Progress report for the Heat roster

NEW ORLEANS — At the quarter pole, there was a 15-6 record. At the season’s midpoint, it was 29-12 for the Miami Heat. Now, with 20 games remaining in the 82-game regular-season grind, the record stands at 40-22.

It seemingly all is back trending the right way, with Erik Spoelstra’s team on a four-game winning streak heading into Friday night’s road game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

“There is still plenty of time left,” Spoelstra said. “When you start the season, you think that when you get to the 20-game mark you would have an idea what direction your team

is going. It still feels like we have a lot of time before the playoffs and we have a lot of ground to cover.

“I want to see us get to another level of consistency. We lately have been playing with a high level of intensity and focus.”

With the latest grades in, there has been a shift for the Heat, one that extends beyond the roster alterations during the third quarter of the season.

So this time, no grades for Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson, those assessments now left to others.

But this latest Heat report card also is about more than the additions of Andre Iguodala and Jae Crowder. It also is about growth from within, and, in some cases, stunted growth.

A+

Bam Adebayo: Arguably the best grading period in the 6-foot-9 center’s three seasons, when considering he shows up for work every night and shows out in every game on both sides of the ball.

Midseason grade: A. Firstquarter grade: A.

A

Jimmy Butler: Injuries and absences somewhat reduced the contributions from the 6-foot-7 veteran over the season’s third quarter. And while the Heat are not solely looking for scoring from Butler, there are concerns about that element heading into the stretch run. Midseason grade: A+. Firstquarter grade: A+.

A

Goran Dragic: The Heat second unit has proven stout since the trading deadline and a large part of that is the veteran 6-foot-3 guard holding it all together. That has included play as a closer, when it comes to scoring. Midseason grade: B+. Firstquarter grade: B+.

B+

Duncan Robinson: Recency bias with the 6-foot-7 forward? How could it not be after Wednesday night’s nine 3-pointers against the Magic? But what more can you ask from a specialist than to be very special in his specialty?

Midseason grade: C+. Firstquarter grade: B.

B+ Jae Crowder: Who knew that the apparent throw-in at the trading deadline would become such a significant rotation element? Yet, here stands the veteran 6-6 forward, doing it from the 3-point line and on defense.

B

Kendrick Nunn: To a degree, the play of the 6-foot-2 rookie guard leveled off in February. But in a way, that also represented a step forward, showing that a rocky start to February didn’t prevent a turnaround. Midseason grade: B+. Firstquarter grade: B.

B

Derrick Jones Jr.: With additional playing time has come additional contributions across the board. The concern is the consistency, with nights when it’s difficult not to notice, and others when it’s as if the 6-foot-6 forward isn’t even there. Midseason grade: B+. Firstquarter grade: C-.

B

Kelly Olynyk: As has been the case for the veteran 6-foot-11 big man throughout his Heat tenure, it has been a case of riding the wave. That wave has been on the rise over the past month or so.

Midseason grade: D. Firstquarter grade: B-.

B

Andre Iguodala: No previous Heat grades here, with the 6-foot-6 veteran forward not acquired until the Feb. 6 NBA trading deadline. But the subtle contributions cannot be denied, the type of contributions that can pay the greatest dividends during the playoffs.

C Availability

Tyler Herro: matters, and the ongoing ankle soreness has largely removed the 6-foot-5 rookie guard from the equation over the past month. There were reminders of the scoring capability, but they now stand as distant reminders. Midseason grade: B. Firstquarter grade: B.

CMeyers Leonard: C-. The numbers and contribution were down even before the 7-foot center went down with his severely sprained left ankle. Yet in his absence, it became clear how much stability he previously had offered.

Midseason grade: C-. Firstquarter grade: C.

D Chris Silva: The early-season energy from the 6-foot-8 rookie forward still is there. But now, over a larger sample size, also is the reality that the inability to avoid fouls has stunted the growth. Midseason grade: C-. Firstquarter grade: C-. Incompletes

Solomon Hill: The playing time isn’t there even with Tyler Herro and Meyers Leonard sidelined. That could leave the veteran 6-foot-6 wing in a sports coat come the playoffs.

Udonis Haslem: Mostly, same as it ever was: Provide insight on the bench, this time with a single appearance along the way for the 6-foot-8 veteran forward. And that moment against the Cavaliers was highly uneven.

Midseason grade: Incomplete.

First-quarter grade: Incomplete.

KZ Okpala: Incomplete. There were only two Heat appearances in this graded period for the 6-foot-8 rookie forward. Yet that also represented a net gain, with time in the G League exactly what the second-round pick needed.

Midseason grade: D. Firstquarter grade: Incomplete.

WILFREDO LEE/AP There has been plenty to cheer for with the Heat, who have the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference. Many players have improved since the season began.

JOHN RAOUX/AP Heat guard Tyler Herro reacts after sinking a 3-point shot against the Magic on Feb. 1.