Best 3-Man Lineup Overall
Wayne Ellington, James Johnson, Tyler Johnson
Qualifier: Minimum 20 games, minimum 11 minutes per game
- Games: 20
- Minutes: 231
- Offensive Rating: 109.9
- Defensive Rating: 94.8
- Net Rating: 15.0
Without an all-star on the roster, the depth of the Heat has been a key component of their recent hot stretch. And these three have been instrumental in providing an enormous spark off the bench. Having had a half season acclimating themselves to playing alongside one another, the results are now speaking for themselves.
James Johnson’s ball-handling and playmaking capabilities have surprised nearly everyone throughout the league, whilst Ellington and Tyler Johnson have formed a key part of the Heat’s league-leading three-point accuracy since January 17.
Ellington and James Johnson are doing their best to remain in Miami beyond this season, whereas Tyler Johnson is demonstrating that the Heat’s hefty investment in him this past summer was justified.
Best One-Game 3-Man Lineup – Minimum 11 minutes
January 25 vs Brooklyn Nets
Willie Reed, Dion Waiters, Okaro White
- Minutes: 12
- Offensive Rating: 157.3
- Defensive Rating: 64.6
- Net Rating: 92.7
This represented the fifth game of this 25-game stretch, and was a key impetus for the eventual 13-game winning streak. With some of the starting unit having poor games, the Heat’s bench stepped up and delivered big time. Reed’s +34 while on the floor is a career-high, whereas White’s 10 points and seven rebounds was in just fourth career games with the Heat.
Earlier this season, head coach Erik Spoelstra showered praise on Reed’s impressive development:
"“All he does is work with Juwan (Howard) to try to get better, work at his craft to earn his minutes, earn his opportunities….So when somebody puts in that much time, you’re very happy for him when he’s able to produce like that.”"