Norman Powell Discusses Adjustments He's Needed to Make in Miami

The Miami Heat are a difficult team to predict. They’ve been trying to find a new identity since the departure of Jimmy Butler, and it is unclear exactly what direction they are going to go without him. On the one hand, they have a bunch of proven and solid veterans and a culture of winning. On the other hand, they don’t have a true superstar and are probably not good enough to compete with the best teams in the league.

This will be their first full season with additions like Andrew Wiggins and Norman Powell. How those two adjust to their new team could make or break how good the Heat are this season. 

Norman Powell discussed how the team is looking ahead of the 2025–26 NBA season in an interview with the Miami Herald.

“I think our offense is operating at probably like 65% to where we can get to…The good thing is that we’re operating that low, so there’s a high ceiling for us on that end of the floor…I think it’s an adjustment, but I think it’s honestly better for us because you can’t really scout and figure out who’s bringing the ball up. We’re playing in a lot of random, open offense, reading defenses and seeing what they’re giving us rather than having a set play. I feel like when you have a true point guard, somebody that’s ball-dominant like Chris Paul or James [Harden], it’s more them dictating the action and getting the guys where they need to be, and a lot of pick-and-roll. With this offense, it keeps the defenses off balance because they don’t know what we’re going to do.”

The Heat went 0–6 in the preseason, so hopefully Powell is right about their offense operating at below its potential. If the Heat are going to be competitive offensively this season, they are going to have to figure out their egalitarian offense and make it a lot more dangerous than it has looked this preseason.