Heat Defense Draws Hardaway Criticism
Tim Hardaway Sr. says Miami's lack of defensive urgency and reliance on threes is hurting the team.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Basketball
Miami Heat are 2-5 after seven games of the 2026-27 season, and Tim Hardaway Sr. criticized the team's defensive effort on his Crossover Podcast. The Heat lost 138-117 to the Los Angeles Lakers and rank 27th in the NBA with a 119.8 defensive rating.
Why it matters
The Heat's slow start and defensive struggles put pressure on a team trying to recover early in the season. Hardaway's comments highlight concerns about effort and shot selection that could shape the team's next stretch.
Through seven games, the Heat hold a 119.8 defensive rating, 27th in the NBA, and allow 17.3 made three-pointers per game. Bam Adebayo is averaging 16.3 points on 0.6 three-point conversion, his lowest scoring output since 2020-21, and the team has often started games poorly.
The players
Tim Hardaway Sr.
A former NBA All-Star guard who played for the Miami Heat and now hosts the Crossover Podcast, where he offers commentary on the league.
Bam Adebayo
A longtime Miami Heat center and one of the team's best-known players, whose scoring and shooting figures are under scrutiny this season.
The details
Hardaway made the remarks on his show, Crossover Podcast, saying Miami lacks urgency on defense and takes too many threes. He named Bam Adebayo, Tim Hardaway Jr., Klay Thompson, and Andrew Wiggins in his criticism of the team's effort.
Timeline
Seven games into the 2026-27 season, the Heat stood at 2-5.
Hardaway's criticism was published on November 5, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The Heat's 2-5 start and 27th-ranked defense place them against a league increasingly built around three-point shooting. Their struggle to limit made threes shows how perimeter-heavy offenses are testing Miami's defensive identity this season.
The Heat's defensive rating and three-point defense numbers affect how their games are likely to go against high-volume shooting teams. Fantasy managers rostering Bam Adebayo should note his lower scoring and three-point output this season.
The takeaway
Watching defensive rating and opponent three-point makes is a useful way to judge whether Miami's early struggles are a matter of effort or scheme. Tracking those numbers over the next several games will show whether the Heat adjust.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Basketball coverage in Miami.
