NBA 2015-16 season: Grading every team’s performance
By Tom West
Miami Heat (B+)
The Heat had a somewhat turbulent regular season in 2015-16, climbing high in the Eastern Conference at times while struggling to stay in the top half of the playoff picture at others. Of course, Dwyane Wade is a talented player, but not quite the terror he once was, leaving more pressure on the rest of the roster to combine together and maintain their identity as an elite defensive unit.
This is where Hassan Whiteside comes into play. Whenever he’s switched on, he’s an absolute force, reigning over helpless opponents with the kind of block based triple-double nature that no one else in the NBA comes close to possessing. He’s the Heat’s new terror when he’s at his best, and that still didn’t make up for questions about his motor enough to remove him from trade rumors.
So much rides on him holding down the paint for them to look the team who ranked 7th in defensive efficiency. And after Chris Bosh suffered with blood clots on multiple occasions that sadly removed him from action, the pressure on Whiteside and everyone else has been even greater. But Whiteside’s lengthy move to the bench helped add more pace to their offense and serious force and defensive presence to their second unit and frontcourt rotations.
The Heat have received some positive additions to help through Bosh’s absence, too. Justise Winslow was a brilliant selection in the 2015 NBA draft, and while he may be a defensive specialist, he has such high overall potential if he can improve his shot. Meanwhile, their second rookie, Josh Richardson, has provided a surprisingly big spark off the bench.
On top of the two young guys, the signing of Joe Johnson in February has thoroughly helped the Heat’s poor perimeter shooting (he’s averaged 13.1 points per game and shot 43 percent from three in Miami so far).
Bosh was having an excellent season that was far too easily overlooked. Perhaps if he was healthy enough to play the entire season, the Heat’s grade and playoff threat would be higher. But without their best player for such a large amount of time and spells of real inconsistency, they have to be graded on positive acquisitions, impressive defensive effort, and a strong finish to the season.
Next: Boston Celtics