The Miami Heat will play with renewed energy and a faster-paced style in the 2025-26 season. This has been a long time coming for the Heat, as players like Nikola Jovic know head coach Erik Spoelstra has wanted this for a long time.
After a disappointing 2024-25 season, the Miami Heat entered the 2025-26 season rejuvenated. They will be looking to surprise people as they are one of the most under-the-radar teams during the 2025 offseason.
A big part of why people were so surprised by the Heat is how fast they play. It’s a new approach head coach Erik Spoelstra is implementing. Nikola Jovic and the rest of the team like this change because it allows them to play at a pace that is more comfortable for fast players like Norman Powell.
The Heat are not only getting better on the court, but they back it up with strong performances. They narrowly lost to the Orlando Magic 125-121, but on Friday they defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 146-114 in a franchise-record performance.
After last season’s struggles, the Heat would do well to change their approach to the game. Playing a run-and-gun style is a better style for Miami since they no longer have a star scorer like Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro is also out with an injury.
Spoelstra has known this for some time, as he has wanted to implement this style for years. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out in previous seasons, probably because of the roster they had. Butler may not have been the best fit for their style, and his impact as a star player may have been limited.
The Heat’s current roster is a much better fit for this new approach now that Butler is playing for the Golden State Warriors. For a young player like Jovic, it’s more fun for the players and a much better fit for the current group.
“Ever since we’ve been here, we’ve said we’re going to play fast every year, but we haven’t really done that. We’re kind of going back to a slower pace, getting in the post and making sure we know how to attack,” Jovic said Friday.
“He really wanted us to play like this from the jump this year. I think the coaches and everyone in the locker room are very happy because we haven’t had a game like this in the last three years where we just go out and do what we can.”
“We’ve been really dedicated and I think the running we’ve put in and the training camp that’s been really hard is definitely going to pay off. It’s definitely going to help us look better.”
After two games, the Heat have become an impressive team. This is a big step in the right direction for the Heat, whose 2024-25 season looked a little aimless aside from the Heroes All-Star campaign.
Now they want to perform with purpose. Especially since they’ve had a full training camp and players like Jovic are doing well. Herro may not be back for a while, but the rest of the team is proving they can hang in until the All-Star guard returns.
It was a balanced team effort, with everyone from Jovic and Powell to Bam Adebayo having outstanding games. This is a great development for Miami and Spoelstra as they hope to advance further in the Eastern Conference. It won’t be easy, but taking advantage of other teams’ struggles could be a way for Miami to return to the postseason in a favorable position.