5 Biggest Takeaways from Miami Heat's 1st Half of the Season
The first year of the post-LeBron James era for the Miami Heat surely hasn't gone to plan.
The Heat find themselves with a hugely disappointing 20-26 record, good for seventh place in a terrible Eastern Conference.
Still, there's generally a lot that can be learned from a team's failures, and that's certainly the case for Miami.
Let's examine the five biggest lessons we've learned from the Heat's play during the first half of the season.
The Heat's Point Guard Situation Is a Problem
1 of 5
The Heat's point guard play has been nothing short of awful this season.
Among Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole and Shabazz Napier, neither has separated from the pack, and each has struggled more often than not.
Chalmers, the starter, is on-pace for a career-best 10.9 points per game, but he has been an inefficient scorer.
He's done a fine job at the rim (46.2 FG% on drives), but his shot has been off this season, and he's shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 27.4 percent from beyond the arc. The three-point shooting is especially disappointing; he was the Heat's most efficient three-point shooter last season at 38.5 percent.
The reckless aspect of his game has also been on display far more than the Heat would like it to be.
As for Cole, now in his fourth year, it's becoming exceedingly clear that he will never be a talented offensive player.
Cole can't create for others at a high rate (3.3 APG) or score efficiently from anywhere on the floor (38.8 FG%, 24.2 3P%). He can cut it on the defensive end, but his lack of offensive game is crippling.
Shabazz Napier is a rookie, so ups and downs were expected. Still, his play has left a lot to be desired. He's averaging 5.1 points (37.5 FG%, 36.4 3P%) and 2.2 assists in 20.8 minutes per night. His command of the offense, distributing skills and shot all need work if he is to make it in the NBA.
The Heat desperately need this trio to perform at a higher level because the team can't afford to continue getting so little from the point guard position.
The Heat's Backup Shooting Guard Situation Is an Even Bigger Problem
2 of 5
Miami is 46 games into its season and doesn't have a backup shooting guard. It's almost hard to believe, but it's true.
This lack of depth has hurt the Heat all season long, requiring guys such as Mario Chalmers and James Ennis to routinely play out of position.
This would be an issue for any team, but it's especially problematic for a Heat team whose starting shooting guard, Dwyane Wade, is injury-prone.
Wade is expected to be out for at least the next 2-3 weeks with a hamstring injury, according to Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald, meaning the Heat's shooting guard options for the foreseeable future are Chalmers, Ennis and Tyler Johnson. That simply won't cut it.
Pat Riley needs to get on the phone and start talking trade with some other teams because Miami needs to get another shooting guard, so it can not only survive this Wade-less stretch, but so that it can also put together a more typical rotation when he returns.
Injuries Have Helped to Derail the Heat's Season
3 of 5
The Heat have been absolutely decimated by injuries this season and there's no greater proof of that than the following two statistics:
Stat No. 1: In 46 games, the Heat have used 19 starting lineups.
Stat No. 2: The Heat's preseason projected starting lineup of Chalmers, Wade, Luol Deng, Josh McRoberts and Chris Bosh shared the court for just 34 minutes this season.
It's hard to think of a team that's been more consistently banged-up by injuries than the Heat. Bosh summed up the impact of the Heat's injury issues quite well to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
"The most disappointing thing is we're not even having a chance to be at full strength, to even see what we could do. Not 100 percent, but just at least have most of our guys. It just seems like every time we're about to turn the corner, there's a drawback. And it is what it is. I can't really say anything else.
"
Continuity, especially in a transition year like the Heat are in, is crucial. Unfortunately for Miami, it's had anything but continuity throughout this difficult season.
The Heat Aren't Threats in the East
4 of 5
Miami entered the season with fairly high expectations, even after losing LeBron. Many pegged the Heat as a mid-level playoff seed, some even thought they could earn a top-three playoff seed.
It's clear now that those predictions will be way off.
The Heat are the No. 7 seed right now, and that's about where they'll stay for the rest of the season, which is more of a testament to how bad the East is than it is about the Heat performing like a playoff-worthy team.
This is a below-average unit. Outside of Wade, Bosh, Deng and Hassan Whiteside, there simply isn't a lot of talent on this team. It says something unflattering about this team's depth that Bosh and Wade are deserved All-Stars, yet the Heat are six games under .500.
As it stands right now, the Heat are destined to be an easy first-round exit.
Hassan Whiteside Is the Real Deal
5 of 5
During a season in which just about everything has gone wrong for Miami, Hassan Whiteside has proven to be the diamond in the rough.
A 2010 Sacramento Kings second-round draft pick that hadn't played in an NBA game since the 2011-12 season before this season, Whiteside has emerged as one of the Heat's best players since being called up from the D-League in December.
Whiteside was truly dominant in January, averaging 13.0 points (67.0 FG%), 10.6 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game. Among his highlights: A 23-point, 16-rebound showing against the Los Angeles Clippers, a 14-point, 13-rebound, 12-block triple-double against the Chicago Bulls and a 16-point, 24-rebound (14 in the first quarter) performance against the Dallas Mavericks.
While he surely didn't have a traditional rise to prominence, there's no denying that this 7-footer can play.
It's still early, but the 25-year-old appears to have an extremely bright future ahead of him. If nothing else, the Heat discovered Whiteside this season, making it not as disastrous of a year than it might seem.
Note: All stats from NBA.com.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
