Let’s take a look back on the Miami Heat’s season and give out some cool awards, everything from Best Dunk to Most Improved, to Best Social Media to Most Likely Not To Be On The Heat Next Season. Enjoy!
Welcome to the Miami Heat End of Season Awards, where the All U Can Heat staff honors the best performances and moments of the season with a bunch of serious and not-so-serious awards and superlatives. This isn’t your typical awards ballot. This is a snapshot of the things that mattered most in the 2016-17 Heat season.
Most Clutch
Allana Tachauer (@allanatachauer): As much as I want to answer nearly every one of these with Goran Dragic, how can this award not go to Dion Waiters? Sure, he may be the king of outlandish shot selection. And at times, his playing hero-ball may lead to me screaming at my television. But there’s no doubt about it: Waiters’ buzzer-beaters are a thing of beauty.
As are his celebrations after the fact.
Mr. Clutch is in the building…
Cory Sanning (@SanningNBA): As much as I ponder the thought, this easily goes to the man, Dion Waiters. Over the course of the second half of the season, he developed into Miami’s most consistent threat down the stretch, hitting daggers against the likes of the Warriors and Cavaliers (in Cleveland, nonetheless). He’s the only player on the Heat’s roster with enough swagger and confidence to step up in those moments, so it’s perfectly fitting, and like Alana said, his celebrations certainly don’t hurt, either.
Kristopher Keaton (@kmkeaton2): Begrudgingly, the answer is Waiters. Though I’m not much of a fan, I can acknowledge that he found a way to take the league by storm through his surprisingly effective play. His confidence is unmatched and his willingness to get his shots up no matter what should be admired.
Ivan Mora (@moraivan): Dion Waiters hands down. No question about it. I will never forget his clutch three over Steph Curry and the Warriors. From that moment on, I knew we had that clutch player we desperately needed. Waiters County!!!
Best Dunk
Tachauer: I have to give this to James Johnson for his dunk over Steph Curry.
That posterization was literally the background on my phone for months. And I don’t even know what the best part was; my love for JJ period, or the fact that it was against the team I hate most. Either way, that’s definitely a 2016-17 Miami Heat moment I’ll never forget.
Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg): That dunk was good, and it being over the reigning MVP certainly makes it special, but the reigning MVP was a 6-foot guard who unfortunately found himself on the wrong side of a switch and under Johnson’s black belt.
Marcus Moris is 6-foot-9 and every bit as big as Johnson, if not bigger.
Johnson ended him.
Watch the video again. Johnson briefly pauses as he gets the pass from Dragic. He recognizes that no one is in front of him except Morris. Poor, poor Morris. You can feel the earth brace itself for what is about to happen.
Look at Morris. Deer in the headlights, fam. He takes a modest step to the left and realizes the error of his ways but by then it’s too late. He’s already got a mouthful of Johnson.
Sanning: I’ve got to go with James Johnson’s dunk over Curry. It’s not every day you put the reigning two-time MVP flat on his back.
Biggest Disappointment
Tachauer: The March 31 loss against the New York Knicks hurt. Especially given so many of their key players weren’t even playing that night. Not only was it an ugly loss in the moment, but it also probably ended up costing the Heat their postseason run. There was no excuse for that lackluster performance and it’s hard to remember a worse game, even in the 11-30 record days.
Sanning: For me, it’s a span of two games. The consecutive losses to the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets in the final stretch of the season hurt the worst. Had the Heat won those two games (which they only lost by a combined seven total points), we would be having a very different conversation today
Simon Smith (@SimonABenedict): Losing three out of four games to the Orlando Magic. For some reason, the Magic of all teams had our measure. Even during the Heat’s remarkable second half of the season run, the Magic were able to triumph twice in the space of three weeks.
