Author: Monojit Mandal
The Miami Heat’s path to the NBA Finals took an unexpected turn when point guard Tyler Herro broke his right hand in the first round. With their main player out, the team’s chances against the struggling Milwaukee Bucks have increased. However, the Heat disappointed expectations by performing spectacularly in the post-season, earning a place in the finals.
The Heat had a tough fight against the Bucks, who were in first place after Herro’s injury. Despite winning the first game of the series, Milwaukee tied the score in Game 2, taking advantage of the absence of franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo. Miami relied heavily on Herro’s scoring abilities throughout the regular season, and with a 44-38 record and a lackluster offense, his injury looked to be a major setback for their postseason prospects.
Surprisingly, Heat found their rhythm again in the following games. Duncan Robinson, who didn’t play a single second in Game 1, emerged as a crucial contributor in Game 3, scoring 20 points in just 23 minutes. The team kept up its strong play, winning Game 4 with an incredible 56-point effort from Jimmy Butler and vital assists from Caleb Martin. Butler shone once again in Game 5, scoring 42 points and helping the Heat win in overtime. Gabe Vincent and Kevin Love were also instrumental in surprising the Bucks and repeating Miami’s triumph in the 2020 playoffs.
The Heat’s dominance took them to the NBA Finals, where they beat the New York Knicks and surprised the second-placed Boston Celtics. Six weeks after surgery, Herro is expected to return in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, according to Bill Reiter of CBS Sports. However, the team now has the difficulty of reintroducing its main playmaker and, at the same time, maintaining the cohesion and balance that took them to the finals.
Herro’s departure brought unexpected benefits for Heat. The club established a new offensive rhythm, with Butler taking on a bigger attacking role and players like Martin, Vincent, Robinson and Max Strus standing out. In addition, the coaching staff was effective in adjusting the rotation, turning Miami into an excellent defensive club. As Celtics president Brad Stevens noted during his end-of-season press conference, suffocating defense and ball pressure have become a major obstacle for opponents.
The Heat are in an intriguing situation as they prepare for the playoffs. Although Herro’s return is expected to strengthen the squad, the team must carefully consider how this will affect their dynamic against a tough opponent. Miami managed to find a winning formula and unleash their defensive power due to the absence of their shooting guard. Balancing Herro’s reintegration with the team’s sudden success will be a critical task for the coaching staff, who will be looking to dethrone their Finals opponents and win the NBA title.