"The Miami Heat offense has been a breath of fresh air through three games. Against the Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks, the Heat have posted the league's 12th-best offense with the ninth-highest effective field goal percentage and eighth-best true shooting percentage. So far, they have operated at the league's fastest pace, a point of emphasis heading into the 2025-26 season."
"That's how many pick-and-rolls the Heat have run through three games, according to the NBA's Synergy tracking data. Moreover, they're operating in PNRs at the league's lowest frequency (8.7 percent), which would be the lowest since the league started tracking it in 2015-16 if that mark sustains itself over a full 82-game season. For perspective, the lowest ever was the 2019-20 Houston Rockets."
"Playing at a rapid pace has forced the Heat to play more in isolation. It's prevented stagnation in the halfcourt - which they have been prone to over the last three seasons, thus leading to inefficient offense - while rewarding them with cross-matches they can exploit and more space to penetrate downhill. Even when Miami is forced to pull the lever back, it's getting into its offense with at least 18 seconds left on the clock, instead of ~14-16."
The Miami Heat have produced a top-12 offense through three games, ranking ninth in effective field goal percentage and eighth in true shooting percentage. The team has operated at the league's fastest pace, prioritizing early possessions and space creation. That faster pace has coincided with a sharp reduction in on-ball pick-and-rolls, resulting in only 32 PNRs through three games and an 8.7 percent PNR frequency. Reduced ball-screen use has led to more isolation actions, fewer halfcourt stagnations, more cross-match opportunities, and greater room to attack downhill. Miami is also initiating its offense earlier in the shot clock, around 18 seconds remaining.
Read at Hot Hot Hoops - Miami HEAT NBA Blog
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