With a 7-13 record through 20 games this season, it feels like the Heat’s defense is struggling.
But according to the numbers, Miami’s defense has actually been solid. The Heat entered Thursday with the league’s ninth-best defensive rating, allowing 107.2 points per 100 possessions.
“We’re struggling, but we’re ninth in the league in defense. It’s just the way the league is,” guard Dwyane Wade said after Thursday’s practice. “The shot goes in by [Josh Richardson], we won another game. But the shot comes out, so now it’s like everything continues to fall down. It’s this league. We just got to continue to stay with it, continue to believe in our habits and just get a little bit better at them, and things can change.