Should The Miami Heat Start Tyler Herro Or Duncan Robinson?
The Miami Heat must make the decision of who will start in their backcourt once star Tyler Herro returns to health.
Former Charlotte Hornet Terry Rozier appears solidified as the point guard, but the choice between Herro and Duncan Robinson at shooting guard raises questions. The Heat have a record of 18-9 with Robinson in the starting five while Herro has a record of 19-17.
There's no question that Herro demands the ball much more than Robinson on offense. However, this aspect of his game is a benefit for a Heat team struggling to score. They are averaging 110.5 points this season, which ranks them No. 27 in the league ahead of the Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Portland Trail Blazers.
Neither guard contributes at a high level on defense, meaning that is a near non-factor in the decision. Consistency is one of the largest weak points for both Herro and Robinson, making it insignificant in the debate.
Robinson's biggest advantage is his X-factor ability, scoring at a high volume on any given night due to his talent from three-point range. The downside is that Robinson often has appearances where he scores in the single digits. Herro's will to score is a strong ability to consider, as he is averaging 20.8 points on 18 shot attempts. Meanwhile, Robinson is averaging 13.4 points on 10.2 attempts.
The team's conclusion will likely come down to Herro's ability to remain healthy when it matters most. If the organization feels that the former Sixth Man of the Year cannot thrive on a consistent basis, Robinson will continue joining stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in the starting lineup.
Herro voiced frustration regarding his injury issues over the course of his career after breaking his hand in the 2023 NBA playoffs.
"Obviously, being at home and being in the playoffs, you work so hard all year to be in this moment, where I feel like I had some things to prove this postseason,” Herro said. “So it was a tough moment. I still can’t believe it."
Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Inside the Heat.
He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram @anthony.pasciolla.
Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook HERE
Subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE
