The Heat have had to use countless different lineup combinations throughout the season as players have come and gone due to injuries, but recently it has been Tyler Johnson that has become a key staple in the starting lineup.
As Ira Winderman writes for The Sun-Sentinal, Johnson has provided an energetic approach that has made him a perfect fit for the starting lineup, especially as Erik Spoelstra continues to look for ways to jumpstart his team.
The Heat have made several significant changes in the wake of Goran Dragic‘s injury, most notably converting Justise Winslow to being the team’s primary ball-handler and creator.
There’s more from the Heat:
- Ira Winderman also wrote about the amount of lineup changes the Heat have had to deal with this season and how certain players like Rodney McGruder have continued to adjust on a nightly basis.
- As Dion Waiters continues to work his way back from an extended injury absence, he firmly believes that in order for him to get back to his highest level of play, simply being on the court and receiving minutes is a must.
- As the Heat continue to shuffle through starting lineups, James Johnson‘s struggles continue to stand out. Ira Winderman discusses if there is a path to salvage Johnson as a starter moving forward.
Waiters, Richardson, Derrick Jones, Winslow, Bam
Tyler Johnson. James Johnson, Hassan Whiteside, Mcgruder/Ellington, Wade, KO off the bench
Heat should try this rotation for now and see what happens. Numbers show it could make sense. If not, maybe keep JJ in the starting lineup, and have Dion as a playmaker/scorer off the bench in 25-30 minutes. This also backs off Wade a bit so he can be fresh for the playoffs, while also allowing him to focus more on facilitating than scoring
…regardless if they keep missing between 10 and 14 fts every night, it doesnt matter what the rotation is. They’ll keep losing by 4
Derrick Jones looks more like a Heat player than all the players that previously established what a Heat player looks like, look like.
Only D-Wade, Winslow & Whiteside have any value in this team. Waiters is just bad, JJ is playing plain awful & Adebayo just can’t see why does he play so much… Whiteside is so much better than him. Spoelstra should have gone a long time ago.
Bam is exponentially better than Whiteside