As the Miami Heat tried to maintain momentum against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, their efforts fell short, snapping the team’s three-game winning streak with a 107-101 defeat on Thursday night.
Despite the loss, the focus of the Heat’s season has been their new fast-paced offense, which draws clear inspiration from another NBA team. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps recently discussed Miami’s evolving offensive philosophy in a column, highlighting how the Heat have reduced their reliance on pick-and-rolls in favor of a quicker, free-flowing style of play.
Windhorst noted that head coach Erik Spoelstra and the Heat consulted with former Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach Noah LaRoche, a key figure in reshaping Memphis’s offense last season. “Doesn’t this new system look like what the Memphis Grizzlies did last year? It sure does,” Windhorst said. “Spoelstra and the Heat consulted with former Grizzlies assistant Noah LaRoche, sources told ESPN, before installing a more free-flowing, motion-based system that largely eliminates pick-and-rolls.”
A league executive shared further insight, emphasizing how Miami’s new approach differs greatly from the system previously run by Heat president Pat Riley. “You know Spo is running the polar opposite of the system that Pat Riley used to run, where he called every play and each play design was exact,” the executive told ESPN. “And it makes me further appreciate and respect that the organization is about the right stuff. They’re about exploring and teaching in Miami.”
This shift aligns with players’ observations as well. Bam Adebayo told ClutchPoints that during their 115-107 win over the New York Knicks last Sunday, “I don’t think we ran a play today,” showcasing the team’s more spontaneous offensive approach.
### Heat’s New Offense Traces Back to the Grizzlies’ Assistant Coach
While the Heat await the return of Tyler Herro from ankle surgery, fans are eager to see how much further Miami’s offense can develop. For now, the early results are undeniable. Miami currently boasts the fastest pace in the league, averaging 107.3 possessions per 48 minutes, coupled with an impressive 125.4 points per game over the first five games of the season.
Spoelstra and the Heat intentionally decided to change their offense after ranking among the slowest teams in the league last season, also sitting near the bottom in offensive rating. Modeling their system after Memphis was a strategic move.
Tim Bontemps elaborated on the significant role LaRoche played in shaping the Grizzlies’ offense last season. “Last season, as the Grizzlies also got off to a hot start running this system, there was a common misconception that this was the offense that Tuomas Iisalo had brought over to the United States after working as a head coach for several years in Germany and France,” Bontemps wrote. “Instead, it turned out to be Noah LaRoche’s offense.”
Many Heat players, including Jaime Jaquez Jr., have visibly benefitted from the offensive transformation. As Miami prepares for their upcoming game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, the new system continues to showcase promising results and exciting potential for the season ahead.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-how-new-improved-offense-inspired-former-grizzlies-coach