After many stressful, close games, here’s a question Heat’s Spoelstra has given thought to
Watching Heat games was a harrowing, edge-of-seat experience essentially two-thirds of the time last season, with the game’s outcome not determined until the final minutes.
The Heat played 54 clutch games last season, defined by the NBA as games with a margin of five points or fewer in the final five minutes.
That was second-most in the league, one behind Dallas’ 55.
The Heat went 32-22 in those “clutch” minutes games.
The Heat also tied the single-season NBA record for the most wins by five points or less with 24 such victories in the regular season.
Heat players said that large volume of close games ultimately helped them handle tense moments during their run to the NBA Finals.
Asked this week if he wants 65 percent of the team’s games to be “clutch” games again this season, coach Erik Spoelstra said that’s a topic that actually has crossed his mind.
“That’s such an interesting question,” he said. “I thought about that this summer. If I could map that out and you could guarantee we would be in the playoffs, I would take a year like last year every time. You go through so much as a group; it builds fortitude that you need in the playoffs, but it’s a harrowing ride and often times can be frustrating if you’re dealing with that.
“Certainly a balance [is ideal], enough of a balance where it’s keeping your team on edge and sharp. We’ll see how it plays out. If it’s not a close game and in our favor [in Wednesday night’s opener against visiting Detroit], I’d be happy with that, too.”
Heat players are fine with another big batch of close games if it again produces a positive residual impact in the playoffs.
“Those games translated to the end of the season,” Caleb Martin said this week. “I wouldn’t change it if it ends up finishing how we finished. It puts you in situations to learn how to figure things out late game and rely on each other a lot more and really have to lock in. That’s what we did.”
Last season, Tyler Herro led the Heat in clutch minutes plus/minus at plus 96, meaning the Heat outscored teams by 96 points (in 154 minutes) when Herro was on the court during the final five minutes of games with a margin of five points or fewer.
Bam Adebayo was second at plus 87, with Martin third at plus 51.
Jimmy Butler scored the Heat’s most clutch points (151 in 159 minutes), with Herro second at 110.
Adebayo was the Heat’s best shooter from the field in the clutch at 58 percent (29 for 50), with Butler also very good in that regard, at 50.5 percent (48 for 95).
Aside from Duncan Robinson’s 1 for 2 shooting, Herro was the Heat’s best three-point shooter in the clutch, closing at 38.8 percent (19 for 49).
The Heat player who shot worst in the clutch, Max Strus, is now with Cleveland. He shot 9 for 33 (27.3 percent) from the field and 28.6 percent on threes (8 for 28).
THIS AND THAT
▪ What does Adebayo like more about this year’s team than last year’s?
“We are coming into this season surprising a lot of people,” he said Tuesday. “Same way that happened to Gabe [Vincent and Strus], where you all didn’t all know who their names were and they were trying to prove themselves throughout the season. I feel that’s going to happen again this year.”
Who specifically will do that?
“Cole Swider,” Adebayo said.
Swider’s two-way contract limits his NBA appearances to no more than 50.
▪ Though expected starter Kevin Love has made clear he’s perfectly content coming off the bench if that’s eventually asked of him, he indicated there’s still something rewarding about starting – something he has done in 679 of 847 NBA appearances - “especially on a night like opening night.”
▪ According to Betonline.com, more people are betting that the Heat will win fewer games than their over/under total (44 1/2) than they’re betting the “under” on any other team in the league except Milwaukee, whose over/under is 54 1/2.
▪ While the Heat will be without Haywood Highsmith (knee) and Josh Richardson (foot) for Wednesday’s opener, the Pistons announced Tuesday they will begin the season without Bojan Bogdanovic (out at least four week with a calf injury), Monte Morris (quad), and Isaiah Livers (ankle).
▪ With half of ESPN’s regular NBA announcers working college football on Saturday and Mike Breen busy with a Knicks MSG Network assignment, ESPN will use Beth Mowins on play-by-play, alongside its co-lead analyst Doris Burke on the Heat’s first national TV appearance of the season, Friday at Boston.
Eric Reid and John Crotty call the game on Bally Sports Sun.
