An analyst breaks down the Miami Heat for an awful blowout display against the Orlando Magic

In a significant season with a lot of expectations and questions surrounding the Miami Heat, a blowout loss against the Orlando Magic is a terrible way to start the season. Several NBA analysts are starting to raise warnings if this is what it could look like for the rest of the season.

Kenny Beecham, host of the Small Ball podcast with Kenny Beechamtalked about the Heat’s horrible performance during their home opener. He noted that he is one of a growing group of people who believe the Magic have taken over the role of Florida basketball in the NBA.

“As excited as I was for the Orlando Magic, I’m just as disappointed with the Miami Heat,” Beecham said. “They were a team we had over the Orlando Magic. Sometimes making a bold prediction is foolish. In this game, they stunk.”

One of his main criticisms of the Heat’s poor performance was their trouble fitting a five-out offense into their system and misusing multiple offensive set players. Specifically, he referred to their best players.

“And we talked about their new system where they’re trying to get with the times,” Beecham said. “Everyone and their mother is serving five felonies and so on. I have never, in my years of watching basketball, seen two star teammates be the least involved in the offense ever. Jimmy Butler was seventh on the team in touchdowns. Hayward Highsmith had more touches and time of possession than Jimmy Butler. That’s how bad it was.”

Beecham later explained what separates the Boston Celtics’ five-out offense from the rest of the league. He felt the Heat’s five-out offense struggled mainly because they didn’t attack the basket enough.

“The reason the Celtics are so good and one of the reasons their three-pointers count and go more than others is the way they’re generated,” Beecham said. “They have four guys at any given time who can get past their defender, put pressure on the rim, dive on defense and put it out. The Miami Heat tried to run a five-out offense without dribble penetration. Bam Adebayo, one of the best players in all of basketball, was the corner sitter in the first game of the season.”

Bryan Townes is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X @bryantownesjr11. Follow our coverage on Facebook.