2. Lead the Heat in assists
Such a statement would have been laughed at just a couple of seasons ago.
With his reputation as a selfish gunner being well deserved, this is an area of Waiters’ game that has flourished since arriving in Miami. Prior to joining the Heat, Waiters had averaged just 2.5 assists per game over his first four seasons in the league. However, due to both his maturation as a player and the Heat further utilizing his array of abilities, he became more than just a one-dimensional, erratic scorer.
In his first season with the Heat, Waiters averaged a career-high 4.3 assists per game, quite a feat considering he averaged just 2.0 per game the season prior with the Oklahoma City Thunder. With his ability to break down the defense off the dribble, the Heat’s spread offense has proven to be a terrific fit for the 26-year-old Waiters.
Despite being hobbled with his ankle issue, Waiters still managed to average 3.8 dimes per game last year, trailing only Goran Dragic at 4.8 per game. However, in order to lead the team in assists next season, his time spent on the court with Dragic will need to be reduced.
Last season, the difference in Waiters’ output with or without Dragic on the floor was staggering. When sharing the court with Dragic, Waiters produced an anemic 96.6 offensive rating, along with an assist percentage of 17.0. However, when given the additional freedom without the presence of Dragic, Waiters produced a 106.4 offensive rating, along with an assist percentage of 28.4.
To put this in perspective, this assist percentage would’ve ranked 28th in the league among all players who appeared in at least 41 games. Furthermore, the success of the Heat when Waiters has racked up the dimes has been noteworthy. In 2016-17, the Heat were 7-1 when Waiters dished out at least seven dimes, and 4-2 last season when dealt at least six assists.
So while Waiters still has some ground to make up when it comes to leading the team in assists, this isn’t as extreme as it may seem on the surface.