Miami Heat: 3 goals for James Johnson in 2018-19

Following an underwhelming second season with the Miami Heat, here are three goals for veteran forward James Johnson in 2018-19.

The Miami Heat urgently need the real James Johnson back on the court in 2018 -19.

While he demonstrated at times last season why the Heat rewarded him with a four-year, $59.1 million contract last summer, Johnson was not the same player who transformed both his body and his game in his debut season with the Heat.

Following the Heat’s first round playoff defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers, Johnson underwent hernia surgery, which his agent Mark Bartelstein said affected the 31-year-old throughout the course of last season:

"“It’s something that he played through last year and it affected him for sure. They don’t come any tougher than James. His pain threshold is unlike anyone I’ve seen.”"

Whether nor not it was directly related, Johnson’s 3-point percentage, defensive rating, usage rate and minutes per game all took a hit from the previous season.

Therefore, without the explosion he exhibited the previous season, Johnson’s exploits at the offensive end were highly inconsistent. In 73 games, the nine-year veteran had 34 games in which he failed to score in double figures, ultimately averaging 10.8 points per game for the season.

While scoring is just one facet of his game, Johnson’s frequent disappearances on the offensive end of the floor certainly didn’t help a Heat team that finished 20th in offensive rating and 23rd in points per game.

So with a full bill of health and a lengthy offseason for Johnson to prepare, the Heat will be naturally hoping he returns to his form of 2016-17. With this in mind, here are three goals for James Johnson this upcoming season.