3 reasons why Miami Heat's defense has improved since a slow start

An up-and-down start to the Miami Heat’s season is balancing out as the team restores its defensive identity. 

At 6-7, Miami sits one game under .500 and entereds Thursday ranked fifth in the East. It doesn’t play again until the Dallas Mavericks visit on Sunday. Considering the rightful frustrations behind a few late-game miscues and blown leads, things could be worse — and they’ve already started improving.

On the surface, Miami’s 11th-ranked defense seems standard, but it had a rough start to the season as head coach Erik Spoelstra assessed his ideal lineups. After losing 135-122 to the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 8, the Heat ranked only 20th in points allowed per 100 possessions while allowing opponents to corral more than half of the available rebound opportunities. That doesn’t compute for a Spo-coached squad, so it’s only right Miami has since gone to the drawing board and reassessed a few things.

Let’s examine the most vital differences in Miami’s defense since Nov. 10.

Highsmith’s Helping Hands

Since that Denver loss, Haywood Highsmith has been a fixture in the Heat starting lineup. Miami has three wins in that span, during which the 27-year-old has averaged averaged nearly eight points while shooting 51.9 percent overall and 50 percent from deep.

Since we’re discussing defense, though, let’s discuss the buckets he relishes limiting. He’s averaging a team-high 1.8 steals and 5.4 deflections per game, trailing only Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels (6.0) for the NBA lead in that span.

Highsmith is often tasked with guarding an opponent’s best scorer, which allows Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler to be more defensively versatile. Opponents are shooting only 43.8 percent on nearly 13 shot attempts when guarded by Highsmith, according to NBA.com’s tracking data.

Highsmith played a vital role in the Heat holding Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards to a season-worst 8-of-24 shooting (including a 4-of-14 mark from deep) on Nov. 10. Highsmith gave Minnesota’s leading man nothing but bad options whenever they matched up, using hard closeouts or active hands in helping teammates.

In Miami’s last five games, its opponents are shooting far better when Haywood sits on the bench (50.6 percent) than when he’s played (43.6 percent), per NBA.com.

“It’s fun for sure,” Highsmith said. “I like to guard guys and make it hard for them to score. These are superstar, All-Star-type players, so it says a lot about Spo trusting in me to put me on those guys. And I’m all about defense, so I accept the challenge. There’s no better feeling for me than just getting a stop, whatever.”

Collective Efforts

Few things speak more to Miami’s identity than a bench contributor’s willingness to step in at a moment’s notice. Players of this ilk, like Dru Smith, Alec Burks and Kevin Love, have been key to the Heat enjoying three wins in the last five games.

Smith has played only 52 minutes this season, but he’s held opponents to just 32 percent shooting in his appearances. Against the 76ers on Monday, Burks held Philly scorers to 2-of-7 shooting after not playing since Nov. 6. The 76ers scored just 48.6 points per 100 possessions in the pair’s 17 minutes together, which can give Spoelstra more perimeter options to keep sharpening Miami’s defense.

Smith, in particular, is adept at being active on defense without fouling. He registered two steals in about a minute on Monday, both of which led to transition opportunities for Tyler Herro. On the season, Miami ranks fourth among all teams with 18.7 deflections per game and ninth in fast-break points (17.1). Since Nov. 10, only the Houston Rockets (22.3) have averaged more of the latter than the Heat (21.0).

Love, meanwhile, has helped Miami improve its rebounding since becoming a rotation fixture in recent games. The 36-year-old trails only Adebayo for the team lead in rebounds since Nov. 10. He’s played alongside Adebayo for 47 minutes in that span, during which the Heat have outscored teams by 4.2 points per 100 possessions. Love’s size helps further bolster Miami’s frontcourt and gives the Heat a sound anchor whenever Adebayo isn’t on the court.

In this clip against the Pacers, Love was caught on an island when guarding a pick-and-roll, but his footwork and body control allowed him to contest T.J. McConnell’s drive without fouling.

The Bam Effect

Not to doubt Spoelstra, but there is no way for the Heat to craft a credible defense without its team captain as a consistent anchor. During this turnaround, Adebayo has refused to allow Miami’s defense to bottom out after its slow start.

In the team’s last five games, the five-time All-Defense selection has played 193 out of a possible 245 minutes. The team’s defensive efficiency falls off a cliff when he’s sat (122.1 points allowed per 100 possessions, would undoubtedly rank last over a season) compared to his time on the court (101.3, would rank first) because Adebayo often provides good things to Miami.

In this example, as Highsmith guarded Joel Embiid on the perimeter, Adebayo blitzed with defensive help to force the bad pass that Butler finished with a takeaway. Adebayo’s comfort with playing away from the rim provides the Heat with many ways to confuse opponents.

Fortunately for the Heat, their defensive anchor can also spoil offenses’ fun when left on an island, thanks to his timing, quick feet and active hands. Adebayo finished this win over the Pacers with a season-high five steals, one shy of his career-high.

Later in the game, Adebayo gave Pacers forward Obi Toppin utter fits as the latter tried to wiggle for a basket. Adebayo had other plans, though. He closed out on Toppin’s 3-point attempt before backtracking to impede a lob attempt.

Over the last five games, Adebayo is holding opposing scorers to 37.9 percent shooting. He’s the center of Miami’s defensive resurgence in recent games and will need to continue to be. If the Heat have any ambition of climbing the East standings as the season progresses, it will begins on defense.

( Top photo: Issac Baldizon / Getty Images )