1. Goran Dragic begins to decline
Goran Dragic was the Heat’s lone All-Star from last season. Although he’s one of the lesser known studs of the league, Dragic earned the nod by averaging 17.3 points, 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game on 45 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent shooting from 3-point range, leading the Heat to a top-six record in the East.
Despite flying under the radar of most basketball fans, Dragic has undoubtedly been a top-40 player for the last couple of seasons. However, his time as one of the better players in the NBA may be coming to an end.
At age 32, Goran is entering the downside of his career. Every player gets worse with age, and Dragic, who relies on screens and his jump shot to score, can’t afford to lose any speed or quickness. As his athleticism declines, he’ll be more reliant on his shooting, which makes him very one-dimensional scorer.
Yes, he is a solid passer, but he isn’t like LeBron or Chris Paul, who can whip a pass to an open man. Quickness and speed aid his playmaking as well. Although he is also an above-average defender, he only has a few years left in the NBA, all of them heading downhill. Typically players start to decline after age 30, and Dragic doesn’t have unreal athleticism to rely on. If Dragic’s play declines significantly this season, Miami will surely miss his impact.