Miami Heat: 5 goals for James Johnson in 2017-18
By Simon Smith
1. Entrench himself in starting lineup
In his debut season on South Beach, the Heat trialled a number of options at the 4-spot. Luke Babbitt was the most frequent starter, appearing in the starting lineup on 55 occasions. Furthermore, Derrick Williams made 11 appearances as a starter. However, both Babbitt and Williams are no longer with the team, leaving Johnson as the sole standover at this position.
Aside from Johnson, another option for the Heat is the recently signed Kelly Olynyk. A seven-footer with the ability to stretch the floor, Olynyk not only presents the Heat with a unique look, but also allows the Heat to utilize Johnson’s skills and effectiveness in coming off the bench.
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But having said that, there’s no reason why Johnson should not be inserted into the starting lineup come opening night. With the diverse skill-set he offers at both ends of the court, Johnson’s abilities should be used to their maximum capabilities following his breakout season.
Last season, Johnson finally started the final five games of the season after Babbit was sidelined due to injury, and his impact was profound. Playing 36.1 minutes per game, Johnson averaged 18.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Overall, he was a +31 while on the floor and shot at a 50.7 percent clip from the field.
But the most notable contribution during Johnson’s brief time in the starting lineup was on the defensive end. When Johnson was on the court, the Heat had a defensive rating of 100.7, which exploded to 114.4 when he was resting.
To top it all off, the Heat posted a 4-1 record over this span.
Just going by the numbers alone, it’s very difficult to argue against Johnson’s suitability for the starting lineup. Recently, Johnson expressed his feelings on being a part of the Heat culture:
"“Just trying to build an empire here in Miami is one of the dopest things I could even think about doing with my family.”"
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Considering his happiness off the court, there’s no reason why Johnson can’t continue to flourish on the court in his newly found home.