In light of the Miami Heat’s loss of Caleb Martin to the Philadelphia 76ers, lineup adjustments will be necessary. In order to make up for the loss of another rotation player, Miami is counting on youngster Kel’el Ware to contribute significantly and for Jamie Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic to continue developing this coming season. Erik Spoelstra is not short of choices. Here are three possible lineups for the next campaign.
A strong lineup
Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic, and Bam Adebayo would be Miami’s strongest offensive line-up.
Miami’s maximum spacing would be this. They will provide Butler and Adebayo excellent spacing since they have two outstanding shooters and Jovic is starting to play better from the three. Adebayo might also turn into a danger to spread the floor after he tried his hand at 3-point shooting at the close of the previous campaign.
Butler’s best work for Miami comes when he plays in space, but this lineup is more than just spacing. It is a particularly dangerous offensive option because all five individuals are capable of handling and passing the ball.
Lineup for defense
It would be interesting to have a massive lineup that included Jimmy Butler, Kel’el Ware, Bam Adebayo, Haywood Highsmith, and Jaime Jaquez Jr.
They are able to protect the paint with length and switch between 1 and 5.
With Martin gone, Jaquez will have to improve his defensive skills even more. Jaquez possesses the ability to be a strong defender.
As a perimeter defender, Butler is unmatched when he’s focused, reading passing routes and forcing turnovers. The best wing defender in Miami is Highsmith, who can stop players like Jayson Tatum and others.
Adebayo could disrupt opposing possessions as a weak-side defender who can fly in for blocks and contests if he were moved to the four. Adebayo can defend forwards just as well, and he could demonstrate his versatility if he were to give up time to do so while playing power forward.
Ware is the wild card, of course. Miami hasn’t had a 7-footer with this level of athleticism in a long time. He’s large, but his defence is underdeveloped. Ware offers the Heat’s coaching staff a shot blocker who can clear the paint and pull down defensive rebounds at a high rate of efficiency if they can get him up to speed quickly.
Final Lineup
Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., or Haywood Highsmith, and Terry Rozier.
Miami’s final lineups will probably depend on the game’s matchups and the player with the best record. At least one player needs to be on the court in order to provide shooting and playmaking skills when Terry Rozier or Tyler Herro are playing well. Defensively, playing both of Miami’s smaller guards might be problematic. Because of the space he creates, Duncan Robinson might be on the floor, particularly if the threes are falling.
Robinson, Herro, and Rozier are the Heat’s starting five players; the other three must be excellent defenders. Jovic offers size, playmaking, and floor spacing; Highsmith offers defence and spacing. Highsmith is already starting, but if Jovic keeps getting better on defence, he might replace him.
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