Best Single Game Performance
Goldberg: Goran Dragic scored 33 points on 17 field goal attempts, including making seven of his nine three-pointers, and had nine assists in the Heat’s 115-113 win over the Timberwolves on Feb. 6. It was the most efficient and dominating performance of the Heat’s season and it helped extend Miami’s eventual 13-game win streak to 11.
Sanning: Dion’s performance against the Golden State Warriors, no doubt. 33 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, not to mention the game winning three-pointer over the outstretched arms of Klay Thompson, and the signature pose that followed.
Best Redemption Story
Goldberg: James Johnson losing 30 pounds, getting ripped and saving his NBA career. This was a dude who was almost out of the league, then found his footing in Miami. The Heat got him straight, and Johnson improved his game and his standing in the league. From a dude who signed a one-year, minimum deal to someone who will likely be signing an eight-figure salary this summer. Johnson is one of the best stories of the season.
Sanning: James Johnson’s bounce back year that ultimately saved what was quickly becoming a mediocre career. After arriving in Miami, Johnson took on the Heat’s training regime and wound up in the best shape he’s ever been in during his 8-year journeyman career, leading to career-highs in nearly every statistical category.
Mora: Have to agree with Wes. His story is just amazing. James Johnson was the only player that made the most drastic change from the start of the season to the end. He just became a different more improved player with a better mentality and more than anything IQ for the game of basketball. He stepped up his game to the next level and was even a solid option as a starter in the last games. He is definitely a Heat lifer and I can’t wait to see him next season.
Smith: Dion Waiters. From signing for the minimum and somewhat unwanted around the league, to becoming the missing piece as the season concluded due to an untimely ankle injury. Waiters’ back-to-back 33-point games, his game-winners against the Warriors and the Cavs and his readiness to distribute to his teammates were just of the features of a breakout season for Waiters Island.
Best At Social Media
Tachauer: Because of my adoration for him, Dragic’s Twitter and Instagram feeds kept me smiling all season. Between his tweets about not sleeping enough and his team photos from various plane rides, I couldn’t get enough.
Blood Brothers! @MiamiHEAT #family pic.twitter.com/NvMgvgv2fH
— Goran Dragić (@Goran_Dragic) April 9, 2017
However, I think we can all agree that Hassan Whiteside’s Snapchat account is one of the best out there. He definitely needs his own offseason reality show.
Coaching Decision of the Year
Goldberg: Taking the ball out of Hassan Whiteside’s hands and giving the rock to the combination of Goran Dragic and Dion Waiters. For the first half of the season, Whiteside was the focus of the offense. The team threw the ball to him in the post, and Whiteside did what he does, which is a whole lot of jumbled movements and shotputs to the rim.
Spoelstra may have been hoping that Whiteside would pass out of the post more in order to facilitate the inside-out game he wanted. That didn’t work, and Spoelstra made the switch. Dragic and Waiters became two of the best drive-and-kick players in the NBA, finding open teammates in the corners and the Heat began draining three-pointers and improving their record.
It took half a season, but Spoelstra figured out the winning formula.
Smith: I concur with Wes. Less possessions for Whiteside meant more driving and dishing for Dragic, Waiters and James Johnson. This in turn led the Heat from ranking 27th in three-point percentage in the first 41 games, up to 3rd in the league over the final 41 games.
Most Improved
Tachauer: If we’re talking players who were on the team last year too, I think this should go to Whiteside. As big of a beast as he was in 2015-16, he took things to a whole other level this season. He improved tremendously on both ends of the floor, but beyond that, also stepped up as a leader for the squad. He took the younger guys under his wing and showed the newbies the ropes, all while maturing himself.
However, I don’t think anyone underwent a bigger transformation than Johnson. He changed mind, body and soul, ultimately leading to him playing the best basketball of his life.
Goldberg: After signing a four-year, $50 million deal last summer, Tyler Johnson made it a goal to earn the contract that made him puke. Across the board, Johnson’s stats improved from his second to his third season.
