This Is Why The Heat Are Positioned For Postseason Success

Miami's dominant rebounding and defense makes them a matchup nightmare

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All-Pro Reels, Flickr
  • The Miami Heat (41-24, fourth in the East) have stood out as a pleasant surprises this season, mostly thanks to veteran All-Star and first-year franchise player, Jimmy Butler. Miami's 79.7 percent defensive rebounding rate serves as their secret, under-the-radar weapon.

  • Their stifling defense serves as a top catalyst for their success, too. The Heat allow the fewest opposing field goal attempts per game, making things difficult for foes both in the interior and from distance. When they force misses, they rarely allow second-chance opportunities.

  • This seems like the perfect year for a well-coached team that has a focus on defense and rebounding. If Miami can get hot at the right time, they could be a surprise championship contender. Their high return on investment to win it all is appealing at +3000, per DraftKings Sportsbook.
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A Collective Effort

The Miami Heat have succeeded this season due of a few factors: Jimmy Butler's perfect fit in coach Erik Spoelstra's system, the All-Star breakout of Bam Adebayo, and the impressive production from rookies Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro. Paramount to all of that for the Heat has been their elite defensive rebounding.

While they rank 29th in the league in offensive rebounding with 8.5 per game, Miami's 79.7 percent defensive rebounding rate is third-best behind only the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks. They are tied for fourth with the Utah Jazz with a 51.4 percent total rebounding rate, based almost entirely on their defensive rebounding.

This, of course, means that Miami does not allow many second-chance opportunities, as opposing teams have collectively gathered only 9.2 offensive boards per game against the Heat this season (fourth-fewest). They allow 84.4 field goal attempts per game, the fewest in the league. The always-aggressive Butler and the athletic wings around him play a part in Miami's rebounding dominance. If they are cogs in this rebounding wheel, third-year breakout All-Star Bam Adebayo is the monster driving the vehicle.

Adebayo can do it all—he can score (16.2 points per game on 56.7 percent shooting), he can dish the rock (5.1 assists per game), and he can defend (1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals per game). His greatest strength may be rebounding—he rips 10.5 boards per contest, including eight on the defensive end. One quarter of all available defensive rebounds while he is on the floor end up in his hands, and only five players in the league have amassed more.

Most important to Miami's immediate future, Adebayo and the Heat have been consistent on the defensive glass, both at home and away. They cleared 36.3 defensive boards per game at home, and 35.8 per road contest (Adebayo had 7.6 defensive rebounds per home contest and 8.3 defensive boards per road game). That means that while playing in a bubble, the Heat's focus on the fundamentals like rebounding will be there game in and game out, even in a quiet gym.

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Defensive Prowess

Miami's aggressive mentality doesn't stop at the glass. They also protect the rim and defend the three-pointer very effectively. Opponents average a mere 44.4 points in the paint per game against Miami (fifth-fewest), shoot only 44.7 percent from the floor (seventh-lowest), and shoot 34.6 percent from distance (eighth-lowest). This focus on defense and rebounding can be attributed to Spoelstra's impressive coaching, Butler's leadership, and Adebayo's emergence. This entire team has bought into the system, and every player seems to look up to that respected trio.

With a defensive rebounding rate as high as the Heat's, many are astounded to see that they don't rank inside the top-five in total rebounds or total defensive rebounds. Their defense is so good, they force so many turnovers, and they allow a scarce amount of second opportunities that they simply don't allow themselves many chances to gather multiple boards in a single possession.

A Surprising Championship Run?

In a year of pandemic pandemonium, it seems like we should all expect the unexpected. Wild card teams like the Heat, Sixers, and Denver Nuggets could really make some noise based on fundamentals, execution, and good coaching. Whereas these kinds of teams usually struggle on the road in big games and in the playoffs, every single team is on a neutral playing court inside the Orlando bubble.

The fans won't play a part in the outcomes of games, but ever-imperative fundamental skills like defense and defensive rebounding will. If Miami can continue to allow the fewest field goal attempts in the league, and gobble up defensive rebounding at a top-three rate, they will have just as good a shot as anyone to contend for the Eastern Conference title and perhaps beyond. The Heat are +900 to represent the East in the NBA Finals and are +3000 to win it all, per DraftKings Sportsbook,. These odds are quite tempting.

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