Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Heat creating hope
For the team that couldn’t shoot straight, Miami’s finding the net
MIAMI — The team that couldn’t shoot straight is getting back on target.
The latest example for the Miami Heat was Wednesday night’s 127-120 victory over the New York Knicks at Miami-Dade Arena, when they closed 16 of 28 on 3-pointers.
It was the seventh time in the 15 games since the late-February All-Star break that the Heat shot 40 percent or better beyond the arc, compared to seven such performances in the team’s first 59 games.
The overall percentage for the team that led the NBA in 3-point shooting last season, at .379, is still sobering, with the Heat fifth worst in the league at .341, but the trend has been positive.
Over those 15 games since the All-Star break, the Heat are 12th in the league in 3-point percentage, at .369.
Among the changes since the All-Star break has been the addition of Kevin Love off the buyout market, the reduction in reliance on Victor Oladipo, and the scant minutes for Duncan Robinson.
But coach Erik Spoelstra sees it more as schematic, getting back to the right shots from the right places at the right times, shots taken without hesitation.
Wednesday, there were four 3-pointers from Tyler Herro, three apiece from Max Strus and Gabe Vincent, and two each from Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love and Kyle Lowry.
“The important thing is we’re getting more consistent and intentional to our identity,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat turning their attention to Saturday’s playoff-race showdown against the
Brooklyn Nets. “You can point to the threes, but it’s a symbiotic relationship. Our attack numbers are up, rim numbers are up, assist numbers are up. And you just can’t put your head down and attack and make the right plays if there’s a crowd of people waiting for you in the paint.
“So when there are those plays to be made, I think we’re really finding guys in rhythm — ball on time, on target — and guys are not passing up those looks. I think there was a stretch there for a couple of months where we were passing up some good, quality looks and then taking some tougher ones, going from great to good, or worse. And those can be deflating for your offense.”
For months, Spoelstra insisted there would be a progression to the mean.
“Right now,” he said, “there’s a better balance from our attacks and the 3-point spacing and our shooters stepping up. These guys are great shooters. They have the confidence of everybody to shoot those. And that’s helping our attack numbers go up.”
The uptick in 3-point percentage has coincided with the scoring breakout by Butler.
Not a coincidence, Spoelstra said.
“It’s synergistic,” he said. “He can’t go crashing in there if there’s 10 people in the paint. And Jimmy knows that.
“And then, once guys get to hit three or four, now the help defense isn’t as quick to get to Jimmy.”
The other race: As the Heat continue to fight for playoff seeding, their G League affiliate is down to two remaining regular-season games, with homecourt playoff advantage at stake.
Because of that, the decision was made to return Nikola Jovic, Jamal Cain and Orlando Robinson to the Sioux Falls Skyforce for the home games in South Dakota on Friday and Saturday nights against the affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies.
“We’re going for it, yeah,” Spoelstra said. “And it’s really important for their development. That’s as important as any kind of drilling that we do, or practices, weight-room work, all the stuff in between that we do. But ultimately you have to learn how to apply all that stuff to be able to impact winning.
“And we have a great opportunity to not only make the playoffs but also secure a homecourt spot. And we take that very seriously. So, yes, they will be going. And that’s fun for them, as well. It is playoff-style basketball, much like what we’re facing right now And we want those guys to have these kinds of experiences.”
Cain, who has thrived in recent G League appearances, said it’s championship or bust.
“We’re going up there to bring back a title,” he said.
Haslem time: Heat captain Udonis Haslem made an appearance Thursday at Jr. Heat Spring Camp at SLAM Miami High School, as part of the team’s “4 Days of 40” celebration of the forward’s 20 seasons with the team. The team also will hold “UD Night” Saturday, when Section 305 will be dedicated in his honor . . .
Spoelstra on Wednesday reached 700 regular-season wins as Heat coach, making him the fourth coach to reach that number with a single team, joining Gregg Popovich (1,363) with the San Antonio Spurs, Jerry Sloan (1,127) with the Utah Jazz, and Red Auerbach (795), with the Boston Celtics . . .
After scoring 35 points in Wednesday’s fourth quarter, the Heat have now scored 30 or more fourth-quarter points in eight of their last 11 games, including two reaching fourth-quarter season highs of 38.