2015-16: 8.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.7 STL, 1.2 TOV, 24.0 MPG
2016-17: 13.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 STL, 1.2 TOV, 29.8 MPG
Johnson increased his scoring output by five points per game. And if you think that’s only because of the increased playing time, consider that his per 36 numbers show more than a three points per game increase as well. Johnson was asked to take on a bigger role this season, and he embraced it while improving his overall game. At this rate, he’ll be worth his $19 million salary that kicks in in two years.
Sanning: While I just finished a piece on Whiteside’s growth, this has to go to Tyler Johnson. The numbers (as Wes pointed out) speak for themselves, and it’s safe to say Johnson definitely earned every bit of the salary the Heat are paying him.
Most Likely Not To Be On The Heat Next Season
Tachauer: I’d say this is a tie between Wayne Ellington and Luke Babbitt, though I think most of Heat Nation would want the answer to be Josh McRoberts. While both guys drain shots from downtown like champs, their game is pretty one-dimensional offensively, and they are certainly the weakest links on defense.
Keaton: Unfortunately, at least for much of the Heat nation, I think the answer may be Waiters. He’s rebuilt his image in the league and should have earned himself a nice paycheck going forward. If the Heat want to bring in a big name, Waiters may be a casualty.
Most Likely To Be An All-Star
Goldberg: While Dragic is Miami best player, the East is loaded with elite point guards. Chances are that Dragic, on the other side of 30, won’t be able to do enough to warrant an All-Star selection over the likes of John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Kyle Lowry and Isaiah Thomas.
The class of centers aren’t nearly as good, and the progress Whiteside showed in the second half of the season is promising. If Whiteside continues to improve, he will have a strong case in 2017-18 to make his first All-Star game.
Keaton: I think this is Whiteside also, and it’s less about his talent and more about the lack of game changing big men in the East. Dragic, for as dynamic as he can be, just loses the popularity game to multiple PG’s as Wes eluded to. Whiteside had a case for the all-star team this season as should be in the running again next season.
Sanning: While I would go to Dragic at first, the East is loaded with talented guard play and seeing as though Kyrie Irving, Kyle Lowry, Isaiah Thomas, Kemba Walker, and John Wall are all still there, I have to go with Whiteside on this one, barring continued improvement.
Miami Heat MVP
Goldberg: I know it’s cheating but it’s got to be Spoelstra. The Big Three are gone, the team was made up of dudes on one-year deals and a bunch of D-Leaguers, and Spoelstra somehow found a way to make water into wine. After losing LeBron James and then Dwyane Wade, Spoelstra is now the team’s identity. His strategies and tactics are on full display. The team is shaped in his image. Spoelstra, the second-longest tenured coach in the NBA, has contributed more wins for Miami than any single player this season. Spoelstra is the most valuable person in the Heat organization.
Tachauer: Can I give this to Dragic, Whiteside and Johnson? I’m going to anyways. Look, the beauty of Miami is that they truly play team ball. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t still season standouts. You’ve got Dragic having averaged 20.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists a game, Whiteside with 17.0 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks and Johnson finishing the year out averaging 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists. And as impressive as those numbers are, they also deserve props for what they brought to the table that the stat-sheet couldn’t record: a source of motivation, leadership and energy. Clearly a new Big Three era has emerged.
Sanning: I’m with Wes, it has to be Spoelstra. The job he’s done with this group has been absolutely incredible, and should not be overlooked. To this day, the most underrated coach in the game.
Next: 2016-17 Heat among most impressive in franchise history
Mora: I have to go with James Johnson. His energy kept this team in the playoff hunt. From 11-30 to 30-11 isn’t an average feat, it’s truly incredible. Johnson never let up and continued to motivate his teammates and hustle on both ends of the court. His stats doubled as the season progressed. Before the season started he was averaging close to 6 points and he finished with 12 points and even at one point 19 towards the end as a starter. I want him to be one of the top priorities this offseason. He is the role player any team would love and for that he is my MVP.