Adaptability to the talent on hand has been one of the Heat's strengths over the Pat Riley era, whether playing a bruising style during the Alonzo Mourning prime years to opening the floor more for the fast-and-fun Lamar Odom season to going inside-out with Shaquille O'Neal commanding double teams inside.

Then, during the "Big Three" era, Erik Spoelstra reframed his team as "positionless," to capitalize on LeBron James' versatility and the plethora of proven spacers on hand.

This roster is built much differently and, if that wasn't evident prior to the first preseason game, it should be now, after watching the starting unit all but ignore the arc during their time together. In 113 minutes, they attempted just one three-pointer, which Luol Deng missed. As a team, the Heat was 3-of-16, with Gerald Green, predictably, taking the most (1-of-4).

So why does this matter?

Because it's very difficult to win in the modern NBA without quantity and quality shooting from long distance.

Consider the correlation over the past three seasons.

In 2014-15, the top five NBA teams in three-point makes combined for a 292-118 record. The bottom five teams in makes were 176-234, and that includes the anomalous Memphis, which was 55-27 while finishing 29th of 30th teams in makes.

The top five NBA teams in three-point percentage combined for a 281-129 record. The bottom five went 159-251.

In 2013-14, the top five NBA teams in three-point makes combined for a 224-186 record. The bottom five were 189-221, even with Memphis (30th) in that group at 50-32.

The top five in percentage were 233-177. The bottom five? They went 141-269.

In 2012-13, the top five in three-point makes combined for a 254-156 record. The bottom five were 178-232, even with Memphis (30th) again in that group at 56-26.

The top five in percentage were 285-135. The bottom five were 131-279.

The Heat knows those numbers.

It also knows that it was 66-16 in 2012-13 when it was third in makes and second in percentage; 54-28 in 2013-14 when it was 15th in makes and 12th in percentage; and 37-45 last season when it was 21st in makes and 24th in percentage.

What we don't yet is where the Heat will rank in both categories this time.

Middle of the pack may be passable.

Bottom third, or bottom five, and the times may pass them by.