Erik Spoelstra’s emphasis on the faster pace offense is already paying dividends for the Heat

It’s been clear that Erik Spoelstra has put an emphasis on a faster offense this season. And it has led to the Heat being currently ranked number one in pace across the entire NBA.
(Photo via Getty Images)

For several years now, the Miami Heat have always been one of the slowest offensive teams in the league. Outside of just the pace, even their offensive efficiency has been near the bottom of the NBA for a while now.

That doesn’t seem to be the case thus far this season.

Coach Erik Spoelstra has repeatedly iterated how much he wants the Heat to push play faster. And the actual product on the court from doing so has looked encouraging. Miami is averaging just over 127 points per game after week one— good for the 5th best in the league.

This revamped offense has led to wins, with the Heat coming out to an early 2-1 record. Additionally, several players on the roster are reaping the benefits of this approach.

Norman Powell has looked like an All-Star caliber scorer. Jaime Jaquez Jr. has also resurged to a strong bounce back so far after a disappointing sophomore slump last season. Even other rotation players, like Davion Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins and Simone Fontecchio have shown success playing in this Heat offense.

The Miami Heat have the highest ranked pace overall in the entire NBA.

Fans across the league just witnessed an underdog Indiana Pacers Finals run just less than six months ago. How did the Pacers do it? A fast offense orchestrated by veteran head coach Rick Carlisle.

Rival teams are seeing success from putting that emphasis on offense and trying to mirror it. Just like how Miami is currently doing. And the numbers are backing it up early on.

Miami HEAT’s league ranking: (Min. 3 games played)

– 127.3 PPG (4th in NBA)
– 105.5 DRTG (3rd in NBA)
– 51.3 RPG (T1 in NBA)
– 28.3 APG (5th in NBA)
– 45.7 FGM (3rd in NBA)
– 39.3 3P% (5th in NBA)
– 12.0 PD (3rd in NBA)
– 109.67 Pace (1st in NBA)

This is Miami HEAT basketball. pic.twitter.com/RuaBxSsB2Q

— 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 (@WadexFlash) October 27, 2025

Heat captain Bam Adebayo recently spoke on the team’s adjustment following their blowout victory against the Memphis Grizzlies.

“We knew after last year that [Erik Spoelstra] was going to switch up the whole philosophy on offense. He told me that. He said he wanted us to play faster and we are. Playing with pace like this, you love to see everyone collectively have fun and everybody touch the ball. You can’t really scout plays for us. There is no plays. In the whole first half, I don’t think Spo ran a play.”

— Bam Adebayo

Bam loves the new fast paced Heat offense:

“It’s fun when we play like this, it’s fun when you get up and down…our thing is to keep playing this style of basketball where there’s no holes… that’s trying to be our identity.”pic.twitter.com/MNvHM0e7Ag

— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) October 25, 2025

It has been a long time coming for Miami to finally apply this change to their entire offensive philosophy. Increasing the pace was a goal going into last season as well, when the team still employed Jimmy Butler, but it didn’t last further than just a few preseason games.

Butler was a player that tended to often slow the game down. Either by isolation or manipulating opposing defenses into drawing fouls. Of course, that Butler-led offense still brought its own dynamic type of success to Miami for years— but now this is a new chapter in Heat history.

And in doing so comes a roster-wide identity shift.

The Heat don’t have that clear cut superstar to take over games anymore. Instead, they have a core of All-Star talent in Adebayo, Powell and Tyler Herro with plenty of intriguing depth to supplement them.

Hopefully the elite coaching of Spoelstra can continue to instill this new offensive approach, because it is paying off in the win column.

Erik Spoelstra’s emphasis on the faster pace offense is already paying dividends for the Heat

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