due to injury. The 23-year-old has not played since injuring his ankle on Nov. 8 against the Memphis Grizzlies, the third game of the Heat’s current winning streak.
Herro is better known for his offensive abilities — he is averaging 22.9 points per game this season – than his defensive acumen. Having Highsmith in the lineup and playing significant minutes changes the style of play and responsibilities for the Heat somewhat.
Franchise player Jimmy Butler is picking up the scoring slack in Herro’s absence, with 32 points and 36 points, respectively, on Tuesday and Thursday. He recently said his goal is to shoot 50 percent from 3-point range this season.
Bam Adebayo also is off to an outstanding start, averaging 22.7 points per game, which, if maintained, would become the best mark of his NBA career so far.
Having Highsmith able to contribute on the defensive end is certainly working out for the Heat so far. If he can keep it up — and Herro can return to boost the offense — Miami is likely to remain among the elite teams in the Eastern Conference and a potential contender for the NBA title.
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