The results of the Heat Road Trip are mixed. It’s not great, not bad but average. They overlooked one team (Jazz) and then got schooled by another team (Clippers). The Suns game was just a loss from exhaustion. It was a long road trip and its done. Let’s look at the results.

Result #5 Tyler Herro needs to improve his efficiency.
I’ve seen on Twitter that a lot of people are defending Tyler Herro and a lot are criticizing him. He signed his “big contract.” He needs to take the criticism. On the road trip, he shot 38% from the field. The three worst games were the Jazz game (9 for 22), the Clippers game (4 for 13) and the Phoenix game (4 for 17). He is averaging a career high in scoring but when he takes just as many shots as points, there’s a problem. This writeup here from the site AllUCanHeat.com has a good take on comparing Herro’s game and Booker’s games. I’m rooting for Tyler to improve, but he looks as if he wants to be a “celebrity,” not a basketball professional.

Result #4 The current injuries are tough
Check out my article here on the Heat’s injuries–It is like working a shift on your job and having to pick up the workload of a sick employee. It’s no problem to pick up a few shifts but at one point, you want the other person to come back. Check out this article here from Clutchpoints where Coach Spolestra continues to push that “we have enough.” It is obvious that the Coach is saying this to give inspiration to bench players. He can’t shrug his shoulders, pat the player on the side and say, “Well, good luck.” I think the Heat would’ve beaten the Jazz and the Clippers if Butler, Highsmith and Martin would’ve been healthy.

Result #3– Thomas Bryant is needed.
This was a high value free agent signing in the offseason. Check out this article here from ClutchPoints on Spolestra’s praise for Bryant after the Hornets game. Also, check this article here from SI.com as Bryant doesn’t have much of an offensive game to stop defenses from “packing the paint” so he would be a liability. Regardless, he needs to get better quick. He is 6’11 and 245. That makes a difference in extra possessions and opposing teams attacking the paint. Kevin Love is finding a new life in Miami and contributes in rebounding but more is needed.

Result #2–Heat + Sharing the ball = WIN
During the five game road trip, the Heat had higher than a 3.5 assist to turnover ratio only in their two wins. In the three losses, they averaged below 2. The worst was a 1.25 assist-to-turnover ratio against the Utah Jazz. I think the Heat overlooked the Jazz and got sloppy with them, expecting to walk in the arena and win. The moments that the ball is popping around the elbow, guys are cutting towards the basket and making hustle plays is when the Heat are at their best.

Result #1–Jimmy Butler is important but he needs health.
These results above are all “warts” that are underneath the team. Jimmy Butler has a bad foot and calf and he needs those parts. Now, in January, is not the time for him to come back to the team. Check out this article here via HeatNation where is agent said that Jimmy gets injured early because he’s not in shape. He should play sparingly between now and the middle of March. Let Tyler Herro and Bam lead the team and score the most points. Let players learn and grow.