Heat offense facing a new challenge. Also, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has a big decision to make and more

After dealing with relentless injury issues last season, the Miami Heat has started this season with a relatively healthy roster. But having more players available has come with its own challenges.

Those challenges have already been on display, as the Heat works through early-season issues on the offensive end. With the Heat entering Saturday night’s matchup against the Washington Wizards in Mexico City with the 22nd-ranked offensive rating through the first four games of the season, Miami is still trying to find the right balance and shot distribution within a starting lineup that’s filled with shot creators like Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

“We have the benefit now of having everybody healthy and ready to go,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said during a media session on Friday in Mexico City. “These are good challenges to have is to figure out how to be aggressive. Everybody wants to make it work. If you have more weapons, sometimes it takes a little bit of time to get on the same page. But we will, guys have great intentions.”

Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. taking his Mexican roots to Mexico City: ‘It’s going to be inspiring’

Considering that Rozier, Herro, Butler and Adebayo were limited to just 118 minutes together last season after the Heat acquired Rozier through a trade in late January, it’s not a surprise that this quartet is still learning how to play with each other.

So far, Rozier and Herro have taken most of the shots when those four have been on the court together. That has taken some field-goal attempts away from the Heat’s leading duo of Adebayo and Butler, who have combined to average 20.3 shots through the first four games this regular season after combining to average 27.5 shots per game last regular season.

When Adebayo, Butler, Herro and Rozier have played together, the Heat entered Saturday’s game in Mexico City scoring just 102.6 points per 100 possessions in 77 minutes for an offensive rating that would rank second-worst in the NBA among teams so far this season.

“I feel like that’s a Spo question,” Adebayo said Friday when asked whether he can do anything to become a bigger part of the Heat’s offense. “My job is to go out there and make sure we win.”

JAQUEZ STILL THINKING ABOUT IT

Heat second-year forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s Mexican roots have made him a popular man during the team’s trip to Mexico City for Saturday’s game, but his ties to Mexico have also put him in a tough spot.

After playing for Mexico’s national team at the Pan American Games as a dual citizen when he was 19 years old and then switching his international allegiance to become part of Team USA’s Select Team this past summer, Jaquez was asked Friday by reporters in Mexico City if he has decided whether he’ll represent Mexico or the United States on the international state moving forward.

“No, I have not,” Jaquez answered. “You guys know me and my background. I was obviously born in California. My dad is full Mexican. His mother was an immigrant, immigrated to America. So I grew up in California. I grew up doing the USA Basketball camps. Then, obviously, I played for Mexico during the Pan American Games. After that, I stepped away from national teams, understanding how that pressure could build and how the fans would react to going from USA to Mexico. So I kind of took a step away from that, trying to look at all opportunities and really just figure out what’s best for me.”

Spoelstra, who was an assistant coach for Team USA during the national team’s gold medal run in the Paris Olympics this past summer, believes Jaquez is fortunate to have two national teams to choose between.

“If you’re on the Select Team as a young player, you’re in the [Team USA] program,” Spoelstra said Friday. “That doesn’t guarantee anything because there are so many players that want to be a part of the program. But if you’re in, you don’t want to step out. But I know that his heritage is really important to him. When we drafted him, he did talk about representing Mexico potentially. It’s always good to have options.”

Jaquez, who is the first player with Mexican citizenship to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, was born in the Los Angeles area to a mother of Norwegian descent and a father whose family is from Mexico.

“It’s a decision that’s going to be personal to myself and what I feel, as well as my family,” Jaquez said of choosing between Team USA and the Mexican national team. “I consult them with almost everything that I do. So when that time comes, I’ll be ready to make that decision. But right now, I’m just focused on my team that I have right now and that’s the Heat.”

A DONATION TO ASSIST

The Heat, in partnership with the Micky & Madeleine Arison Family Foundation and Carnival Cruise Line, made a $2 million donation to Direct Relief to assist with recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“In Florida, we are very familiar with the hardships that affect residents in hurricane ravaged areas,” Heat president of business operations Eric Woolworth said in a press release issued by the team. “People continue to suffer days, weeks, months and even years after a storm hits — and they need ongoing assistance. That’s why we partner with organizations like Direct Relief, which provides life-saving medicines, equipment, services and so much more.”