3 Heat players who need to step up to lift Miami out of the play-in race.
With just nine games left to go in the regular season, the Miami Heat control their own destiny when it comes to avoiding the play-in tournament for a second straight season. The Heat are jockeying with the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers for seeds 6-8.
The sixth seed for the Heat is obtainable, and while the Heat have been having one of the most injury-riddled seasons in franchise history, they still have a chance to right the ship. The play-in tournament is dangerous, and last year is a testament to that. They were very close to being knocked out by the Chicago Bulls after having lost to the Atlanta Hawks.
Even though players are popping up on the injury report for what seems like every other game, the Heat still have some guys who need to either step up their level of play or maintain what they have going right now. If these players can raise their play, it could be enough to secure themselves a playoff spot.
3. Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The first player who needs to step up his play is Jaime Jaquez Jr. He’s been struggling since he came back from an injury in February, but the injury plus the inevitable rookie wall has made it a tough look for him. Maybe the most concerning thing is that the struggle has been consistent and as it gets close to postseason time, that’s one guy the Heat cannot afford to have play poorly.
Over the past five games that he’s played, he has an average of 9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game on 34 percent shooting from the floor and 22 percent from three on nearly 4 attempts. Putting it all together with a true shooting percentage of 42.7 percent, which is extremely bad, to say the least.
Getting a young guy like Jaquez into rhythm will be difficult because an 82-game season isn’t something he’s experienced yet. It does seem a little ridiculous for the team to miss his energy and production that much, but then again, it’s really not.
When active with a healthy feel of the game, he came up big and even found himself closing games. They miss his sneaky back door cuts, the crafty finishes around the rim, the extra passes that generate open looks for shooters, these are all things that this team is missing right now and it shows not only in the win/loss column, but just off pure eye test as well.
If Jaquez can regroup and figure things out, there’s no reason they can’t beat up on these bad teams and even catch some of the other teams in the play-in/playoff race off guard.
2. Haywood Highsmith
The next player who needs to sustain his play is Haywood Highsmith. It’s been a tricky season for Haywood as he’s either been starting, coming off the bench, or getting DNPs. However, he definitely followed Udonis Haslem’s advice, “Be ready so you don’t have to get ready.” Boy, has he been great over these past five games?
Haywood is averaging 9 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game. Looking at these numbers they seem similar to Jaquez, but the game is coming naturally to Haywood and doesn’t feel as forced. He’s shooting 64 percent from the floor and an impressive 66 percent from three on three attempts per game. The shooting has been great to see as for the season he’s a 39 percent three-point shooter.
The three-point shooting could be real, or it could be fake, you never really know with the Miami Heat, but even if it is fake, they just need it to be fake for a couple more games until they clear the play-in tournament. Being a defensive nuisance is huge for the Heat considering their lack of perimeter defenders. That was never the issue, but the spacing was and if teams have to respect his shot, that opens the lane for not only Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, but Jaquez as well. See how everything connects?
Highsmith being a legitimate threat from three with his elite defense will earn him minutes. Just as the Miami Heat do, he controls his destiny as well. If he feels he should be playing, prove it. He’ll have more opportunities to continue his much-needed play in key games later on against the Pacers, Knicks, and 76ers.
1. Jimmy Butler
The last player who drastically needs to step up his level of play is a no-brainer. It’s Jimmy Butler. The Heat need “Playoff Jimmy” just a bit earlier than expected. His past five games have been rough as he’s averaging 18 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds per game. Butler is shooting 46 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range on 2 attempts per game. Not incredible, but not bad either. Just meh.
“Just meh” could also probably be the slogan for Butler’s 2023-24 NBA season. He’s just been ok. He’s had his stinkers, he’s had games where you think he’s back and he’s warning the NBA, and then back to mediocre play. This usually is the case, but not quite to this extent. Either way, he has 10 games to get this team out of the play-in.
Yes, other guys need to play well, but it all comes back to 22. You need more and with a super weak schedule with some good teams sprinkled in here and there, you need “Playoff Jimmy” present for all of them. The Heat gain nothing being a 7 or 8 seed. So, why not go out and get the job done, and you get a week off to plan for either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the New York Knicks instead of the 60-win Boston Celtics?
Butler playing well instills confidence, we see it all the time. He can’t control anyone else’s play, but he can influence and dictate what’s working. If there was ever a time for Butler to start caring about the regular season, it’s now.