Do the Miami Heat still have one shock left in them?

We have almost made it, the regular season is nearing the end, and it has been an interesting year for the Miami Heat. There have been lots of disappointments and a lot of nice surprises, but we are nearing the time when everything turns around for us Heat fans. As the Heat ramp up for the postseason, let’s take a look at some of the best things we have going on right now.

Terry Rozier has been dominating games as of late. The Heat made the Rozier trade with the thought that he could become another primary scorer and be a bucket-getter for a team that struggles to create their own shot. Rozier has struggled with a shot for the majority of the time with the Miami Heat, but it is started to change around and the past few games Rozier has looked phenomenal. He looks more comfortable and looks like he knows what role he needs to fulfill.  His chemistry with the other stars and even the role players looks like it should go into a postseason. They’ve worked out the kinks and things seem smooth right now.  

A perfect example of this is against the New York Knicks when Rozier went 8/11 from 3 and 10/15 from the from the field. He was flat out unstoppable and maybe the best part is, he was creating all of his own shots even though he was creating all of his own shots. It didn’t feel like he was hijacking the offense. It still felt like other people were able to get theirs, and there was a free flowing motion. It’s just when the Heat needed someone to create that shot, Rozier was there. The Knicks game was a perfect example of what he brings to this Heat team in the playoffs, a dog.

 When they need a guy to go on one and create a shot, now it doesn’t always have to be Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. With Rozier, we got a flat out bucket to back them up. I expect Rozier to play a massive role in the playoffs and he might be the X-factor to see how far the Heat go. If he plays like he has in the past few weeks, all I’m gonna say is watch out because no one and I mean no one wants to see the Heat if Rozier is playing like that.

by Kevin Rodriguez

Nikola Jovic has gone from being a potential spot minutes player in the playoffs to now being a potential starter. At minimum he has played his way into some sort of role, as now it’s impossible to keep him out of the rotation but he has been playing so good as of late that there is a strong argument that he should continue to start. He fits seamlessly with the starters now and he does everything that this team needs from him. He is the ultimate connector. If the NBA tracked hockey assist, I feel like he would be near the top of the whole team. Countless times he passes the ball quickly and effectively to keep the play going. That might not seem like a big deal, but on a team that sometimes struggles with fluidity on offense, it makes the world of a difference. 

His shot has been excellent as of late and he has learned how to play NBA basketball. I am absolutely thrilled with Jovic’s development and I think he should be the starting for in the playoffs.

 I don’t want to ignore his defensive improvement either, as he has gone from a negative defender and absolute liability to now being a solid defender that is consistently making winning plays on the defensive end. It starts with his effort. He is constantly giving maximum effort and constantly looking for little things, he can do that make a big difference. He’s going for every rebound, he’s going for every loose ball, and he’s fighting for everything. He’s making everything difficult for the opponent and even though it doesn’t always result in a defensive rebound, a steal, a block or even a missed shot, it’s the effort over an extended period of time that makes a big difference.

 If you would’ve told me at the start of the year that Jovic would be relied on so much, I would’ve called you crazy but now there’s not enough time for me to discuss all the good things he is doing.  No one has improved as much as Jovic on the Heat over the course of the year. 

Another player who has gone from a fringe rotation player to an absolute lock is Haywood Highsmith. Highsmith has become incredibly important to the future success of this team. We already knew he plays all-world defense, you don’t get the nickname locksmith for no reason, but the way he has been shooting the ball makes him a must-play for Eric Spoelstra. 

When I think of Highsmith my mind keeps going back to PJ Tucker. Tucker played incredible defense but started refusing to take corner threes and it was his demise, and the Heat’s, in the playoffs. Haywood Highsmith has the chance to be PJ Tucker on defense while being a sniper from three, his three-point shooting is the key to everything for him. If he is hitting his open threes, then he is going to be playing a ton of minutes.

 Then on defense, he is going to be locking down the best offensive player on the opposing team, outside of a center. This would also unlock Butler and other defenders to have a trickle-down effect and guard better matchups. This would then let Butler not have to expend as much energy on the defensive end and allow him to focus on scoring. This is how important Highsmith can be for the Heat. By simply taking, and making three-point shots, Highsmith would change the whole dynamic of the team. It is a massive trickle-down effect that can change the outcome of a season.

 Highsmith has blasted out of a canon to be one of the most important players on the Miami Heat. Game after game he is fulfilling his role and some. His game has evolved at the perfect time and he’s looking to make a name for himself this postseason.

Everything is not perfect for the Heat right now, there are still some things that need to be improved, but they are arguably playing their best basketball of the season currently. Numerous players have stepped up, including Rozier, Jovic and Highsmith. The Heat have all the firepower needed to make a Finals run and bring home a championship, now we just have to wait and see what happens. Heat nation get ready, it’s about time to shock the world.