Miami Heat: 5 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season
By Simon Smith
Following a solid offseason of free agent signings, here are five bold predictions for the Miami Heat in the upcoming 2017-18 season.
While they weren’t headline grabbing, the Miami Heat solidified their position in the Eastern Conference this offseason with a number of key free agent signings.
First of all, they took care of a couple of their own free agents in guard Dion Waiters, and forward James Johnson. After a slow start with the Heat, Waiters excelled in the back half of the season, averaging 18.7 points and 5.0 assists over his last 23 games, which included shooting at a sizzling 45.0 percent clip from 3-point range. Notably, the Heat posted an 18-5 record during this stretch before Waiters’ season was ended prematurely due to an ankle injury.
Meanwhile, Johnson recorded a career-year in his debut season in Miami, quite remarkable considering that it was his eighth season in the league and has just turned 30. For the season, Johnson averaged 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 27.4 minutes per game — all career highs. Furthermore, he also averaged 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steals per game, illustrating his impact at both ends of the floor.
In addition to this duo, the Heat signed free agent Kelly Olynyk to a four-year deal. At 7’0″ and with the ability to stretch the floor, Olynyk provides head coach Erik Spoelstra with a significant amount of options when it comes to formulating lineups.
This is all without mentioning the Heat’s two most important pieces in point guard Goran Dragic, and center Hassan Whiteside. With each having terrific season, their importance was never felt more than the back half of the season, when the Heat pulled off a 30-11 record to narrowly miss out on the postseason action.
With a return to full health for emerging young stars in Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson, the outlook for the Heat this season is rather optimistic considering the amount of talent drain that occurred in the Eastern Conference this summer.
That all being said, here are five bold predictions for the Miami Heat this upcoming season.