LaMelo Ball mid-drive. But look at where he is: in mid-air, surrounded by four defenders, with hardly any outlets. It's a miracle his pass made its way to Miles Bridges. The play ends in a contested Cody Martin 20-footer, hardly the shot the Hornets would have drawn up.
"We're just flying around and just trying to get the job done," Adebayo told The Miami Herald. "We've got a lot of guys that just want to win at the end of the day, and they'll do anything to get that win - diving out of bounds, diving for a loose ball, getting on the floor. And we're doing it together, and as a collective unit, and it's paying off for us."
The revamped starting lineup has also pushed third year guard Tyler Herro the bench, adding a dynamic scorer who can lead second units.
Through seven games, Herro is averaging 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, while shooting a scorching 41% from three. The Heat have outscored opponents by 18 points per 100 possessions with Herro on the floor, the fourth-best mark of any regular rotation member. He has jumped to the front of the Sixth Man of the Year race.
Like Lowry, Herro has been instilled with a grab-it-and-go mentality.
It's early, but the Heat have established themselves as potential contenders. They've already trounced the Milwaukee Bucks to open their season and recently beat the star-studded Brooklyn Nets in Brooklyn.
It's encouraging when a team incorporation two new big pieces can jell so quickly. With plenty of shooting, half-court creators, and a relentless, competitive defense, Miami has the makings of a postseason threat.