4 not-so-nice numbers from Heat's four-game skid - Hot Hot Hoops

Erik Spoelstra The Miami Heat are in the midst of a four-game losing streak. (Mandatory Credit: Luke Hales/Getty Images)

After Tuesday’s 117-108 loss to the Orlando Magic, the Miami Heat have dropped to 14-11 on the season, tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks for the No. 7 seed in the East.

They are currently in the midst of a four-game losing streak. What have been four discouraging trends from their skid?! Let’s examine!

Offense has fallen beneath Earth’s crust:

During the Heat’s torrid 20-game start, while they were near atop the NBA in scoring, they were No. 13 in efficiency. In their 21st game, they scored 140-plus points for the fifth time of the year against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Over their last four, they have scored 108, 105, 111 and 108 points, respectively. After their 20-game bench mark, I said their offense was closer to No. 13 than their scoring would’ve indicated.

However, their offense has completely fallen off the map. Their offense has slowed down in the half court, sporting the league’s 8th-highest pace. As a result, they have the league’s second-worst offensive efficiency — barely scoring 106 points per 100 possessions (106.4) — with the seventh-worst effective field goal percentage and true-shooting percentage.

At some point, the rest of the NBA was going to adjust to their fast-paced, free-flowing offense. Tuesday night’s loss to Orlando was a perfect example; Miami started fast, but Orlando’s transition defense and physicality in the half court overwhelmed them.

Now, they must counter the counter.

Once a strength, Heat’s bench has regressed:

Miami’s depth has largely been perhaps its biggest strength this season.

Through 21 games, their bench was third in scoring on a per-possession basis, shooting 46.5 percent of the floor (10th) and 35.1 percent from 3-point range (16th). They were also third in assists per possession with the sixth-highest NET Rating.

That’s regressed over the last four games. Kel’el Ware, Dru Smith, Simone Fontecchio and Pelle Larsson have struggled when they’ve been available, while Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s production has been rather inconsistent, amid dealing with a groin injury.

If you’re going to play at a back-breaking pace, you’re going to have to have depth — and a lot of it. That depth will also have to be complimentary and good on both ends of the floor — which hasn’t been the case.

Miami isn’t capitalizing on open looks:

(Photo courtesy of the Miami Heat // Twitter)

As a result of teams packing the paint more against the Heat, they are getting a healthy amount of open looks from 3-point range.

And they haven’t converted.

Through their first 21 games, Miami was shooting 38.6 percent from 3-point range on either open or wide-open 3-point attempts, defined as the closest defender being at least four feet from them. In their four-games since, they are 31.3 percent on said attempts.

Better yet, Norman Powell’s shooting 28.6 percent (4-14) on said attempts over this four-game skid; Bam Adebayo is shooting 21.4 percent (3-14); Tyler Herro is shooting 22.2 percent (2-9).

In contrast, Simone Fontecchio is shooting 38.9 percent (7-18) while Andrew Wiggins is shooting 46.7 percent (7-15). But, in totality, when your best shooters aren’t shooting well on wide-open attempts, you’re likely not going to succeed as an offense.

In this case, unluckiness supersedes scheme. Teams will keep packing the paint until Miami beats them from deep — though Miami is simply getting unlucky right now.

Point of attack defense has regressed:

Tuesday was the worst example of Miami’s point-of-attack defense.

Orlando was bending the Heat defense like they were rubber. They only shot 19-of-29 at the rim, but Miami’s point-of-attack defense — or lack thereof — has been way below its standard of late.

They aren’t being physical enough, nor are they being disruptive enough. Miami was 13th in steals per possession through the first 21 games. In the four game since, they are 24th.

It’s difficult to hold up at the point-of-attack if you’re not allowed to set your defense as often; when you’re missing shots and playing with pace, your point-of-attack defense will suffer.

Even then, Miami is forgoing too many easy switches — especially when Tyler Herro’s directly involved in the action — compromising the rest of the structure. In fairness, Miami’s defense has been worse when Herro’s off the floor versus when he’s been on (in the games he’s played), but he has a bullseye on his chest.

He’s not the only target, but he’s the biggest target. Powell also hasn’t been as good defensively, neither has Jovic — an underrated defender — or Fontecchio.

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It’s a long season. This slide won’t last forever — just like the Heat’s ignitable start wasn’t.

But we have to evaluate the bad with the good. What have been your biggest takeaways over this four-game skid?! Let us know in the comments below!

4 not-so-nice numbers from Heat’s four-game skid – Hot Hot Hoops

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