The Stretch 4: Heat win 4 in-a-row and Goran Dragic takes an elbow

As the Miami Heat continue to ball out, it’s once again time to explore the best and worst parts of the past week.

It’s crunch time folks, and the Miami Heat are certainly playing like it.

Now 32-34, the men of South Beach are continuing to grind it out for that playoff push. Something that at the start of 2016-17, most of Heat Nation wouldn’t have assumed possible in their wildest dreams. But with the team’s tremendous turnaround and being a part of the Eastern Conference, making the postseason is well within reach.

Currently just half a game, in fact.

Because as teams like the Chicago Bulls look worse and worse (sorry Dwyane Wade, still have all the love in the world for you), the Heat have gone on a four-game winning streak.

They started the week off with an 106-98 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, having also defeated them 120-92 on Saturday evening. Miami then came up victorious, 108-101,  against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. Followed by going 104-89 versus the Toronto Raptors, and sadly, an 102-98 loss against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday afternoon.

Miami. Heat. Basketball. Baby.

So what’s been working for this organization lately? And what downside will they have to work around?

Another edition of The Stretch 4 is here to tell you just that.

Let’s start off with the Heat’s recent surge in three-point shooting.

By now, something about me should be clear: I’m a sucker for a pretty three-point stroke. Always have been, always will be.

So it should go without saying that Miami’s newfound love for the three-ball, beyond fills me with joy.

But it’s not just my bias that makes them worthy of this praise. I promise.

They really have been shooting lights out from downtown.

Take Monday’s matchup against the Cavaliers. The Heat shot 45.7 percent from beyond-the-arc, with multiple guys coming in on. While Dion Waiters finished with 29 points on 5-of-9 three-point shooting, Wayne Ellington flexed that golden arm to go 5-of-10. Even Rodney McGruder, usually known for his defensive efforts, went 3-of-5.

Miami also splashed their way through Wednesday night versus the Hornets, shooting 41.5 percent from three. Waiters once again lead the way, going 5-for-10 from downtown, with Luke Babbitt doing what he does best, recording 12 points on 4-for-8 three-point shooting.

Obviously the Heat have gathered a talent group of shooters, with almost everyone now partaking in the long-range jumper way of life. However this offense isn’t a byproduct of happenstance.

The guys put in werk.

"“We have spots on the floor,” Tyler Johnson explained, regarding how Miami practices their three’s. “There’s three spots that have to be filled on every play. You’ve got the pull behind. You’ve got the guy in the slot, who can cut. And you have the corner guy. They’re marked. That’s something that we’ve stressed since training camp, that if a guy drives middle, make sure the corners are filled and then there’s an outlet.”"

And shooting coach Rob Fodor is in large part to thank for all of this. Including how Waiters broke his 4-of-21 shooting slump.

"“That’s a part of his brilliance,” head coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He’s able to express and notice things that a player feels and find the quickest one or two things to help find a solution for it without restructuring the entire framework of his shot, which is extremely difficult to do. When he says something, it makes sense. There’s a lot of ‘aha moments’ with him.”"

The Heat have definitely proven themselves to be one of the better rounded offensive teams in the league currently, but those three’s?

Ooh wee.

Can we also talk about James Johnson continuing to impress?

Johnson has fast emerged as one of the headlining stories of Miami’s 2016-17 run.

While I personally was excited upon his summer signing, having followed him since the Chicago Bulls initially drafted him in 2009, most people seemed to be indifferent.

After all, he hasn’t had the most lucrative NBA career thus far.

He didn’t exactly pan out with the Bulls, did two stints with the Developmental League and displayed only flashes of potential with the Raptors.

But president Pat Riley and company are not just another front office. They specialize in player development. Which is exactly why I was so hyped on Johnson when the team announced his acquirement. The talent has always been there. It would just take the right system.

Now I don’t want to say I told you so. However, here we are, with Johnson now averaging 12.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 blocks a game in 26.5 minutes of play.

(I told you so.)

Having sat out versus Cleveland, Johnson came out swinging upon his return. Over the last four games, he has averaged 12.0 points, 5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 blocks per contest. Finishing Sunday afternoon with 14 points and 3 rebounds in 31 minutes.

Heck, even former head coach Dwane Casey is in awe of the swingman.

"“Unbelievable. I look at him and he looks like a different person, his body, his form. That’s a credit to him and whoever he’s working with has done a great job in transforming his body. He’s lighter, he’s not carrying around extra weight and he’s moving like a guard. He handles the ball in transition. He’s really disciplined himself in making good decisions. That’s what James’ challenge has always been but he’s doing a great job. I’m happy for him except when he plays against us.”"

I’m happy for him too, coach.

And what about Hassan Whiteside becoming more of a team player?

I know that Whiteside seems to be catching a lot of flack lately.

His post-up game is off, he looks lethargic, he’s too inside his own head… I’ve heard it all. And sure, the big man has plenty more developing to do before he reaches his true potential.

However, he deserves credit for his transformation this season.

Forget the fact that he’s averaging 16.4 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a matchup in 32.8 minutes of play. Because his raw skill-set is nothing new.

And yes, of course he’s the same character he’s always been. The beloved class clown will never change. (If you don’t already follow him on Snapchat, I highly recommend it.)

But now, Whiteside is truly a team player.

Gone are the days of post-game interviews centered solely on his own impressive performance, leading into how many other teams missed out on him. Now, Whiteside puts his teammates on a pedestal. He praises his coach. He speaks to being a part of a winning system.

He is feeding into the culture.

With all that said, the bad news is Goran Dragic looks like he was on the losing side of a boxing match.

Unfortunately, Dragic has been hit in the face. Again.

And while he may not have lost any teeth this time, he did take a nasty elbow to the eye. An eye that is now pretty much swollen shut.

https://twitter.com/InstaNBAUpdates/status/841043127079178240

It’s easy to see why the team is now calling him Rocky Drago, eh?

No word yet as to when the guard is supposed to return, but all of Heat Nation is hoping for a speedy recovery for their leader.

Next: Dion Waiters want to re-sign with the Miami Heat longterm

Only a few weeks left…