The Miami Heat should change the role of Tyler Herro

MIAMI, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 04: Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat runs back to play defense against the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter of preseason action at FTX Arena on October 04, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro is in the midst of his most productive season as a professional. Herro is averaging a career-high of 20.0 points per game while shooting 42.7 percent on 17.3 shots per game.

Herro’s production is 39.9 percent higher than his first two seasons in the NBA, as he averaged 14.3 points per game, shooting 43.4 percent from the field on 12.2 shots over that span of time.

The role Tyler Herro has played on the Miami Heat this season

The guard’s production increase is related to the team giving him more time in the role of a ball-handler. He is averaging a career-high of 65.2 touches per game – a 34.2 percent increase from the first two seasons of his professional career.

This increase in touches has allowed Herro to spend more time as a pick and roll ball handler. Herro is currently spending 32 percent of his possessions as a pick and roll ball handler, averaging 6.9 per game – a 56.8 percent increase from the first two seasons of his career.

Herro hasn’t elevated his efficiency significantly despite the increase in volume, as he is only shooting 40.6 percent on 5.3 shots per game. The field goal percentage is only 1.3 percent higher than his first two seasons.

The lack of efficiency hasn’t prevented Herro from being a productive pick and roll player, as he is averaging 5.7 points per game – 28.5 percent of his total production. Herro’s statistical success has led to some outrage within the Miami Heat organization when he wasn’t selected for this year’s All-Star Game.

PJ Tucker stated that, with the team being the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, the team should have had more All-Star representation, whether it be Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry, or Herro.

Why the Miami Heat should change Tyler Herro’s role with Victor Oladipo’s impending return

Although the Heat organization is upset that Herro didn’t get named to the All-Star Team due to his performance, they should consider changing his role after the break. The Miami Heat likes to have multiple players standing behind the arc in the role of floor-spacers while Herro is running the pick and roll.

For instance, the most consistent lineup that Herro has been in features Duncan Robinson, Kyle Lowry, and P.J. Tucker, along with Dewayne Dedmon. These five players have been on the court together for an average of 6.4 minutes per game over 13 appearances.

This lineup has contributed to Robinson, Lowry, and Tucker taking over 47 percent of the shots from behind the arc; as they are averaging a minimum of 3.1 shots per game. Their role will create an issue soon, as Victor Oladipo is in the process of ramping up to return to the team.

Oladipo has been practicing with the Miami Heat G-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. With Oladipo’s impending return, the team would be better off shifting Tyler Herro off the ball and having Oladipo be the primary ball-handler for the second unit, instead.

This is because the weakest aspect of Oladipo’s skillset is three-point shooting. He has only converted 34.7 percent of his attempts on 4.6 shots per game throughout his career.

He is a much better pick and roll ball handler, as he spends 34 percent of his possessions in that role, averaging 6 .6 per game. Oladipo has been inefficient, shooting 39.1 percent on 5.2 shots per game.

Despite the inefficiency, Oladipo has generated a significant amount of points, averaging 5.4 per game – 29.3 percent of his scoring output. More importantly, Tyler Herro is better suited to be a floor spacer, as he has made 37.5 percent of his threes on 5.8 attempts per game.

Although Tyler Herro has been productive in the role of primary ball-handler, it is best if he plays off the ball for the remainder of the season for the betterment of the team.