Meyers Leonard proving terrific fit with Miami Heat

Although he’s been with the Miami Heat for a short time, Meyers Leonard has already proven to be a terrific fit with the franchise.

His numbers may not jump off the page and he almost never sees the court to finish games. But the impact Meyers Leonard has had with the Miami Heat since arriving in the offseason cannot be understated.

Fittingly, his most recent performance during the Heat’s 122-111 win over his former team, the Portland Trail Blazers, illustrated the difference between his contributions this season and that of the Heat’s former center, Hassan Whiteside.

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While Whiteside filled up the boxscore with 21 points and 18 rebounds, Leonard was incredibly valuable with his 11 points, nine rebounds and three assists in his 23 minutes on the floor. Most notably, his 3-of-7 shooting from long range and team-high six box-outs all added up to the 27-year-old being a team-high plus-11 while on the court.

At 7’0″ and with the ability to stretch the floor, while also providing a physical presence down low, Leonard’s team-first, low-maintenance approach has been a far cry from the presence Whiteside brought to the team.

Despite having played just 19 total fourth-quarter minutes for the season, Leonard’s infectious energy, whether marshaling the defense on the court, or leading the cheering from the sidelines, has meant head coach Erik Spoelstra has had far fewer worries to this point of the season.

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1191367602427301890?s=20

Recently, Leonard commented on his overall role within the team, including his lack of playing time in the fourth:

"“When I’ve got teammates like Bam Adebayo and others telling me to continue to be aggressive and take shots, I can continually help our team in that area. But the way I carry myself is such that I am part of the team. As a competitor, obviously I’d like to be out there more. …“And I hope to continue to earn that right if I’ve done a good job in the first quarter, to come back in the first half, rather than only come back in the third, and then only come back in the third and not come back in the fourth.”"

Starting all 36 games, Leonard has averaged 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game, with his 45.0 percent shooting clip from 3-point range currently leading the team. Overall, the Heat have been 3.8 points per 100 possessions better off with Leonard on the floor, with their 103.8 defensive rating when he’s on the court an exceptional return.

Such is Leonard’s importance, the Heat have posted a 4-5 record when he’s played 15 minutes or less. Furthermore, the Heat have posted a 9-1 record when he’s nailed multiple triples, with Leonard having averaged 6.5 attempts over his two most recent games, thus emphasizing his increasing confidence in his role within the team.

Given the Heat’s consistent injury rate this season, Leonard’s presence alongside Bam Adebayo and Kendrick Nunn as the only players on the roster to start every game this season has been invaluable.

Moving forward, with Kelly Olynyk seemingly out of the rotation at least for the time being and James Johnson having just played his first game since Nov. 27 — and just seven overall for the season — Leonard’s place in the rotation is as vital as at any stage of his career.

So while his arrival in the offseason was hardly the thing of fanfare, followers of the Miami Heat have quickly realized the vital importance of Meyers Leonard.