Heat Defenses Collapse as Antetokounmpo Cites Lack of Trust
Miami ranks 25th in the NBA on defense despite a roster loaded with elite defenders, forcing veterans like Klay Thompson to call for immediate practice.
By Gavin Wilson ·
The Miami Heat entered the 2026-27 season with high financial and competitive stakes after acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade with the Milwaukee Bucks in June. The team currently holds a 4-6 record and has been outscored by 53 points in its first 10 games.
Miami's defensive struggles were starkly exposed in a recent loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, where the Heat allowed 138 points. That performance marked the fourth time in the team's first seven games that opponents scored 125 or more points. The Lakers alone scored 79 points in the first half of that contest.
Klay Thompson, who joined Miami this summer via a contract buyout from the Dallas Mavericks, said the team must return to the gym immediately. Thompson, a five-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion, stated that the players need to stay present and focus on week-to-week execution rather than looking ahead to postseason seeding.
The defensive unit features several award-winning individuals, yet their collective output ranks 25th in the league. Antetokounmpo, a former Defensive Player of the Year, shares the floor with Bam Adebayo, who has six All-Defensive team selections. Point guard Davion Mitchell and swingman Andrew Wiggins also bring reputations as elite perimeter defenders.
Antetokounmpo identified a lack of mutual trust as the primary cause of the defensive breakdowns. He noted that players often hesitate to close out fully on dribble penetrations because they do not feel confident that a teammate will recover behind them. This hesitation allows opponents to create space for step-back three-pointers.
The statistics support Antetokounmpo's assessment. Opponents are shooting 39.4 percent from beyond the arc against Miami, the third-highest rate in the league. The Heat allow 20.5 open three-pointers per game, the worst mark in the NBA, and opponents average 16.4 made three-pointers per game against them.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra rejected the idea that the team simply needs more time to gel. He stated that the league is not waiting for Miami to figure out its issues. Spoelstra noted that while the offense has produced some big numbers early, it currently ranks 20th in the league as the team adjusts to spacing with Antetokounmpo and Adebayo on the floor.
The organization is relying on veteran leadership to instill the expected culture. Heat president Pat Riley attended both games in Los Angeles and visited the locker room after the loss to the Lakers. Dwyane Wade also attended a shootaround at UCLA, while former captain Udonis Haslem spent time on the court with the team.
Haslem, who has spent 20 years on the Heat roster, addressed the players during a Monday shootaround. Adebayo said the visit demonstrated that Haslem cares about the team's current situation. Mychal Thompson waited outside the locker room for his son after the Lakers loss, and Klay Thompson subsequently scored 30 points in a win over the Clippers.
