The Miami Heat have been to the NBA Finals 7 times in their 23 year history. Last night, for only the 2nd time ever, they lost a game by more than 10 points (they are now 0-2). However, I believe there were two unsung heroes of this team that contributed significantly towards this victory:
1) Justise Winslow and
2) The bench unit.
The “unsung hero meaning” is a term that has been used to describe the Heat in 2022. The two unsung heroes of the Heat are Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside.
The Miami Heat have been one of the best teams in basketball this season, despite losing Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo for many games. Their whole squad has been injured, including Victor Oladipo, who has yet to participate in a game this season.
If Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo had been playing at a high level prior to the season, it’s realistic to imagine the Heat would have had similar success. It’s tough to emphasize how much the Heat’s role players have accomplished this season. All of their players have performed well, and this Miami Heat team is full with unsung heroes. If they want to maintain having this sort of success, they’ll need their role players to keep playing at a high level even when they’re all healthy and on the court.
It’s tough to pick out individuals who have genuinely been the Heat’s unsung heroes this season because of how effectively the club has functioned without its big players. Despite the fact that many players have excelled, there have been two individuals who have gone above and beyond to assist this Heat club in reaching their current position.
Let’s take a look at the Miami Heat’s two greatest underrated heroes in 2022.
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Unsung Heroes of the Heat 2022
PJ Tucker is number three.
Last season, the Milwaukee Bucks made a terrible move by not paying PJ Tucker the salary he earned. He nearly got his career back on track in the eyes of many front offices in Milwaukee, where he was still able to play a high level of defense and contribute to the Bucks’ championship squad.
When the Bucks refused to pay him the money he wanted, the Heat stepped in and gave him what he deserved. The Heat made a good decision in signing him since he has not only been a top-notch defense for the club, but he is also playing his best offensive of his career.
This season, PJ Tucker is averaging 8.1 points per game and shooting 45 percent from three-point range on three attempts a game. Tucker also has a 5.5-rebound and 2.1-assist average per game. He’s done it all on both sides of the ball this season, and he’s a huge reason why the Heat are now in second place in the Eastern Conference.
PJ Tucker not only defends well and shoots three-pointers well, but he also does all the dirty labor for a team and is everything a championship team need. He’s a perfect fit for this Miami Heat squad since he’s a strong defender who also has the bulldog mentality that many of the Heat’s players strive for.
He’s been tremendous for them this season, and he’ll need to keep playing at this level if the Heat are to have a shot in the playoffs. He will almost probably be assigned to protect the opposition team’s greatest player because of how tough he makes it for them. Tucker will be crucial in the playoffs, and if the Heat are to win an NBA championship, he must produce at a high level.
Tyler Herro, No. 2
Last season, Tyler Herro had a bad year. Many people thought he had the ability to be a high-level scorer one day after seeing what he performed during the NBA bubble.
He made some questionable comments about how good he felt he was in comparison to Ja Morant, Luka Doncic, and other young players chosen in or around the same year as him throughout the summer. Given that they are two of the best players in the NBA, all of those assertions may not be correct. What he has achieved this season, though, should not be underestimated.
Tyler Herro may not always start for the Heat, but he still logs 32.9 minutes per night and earns every one of them, averaging 20.7 points and shooting over 40% from 3-point range on roughly seven attempts each game.
Anyone who has seen the Miami Heat in recent seasons knows how much they like hitting 3-pointers and passing the ball around. Tyler Herro is the offensive engine for this Heat team because he can make 3-pointers and is one of those guys that comes around the screen to unleash shots like the Heat do.
Since being picked, this youngster has improved his game and increased his output significantly.
