Highsmith has put on full display of defensive prowess and is increasingly gaining a reputation for it
Couper Moorhead, the author of the official website of the Heat, wrote:
While Highsmith and Bam Adebayo had a sample size of just 220 times at the same time, the Heat limited opponents to 0 points per switch in those rounds (on average).At 82 points, that's the best switching defensive efficiency in the league, according to Second Spectrum.
Never before have the Heat's other frontcourt combinations been as effective defensively as they were when Tucker paired up with Bam Adebayo.
When Tucker and Bam Adebayo played together in the 2021-22 season, the Heat's defensive efficiency was consistently among the top in the league, consistently ranking in the top five.
That season, the Heat made about 28 defensive turnovers per 100 defensive rounds, but with Adebayo and Tucker on the floor at the same time, that statistic rose to 42 defensive returns per 100 defensive rounds, an average of less efficient than limiting opponents' offense per game.
Since Tucker left the Heat, such numbers have gradually declined, and Spo has made adjustments to adapt to the actual situation of the lineup, using more shrinkage and zone defense strategies.
Currently, the Heat have 15 contracts per 100 defensive returnsFour changes and when Highsmith and Adebayo were on the pitch at the same time, the stat rose to 212。
The past few weeks have shown that the Heat can achieve success on the defensive end by using a variety of styles of strategy, but in the playoffs, when a more aggressive defensive strategy is required, switching defenses remains a team's strategy against the strongest opponents.
And for good reason. Bam Adebayo has been the most efficient at defending singles every season, and Highsmith's stats (as of mid-December, he was ranked No. 1 in the league) have been close behind, currently limiting opposing players to a single efficiency of 095 points.
If assists are excluded, the stat drops to 091。Excluding the foul factor, where Highsmith has been whistled for fouls on a number of occasions where he has been whistled for a foul in a "blow-it-or-blow-not" situation, his defense is almost perfect, but the referee's whistle doesn't fully approve of his performance - his singles efficiency per round has dropped to 083, 075 was only one or two defenses apart.
Overall, Highsmith, who ranks second in terms of defensive plus/minus on the team, has good reason to be considered one of the best and most versatile wing defenders in the league. Although he has played just over 2,000 career minutes combined, his reputation is growing faster than most of the public realizes.