The 2021-22 NBA season will end up being a make-or-break season for Tyler Herro in a Miami Heat uniform.
In the NBA restart bubble, many annotated Tyler Herro as the next upcoming star. From hitting threes to snarling at the camera, it truly seemed like Herro was having a moment.
While Herro cooled down in the NBA Finals as the Miami Heat was outmatched by the Los Angeles Lakers, it was still fair to say Herro’s rookie playoff campaign was truly outstanding, as he was a key part of the Heat’s success.
Just as many were quick to praise the young guard during his rookie season, many were also quick to critique him during his less impressive sophomore output as Herro only marginally improved.\
Herro’s scoring average only improved slightly, from 13.5 to 15.1 points per game, while the rest of his stats went as followed:
- assists average: 2.2 to 3.4
- rebounds average: 4.1 to 5
- free-throw percentage decreased from 87 percent to 80 percent
Now it didn’t help anytime the Heat was rumored to be interested in a star player that Herro would be the key piece on their end of the deal. So anytime Herro played poorly social media was ablaze with comments saying, “We really kept this guy instead of trading him for (insert superstar)”.
Out of the various things Herro could do to improve his play the most crucial aspect is just being more consistent. While an increase in scoring and playmaking would be ideal, having the ability to have a consistent box score would be more crucial. As even with all of his talents Herro disappeared in this year’s playoffs with a series scoring average of 9.8 points per game.
The arrival of Kyle Lowry could help Herro improve. Lowry is a great game manager point guard who showed in Toronto he can get the best out of young talented players.
Couple that with a Heat team that wants to prove they can be contenders again. Herro might be able to show more stretches of elite play instead of the flashes he more commonly displays.
Herro is an extremely talented player who has a lot to offer. Maybe he is a victim of his circumstances as he was thrust onto the biggest stage so early. Herro is only 21 years old and not even on his second contract yet.
The problem is when you play in Miami that Pat Riley expects results. If Herro can’t be more consistent then the decision to include him in a trade becomes a lot easier than it did last season.