There are times when the confidence can veer into cockiness, almost arrogance.
Tyler Herro navigated that path in the fourth quarter Tuesday night against the Charlotte Hornets. And, in fact, did it with a smile.
Such are the nights for the Miami Heat when everything is falling.
And Tuesday certainly was one of those nights, the Heat setting a franchise record with their 23 3-pointers in the 144-115 victory that put them on the cusp of the No. 1 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
“I mean, they said I was crazy,” Herro said of his teammates, on the play when open layup opportunity instead turned into missed 3-pointer. “But, I mean, I was just having fun. That’s why I was smiling even after I missed it. It was just a good feeling out there.”
How could it not have been, with the Heat setting a franchise record for most points in a non-overtime game, including a career regular-season best of 35 from Herro?
To some, Herro’s hard left instead of a layup might have been a case of acting up in front of a substitute teacher, with assistant Chris Quinn coaching the team in place of Erik Spoelstra, who missed a second consecutive game in NBA health-and-safety protocols.
But even old-school Quinn recognized that the times have changed.
“It is 2022, right?” Quinn said with a smile. “So you pass up the layup to get the threes.”
And the Heat got plenty.
Duncan Robinson was 7 of 11 from beyond arc.
Herro 6 of 10.
Caleb Martin 3 of 3.
Max Strus 3 of 5.
And even a pair from Jimmy Butler.
No, not a case of attempting to emulate Mike D’Antoni’s Phoenix Suns or those threes-gone-wild recent seasons by the Houston Rockets.
But the possibility has been there the entire season, with the Heat four previous times tying the franchise record of 22 3-pointers.
Lately, though, after Spoelstra reworked the lineups to spread the shooting throughout the rotation, the longball has been particularly impressive, the Heat .479 on 3-pointers during the five-game winning streak that coincides with the reconfiguration.
The Heat are now 28-2 when shooting 40 percent or better on threes, and 8-0 when shooting 50 percent or better, as was the case with Tuesday night’s 23 of 42.
“Not every night is going to be like this,” Robinson said. “But obviously we are capable, as well. We’ve got a lot of guys that can score it, and especially when we’re playing unselfish like that, five people in spots where they can be successful. We can be pretty tough to guard.”
Which was exactly the thought when Spoelstra reconfigured.
“I think it’s just continuing to play to our strengths,” Robinson said of the shooters spacing so teammates such as Butler, Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry can put pressure on the defense while operating in space. “And for them, that’s been getting them the ball in situations where they can put pressure on the rim and be successful.
“It’s a symbiotic relationship in that sense. Them putting pressure on the rim allows 3-point shooters to get open. And then once you hit shots, then it creates more space for them.”
Those players, in turn, have the confidence to now kick the ball back out to open shooters.
“The confidence with the ball movement always helps, whenever guys see the ball go in,” Butler said, with the Heat with the opportunity to extend their winning streak to a season best six on Friday night against the visiting Atlanta Hawks. “And we’re just always looking to find the open guy. I think sometimes we’re a little bit too unselfish, and then it results in a couple of turnovers. But I like a lot of the shots we were taking.”
Because now it is the right shots in the right places from the right players.
“I think it’s our spacing has improved,” Quinn said. “And guys are working to help each other to get shots. Tyler is shooting more open shots. Duncan, obviously. Last game it was Max, in place of Duncan.
“But our guys are really, really doing a good job of helping one another and enjoying each other, playing well on the offensive end of the court.”
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