Miami Heat: Has Father Time caught up with Goran Dragic?

If Father Time has finally caught up with Goran Dragic, it likely spells bad news for the Miami Heat’s playoff chances.

The Miami Heat has been one of the most disappointing teams in the Eastern Conference this season; I don’t think that is something that can be debated at this point in the season, with the playoffs just a few weeks away.

And there is a myriad of reasons for the Heat’s huge step back this season. For one, the Heat has battled injuries for most of the season and hasn’t looked anything like itself at any point this season on the offensive end.

Goran Dragic has missed 21 games, Jimmy Butler has missed 17 games this season, Kendrick Nunn has missed 14 games, Tyler Herro has missed 13 games, Bam Adebayo has missed seven games, and the team’s most recent acquisition, Victor Oladipo, has already missed eight games.

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The Heat hasn’t had much continuity this season and it’s truly impacted the team, especially offensively – as you would expect.

During their run last season, Miami finished the regular season with the seventh-ranked offense and had the fourth-best offense amongst playoff teams. This season, they’ve fallen off quite a bit. Miami has the 24th-ranked offense this season, which ranks worst among teams that are projected to make the postseason.

A big reason for their shortcomings on the offensive end point to the regression from their 3-point shooters. Herro is only shooting 34 percent from 3 and Robinson is shooting 40 percent from deep. As a team, the Heat is only shooting 35 percent from deep. Last season, they shot 38 percent from deep as a team in the regular season (second-best in the league).

Goran Dragic’s struggles with the Miami Heat this season

Apart from their regression in 3-point shooting, there has been a stark regression from Dragic. And perhaps that’s the biggest reason why this year’s Heat don’t look anything like the one we saw in the postseason.

In the playoffs last year, Dragic averaged 19 points, four assists, and four rebounds on 44 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from 3. So far this season, Dragic is averaging 13 points, four rebounds, and four assists on 44 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from 3-point range.

While those numbers seem similar, and usage is likely at work here, his numbers have really taken a hit during March and April. During those months, Dragic is averaging only 11 points on 41 percent shooting from the field and 34 percent from 3-point range.

Dragic has been a different player over the last two months, and not in a good way. During December and January, in 14 games played, Dragic was averaging 16 points and five assists per game on 48 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent shooting from 3-point range.

His numbers have dropped off since and it’s hurt the Heat. Miami doesn’t have their super-sixth man (or spot starter) anymore and that lack of consistency off the bench has put even more pressure on Jimmy, Bam, and the shooters to carry the offense.

While Jimmy and Bam have done what they can, the combination of Dragic’s regression and the team’s shooter’s stepback has put a strain on the offense that head coach Erik Spoelstra hasn’t solved.

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Dragic played such a key role for the Heat during their run to the NBA Finals last season that his lack of production and inefficiency this season has hurt the team. Father Time may have caught up to Dragic and Miami simply hasn’t had an answer for it. It could ultimately – and likely will – doom the Heat in the playoffs.

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