Reacting to leaked Miami Heat NBA 2K ratings

Let’s take a look at the leaked NBA 2K ratings for the Miami Heat, and see if we need to get them ratings up.

As mostly all of you are aware, NBA 2K season is drawing near on the horizon. Every basketball junkie has a soft spot for it, even if you’re too “scared” or “fit” to admit it (I myself am the latter of the two choices). Each year when 2K Sports releases its latest installment in the hit NBA 2K series, fans from across the globe flock to the nearest GameStop or Wal-Mart to get their hands on a copy for themselves.

Whether it be the laid-back head-to-head players or the hardcore MyPark fiends, everybody wants in on a piece of the action. With under a month to go until the expected release date, fans are attempting to retrieve whatever bit of information they can through extensive use of that fancy internet gadget some of us call home these days.

Assuming most Heat fans have already heard, the ratings for every current player on the default Miami roster were leaked last week. From Chris Bosh all the way down to Josh McRoberts, we got to see exactly what players will be equipped with when they choose the Heat as a user controlled team.

See for yourself.

Player by player, it’s time to analyze and see if the fine folks at 2K got it right.

Chris Bosh, 86

When healthy, Bosh is one of the more well-rounded power forwards in today’s game. He can play at both the 4 and 5, is an underrated defender, and can knock down any jumper at any given moment. One of the more clutch shooters, Bosh has also developed a knack for coming up big in key moments.

If able to return to full strength for this upcoming campaign, it’s definitely plausible to say 2K nailed it.

Hassan Whiteside, 85

Bursting onto the scene two seasons ago, Whiteside has taken a rare opportunity by the horns and hasn’t looked back since. Potential and upside just oozes from the young 7-footer, who managed to lead the entire NBA in shot-blocking in just his first full season played, posting a rate not seen in decades (3.7 blocks per game). Whiteside got himself a handsome pay-day this offseason. It’s yet to be seen if he’ll live up to the $98 million mark the Heat thrust upon him.

Even though Whiteside’s season ended on a sour note when he went down with an MCL strain against the Raptors, he definitely warrants a rating in the 84-86 range. For now, I’ll side with the developers.

Goran Dragic, 78

An All-NBA selection just two seasons ago, Goran Dragic arrived in South Beach on a high note, and continued that stride in his first stint with the Heat during the second half of the 2014-15 season.

However, with Dwyane Wade dominating the ball, Dragic struggled to find his niche in 2016. Over the course of 72 games played, he averaged just 14.1 points and 5.8 assists per game. While he had some big moments during Miami’s playoff run, more remember the Dragon’s struggles.

Seeing as Dragic regressed a bit this past year, it’s safe to say he’s right where belongs for the time being.

Justise Winslow, 77

A stout defender and a developing force on the offensive end, the upside of Whiteside can very much be used to describe Miami’s lottery pick in last year’s draft.

Considered “the steal of the draft” a year ago, Justise Winslow definitely had his ups and downs throughout the season, but came on at the end and helped spur Miami’s run to Game 7 in the second round without the services of their emerging center.

Expect this rating to increase over the next few versions, but for now, it’s right where it belongs.

Josh Richardson, 75

One could say this young, electric guard hailing from the University of Tennessee was one of the bigger surprises last season. Observing from the bench for most of the year, season-ending surgery for Tyler Johnson gave Richardson the long-awaited opportunity he was looking for.

Seizing the moment, the 22-year-old went on to lead the entire NBA in three-point percentage and makes over the course of the second half of the season while recording several highlight reels along the way.

As with Winslow, this will be much higher in the coming years. Some talking heads even expect Richardson to surpass the 10th overall pick. Right now, a solid rating of 75 is right where he should be.

Tyler Johnson, 75

Much like Richardson, Johnson entered the NBA well overlooked. An undrafted free agent, not many ever thought he’d make the league, let alone get minutes and make an impact.

Now, Johnson sits financially secure, signing himself a $50 million deal this offseason after two years of solid, electric play.

Solid in every meaning of the word, it’s very reasonable to put Johnson at a 75, but I’m going to nitpick and say a 76 would’ve been perfect.

Dion Waiters, 73

Dion Waiters has never quite been the “model citizen” in the NBA. After showing flashes of strong potential his first two seasons, his production has steadily decreased over the past three seasons, resulting in a career-low in points last season at just 9.8 per game.

There’s no telling which version of the former star Syracuse guard the Heat will get. Seeing as Waiters has never shown any true consistency, a rating of 73 seems appropriate.

Derrick Williams, 73

Willams entered the NBA in 2011, and aside from averaging 12 per game in 2012-13 season, has been a single-digit scorer for the majority of his career. Not known for shooting and a below-average career rebounder, there’s not one thing he does particularly well.

Frankly, I’m surprised Williams didn’t receive a lower rating. A 73 seems fair in that regard.

Wayne Ellington, 72

A six-year veteran known strictly for his outside shot, Ellington is a career 37.6% shooter from beyond the arc, with a scoring average of 7.1 per game since entering the NBA in 2010. Now on his eighth team, Ellington is still attempting to find his niche in this league and very well could be on his final chance at steady work.

A 72 seems about right. He’s not great, he’s not bad. That’s about it.

James Johnson, 72

Entering the league in 2009, James Johnson has served primarily as a backup every year he’s been in the league, only starting a combined 140 games in his career. A poor three-point and free throw shooter, Johnson is primarily known for his defense.

Well, his defense and getting dunked on by LeBron James.

A 72 seems healthy for Johnson. His defensive prowess can be very useful.

Josh McRoberts, 72

Although McRoberts is not the lowest rated player on the roster, he’s dead last in the 13-man rotation.  After showing tremendous upside during the 2013-14 season with Charlotte, McBob hasn’t quite been able to find his footing in Miami, whether it be injury related or not. In two seasons with the Heat, he’s appeared in just 59 games.

With McRoberts generally a bench warmer, his rating need not go up or down. It’ll be intriguing to see if he’s still in Miami after mid-season.

Willie Reed, 70

Reed is a 6-foot-10, 220 pound power forward/center who came into the NBA just last year out of Saint Louis University. After spending some time with the Heat in summer league, he played in 39 games played with the Brooklyn Nets. He averaged 4.7 points and 3.1 rebounds while playing right around 11 minutes per game.

More of a project than a finished product, the 26-year-old may see some time in the D-League before he’s ready for any real minutes.

Seeing as though Reed is in the same boat as McRoberts, it’s very reasonable to keep him at a 70.

Luke Babbitt, 69

The lowest rating of the 13-man roster released, Babbitt is the typical journeyman backup. Suiting up for his third team since being drafted in 2010, the 6-foot-9 dual-forward most likely will cease to make much of an impact this upcoming season, and a likely salary cap casual should the Heat need space to work with.

With a career average of just 4.7 points per game on just 40.7% shooting, it’s feasible that a 69 is just right for Babbitt. A 67 or 68 would’ve been accepted as well.

****

In conclusion, it seems the developers performed a fairly decent job constructing the current Miami roster. From Bosh all the way down, none of the ratings seemed largely off, and with the majority of the offseason behind us, we shouldn’t see many changes come time for the final release date.

Get your controllers ready, video gamers. The fun begins on September 20th.