In a recent game against the Chicago Bulls, Tyler Herro delivered in that most important of moments. As the Miami Heat’s sixth-year player and first-time All-Star, his play had major ramifications on the team’s playoff seeding. Despite leading the Heat with 30 points, Herro’s decision to take a 3-pointer instead of driving for a wide-open layup proved detrimental as the Heat lost 119-111.
The match developed into a classic evenly matched affair with each team scrapping hard for a playoff berth. Herro finished this important matchup as the Heat’s leading scorer, averaging a career-best 23.8 ppg. His performance against the Chicago Bulls, the epitome of his scoring potential leading to losses, had him scoring at will but fading into a loss.
After trailing by one with under a minute to go, the Heat found themselves down five points. Herro capitalized on a great opportunity to help cut down the deficit. Instead of looking for a closer or easier layup, he simply pulled up for a 3 that he’s confident on.
“It’s as simple as that. It’s the shot I was feeling. Looking back on the play, Herro admitted, “I definitely should have laid the ball up after I missed that shot.” He provided this perspective in the post-game as well.
This pivotal moment came after Herro had previously contributed to the team’s efforts by assisting Matas Buzelis for a corner three that extended the Bulls’ lead to 117-109. On the first possession though, Herro delighted home fans with his lockdown prowess. He masterfully jabbed the ball away from Coby White, illustrating his overall game-changing presence on the court.
Bam Adebayo, arguably the most important player on the Heat behind Herro’s teammate, agreed with Herro’s shot selection. “That’s a kid that’s hit some hard shots in his life.” Adebayo continued. He continued, “you take your hat off when he makes a shot like that. That’s a killer mentality. To me, that’s one of the best looks he got all night, so you can live with that. A 100% y’all wouldn’t be saying that if he made it.
The missed shot became a focal point in discussions surrounding the game, with Adebayo noting its significance as a key moment in their defeat. Even in this loss, Herro’s shot creation and offensive production permeated the contest on display.
Leave a Reply