Miami Heat Running Team USA’s Offense
Captain AmericaThere’s at least one giant obstacle for the Heat if they hope to execute the offensive system that Mike Krzyzewski implemented with Team USA: personnel. But aside from the fact that the Heat still have the majority of a roster that posted 15 wins last season (even if they are much-improved), both Dwyane Wade and Eric Spoelstra believe in borrowing the American’s “running game” philosophy.
Before Miami ventured overseas for NBA Europe Live, the alterations in their offense during practice resulted in Wade distributing the ball far more than he had been during the Pat Riley era. D-Wade led the team in assists during those practices. Last year, there might have been times when the entirety of the Heat roster (including Wade) wanted to spread the ball, but that simply wasn’t the play that was called.
“Sometimes it wasn’t our choice to give up the ball up,” said Udonis Haslem, “that’s just the plays that were called.”
But by turning towards the uptempo, fast-breaking style, Eric Spoelstra is hoping to create a system that allows Wade to score easy buckets, while also getting everyone else involved in the offense. Though Miami lost 100-92 over the weekend to the Magic, it wasn’t because of a lack of distribution. It was because some guys couldn’t make a shot. (Shawn Marion went 2-7, Chris Quinn went 2-7, Marcus Banks went 2-10, and Mark Blount went 1-4.)
Ultimately, it won’t matter what offense Miami runs if their role players shoot 25% from the field.
Sources: National Post and Sun-Sentinel
October 20th, 2008 at 9:46 am
sans says:
Damn, relegating Matrix into that role player role already? Cold.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:37 am
JOROSS GONZALES says:
1st!!!!
October 20th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Big Sia says:
Miami is straight garbage this year
D Wade is even more alone than VC
October 20th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Chosen says:
i think if d wade can maintain a strong regular season and still be available to go during the playoffs 100% then this new style of running the ball may work out especialy since marion just came from the fastest team in the league couple years ago.the only thing that bothers me is who will distribute the bal if wade is on the bench
October 20th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
kowtz says:
Ai was alone then in the sixers but he took them to the finals…
I think that’s what spoelstra is trying to do… One man show on O… tight hustle team D…
October 20th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Meica says:
This is just the way of the future for NBA ball. I personally have always believed that the Suns are overrated (and pretty much every year they prove it by chumping it up in the playoffs), but they owe their success to their fast-tempo style of play.
Look what happens when a team with talent employs that kind of play (a la the Hornets last year) and some amazing things can happen. While the Heats’ future depends on far too many unpredictable variable (especially that of their rookie play) I believe this has got to be a great move for them—or at least a great move for Dwyane Wade anyway.