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New Look Quick Offense puts Heat on Top of the NBA
Written by: Brandon Hernandez
Quick and Aggressive: that is how Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra would describe the
2025-2026 Miami offense. A team full of offensive power all balanced on the Pat Riley Court at
the Kaseya Center every night. Monday night for the Heat, who took on the then 7-3 Cleveland
Cavaliers, was no exception.
In the culmination of overtime play, Cavaliers all-star guard Donovan Mitchell raced baseline
with the ball and drilled a corner triple to tie it 138 a-piece with 0.4 seconds remaining.
Apparently that was all that this new look, fast-paced Heat team needed. A perfectly
orchestrated inbound pass by forward Nikola Jovic found forward Andrew Wiggins elevated at
the rim to slam in a game winning dunk with no time left to spare.
The Heat (7-4) defeated the Cavs 140-138 in a classic near Biscayne Drive. Miami through a
month of regular season basketball now find themselves to be third in the eastern conference,
leading the league with 125.5 points per game, second in assist per game (30.5) and with seven
players on roster averaging double digits scoring totals. The locker room definitely has felt great
in this new offensive mindset.
“It feels good,” Wiggins said postgame. “This new offense has been night and day. We’re out
there playing with a lot of joy, playing fast --- everyone’s out there in great rhythm. It’s been a
great start of the year.”
The adjustments on offense compared to last season is another eyeopening example to the feel
on the floor. The Heat averaged 110 points per game as a team last season with players such
as forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Jovic barely saw minutes to develop . The duo last season
struggled to show progress throughout the year after the ‘Jimmy Butler Saga’ struck Miami’s
locker room midseason.
Now, both players are living up to their past regressions. Jaquez appears to have forgotten his
sophomore slump and throughout 11 games has averaged 17.5 points per game --- being more
aggressive driving inside the lane with an added hesi bag added from this offseason. Jovic in his
own right is averaging 10 points per game, but with his minutes increasing has produced
moments that foreshadow long-term greatness.
In the Heats 136-131 victory over the Portland Trailblazers Nov. 8, the Serbian scored a
team-high 29 points and shot 62.5% from the field. Jaquez after the game said that this new
offense with the overall balance of power has been great for the team. Emphasized it could be
"anybody's night” at any time.
Of course this also comes with the added veteran boost from offseason addition guard Norman
Powell. The 32-year-old bonafide bucket is averaging a team-high 24.5 points per game. Powell
has been a major usage guy for Spoelstra with him seeing the floor for 31 minutes a game.
Between this, and his voice in the locker room, Powell is the most consistent piece in this Miami
offense without all-stars Tyler Herro (heel) and Bam Adebayo (toe). The franchise cornerstone
pieces have been absent for a majority of the early season. Still, this Miami team has proven it
can stand on its own. With, or without star power.
Adebayo, who sprained his big left toe against the Denver Nuggets Nov. 5, has missed the last
two games. An update on his status should be available Tuesday night as Miami prepares to
face the Cavaliers again at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday back at home.
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