Miami Heat post-up offense has Chris Bosh batting third

But eventually the pace will slow, especially in the biggest games.

The Miami Heat insist they're ready for that, as well, or at least are getting ready, as training camp continues.

"You have to have it," coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday of an efficient halfcourt offense. "We worked on a lot of halfcourt execution today. Post-ups are a big part of that.

"A big part of our emphasis in our halfcourt sets and in transition is inside-out, getting those paint catches, post catches and then playing that way."

And yet the player who might be expected to most benefit from such an approach is a player who considers himself no more than the team's third option when it comes to posting up.

"In the halfcourt, I know where I'm going to get my shots," forward (and de facto center) Chris Bosh said following Thursday's session at AmericanAirlines Arena. "The mid-range is crucial. I'm going to have to knock those down to open it up for our post guys, number six and number three."

That's No. 6 as in small forward LeBron James and No. 3 as in shooting guard Dwyane Wade.

And that's what makes Spoelstra's position-less, hybrid, upside-down, topsy-turvy approach like few other offenses.

Spoelstra, in fact, said among the reasons the Heat did not feature as much post play in the intrasquad scrimmage is because Wade sat to rest his sore left knee.

But when the games count, when Wade again is available, Bosh said he almost feels as if he has to get out of the way for James and Wade in the post.

"I'm a little bit of everywhere," Bosh said of his role in the halfcourt offense. "I'm a rover. I'm everywhere. I'm going to get some post-ups, but, for the most part, we're going to play through those guys.

"And when the ball kicks out, that's when I have opportunities to get some looks."

For now, Spoelstra is continuing to stress pace as the priority, while sprinkling in some halfcourt sets.

But Spoelstra said post play, even without classic post players, will be the focus of the halfcourt offense.

"It continues to be a big misconception about how we want to play. We don't view ourselves as a pick-and-roll team," he said. "That is a part of our attack.

"A big part of our emphasis in our halfcourt sets and in transition is inside-out, getting those paint catches, post catches and then playing that way."