The Miami Heat offense has completely eliminated the use of ball screens this season. (Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
While the NBA is zigging, the Miami Heat have completely zagged.
In the first year of this high-tempo, free-flowing offense that’s broken multiple franchise records in terms of their scoring output, the Heat have all but eliminated one phase from their offense: Ball screens.
Instead, the Heat have prioritized creating — and subsequently attacking — open space by the use of paint touches, cutting and ball movement.
They haven’t been the most efficient offense — Miami currently ranks No. 13 in offense — but it is second in the NBA in scoring through 21 games.
It’s utilizing ball screens just 4.5 percent of the time, according to NBA.com’s tracking data. It’s imperfect tracking, but the next lowest?! The Utah Jazz at 11.1 percent.
However, should they trend back toward the rest of the pack? Star guard Norman Powell wouldn’t be opposed.
“I enjoyed the whole system,” Powell said on a recent episode of The Old Man And The Three. “We could run a little more pick-and-roll because I was coming in and being traded before I knew the offensive shift. I watched a lot of film with [Bam Adebayo] and [Tyler Herro] and how they had their two-man game.
“Being able to play in the pocket during that two-man and get downhill and now I got a lob threat. I can fake the lob, and if the big man goes back, I take the layup, or if he commits, I got the drop-off. That aspect I miss in the offense.
“I love the free flow, I feel like it fits my game — my athletic ability, getting on in transition, running, shooting in transition, getting to the cup. I think [our current scheme] fits everybody’s game and that’s what I love most about it.”
Should Heat feature more ball screens?
Basketball is a game of trade-offs.
By eliminating ball screens, the Heat have become less predictable while eliminating multiple extra defenders (drop/switch defender, tag defender, etc.) from entering the action.
The use of ball screens is valuable when trying to pull bigs — especially good rim protectors — away from the rim while potentially forcing a mismatch and creating 2v1/3v2/4v3 situations for ballhandlers to attack.
Bam Adebayo’s vertical spacing — as well as Kel’el Ware’s — is a valuable part of creating space. Though Adebayo’s vertical spacing has dwindled the last few seasons, in part because they’ve had very few players who could successfully throw lobs.
Ultimately, there’s a trade-off. The Heat offense should continue to adapt as teams become more familiar with their scheme. Being multi-dimensional never hurts.
But as a wise man once said: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Do you agree with Norman Powell? Let us know in the comments!
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