Miami Heat: 5 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season
By Simon Smith
3. Tyler Johnson wins Sixth Man of the Year Award
Its been a monumental rise for Johnson, from going undrafted out of Fresno State to earning a $50 million contract in the space of just a couple of years.
Having played just 68 career games prior to last season, Johnson raised his game another level. Over 73 games, Johnson averaged 13.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 29.8 minutes per game. Furthermore, he shot at an excellent 37.2 percent clip from 3-point range, and his excellent 2.59 assist-to-turnover ratio ranked 19th among players who competed in at least 70 games.
Johnson didn’t start a single game last season, and received one third-place vote in the annual Sixth Man of the Year Award voting. But his ultra-aggressive style of play is the perfect tonic for coach Spoelstra to bring in with the second unit to ensure the five players on the floor are bringing the necessary effort levels on both ends of the court.
Last season, Johnson posted 22 or more points on 11 occasions, which included a career-high 32 point performance against the Orlando Magic. Over these 11 games, the Heat posted an 8-3 record. Furthermore, Johnson’s impact lies very much on his versatility on the offensive end. Last season, 58.3 percent of Johnson’s made field goals were assisted by a teammate, with the remaining 41.7 percent coming unassisted.
Clearly, this indicates Johnson’s ability to play both on and off the ball. And with no recognized backup point guard on the roster, Johnson’s responsibility in the second unit, combined with his continued improvement, should see his consideration in the upcoming Sixth Man of the Year voting continue to rise.
More often than not, awards such as the Sixth Man of the Year are predicated on team success. Last season’s winner, Eric Gordon, was a member of a Houston Rockets team that won 55 regular season games. However, if the Heat as a whole can match Johnson’s rate of improvement, the Fresno State product could very well be in the mix for the award this upcoming season.