Miami Heat’s James Johnson is finding himself once again
Miami Heat forward James Johnson is getting back on track.
It’s a broken record at this point: inconsistency has been the name of the game for the Miami Heat this year.
Inconsistency in the team’s output from week to week, inconsistency in lineups night after night, even inconsistency in individual player performances, quarter to quarter.
And the story of 2017-18 James Johnson, has been no different.
Re-signing to a four-year, $60 million deal this past summer, fans were expecting big things out of the forward. After all, he averaged a career-high 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steal a game last season, lighting up the second unit alongside Tyler Johnson.
But instead, things started off shaky.
While the 31-year-old showed promise early on in the year, scoring 21 points and grabbing nine rebounds against both the San Antonio Spurs (October 25), and the Golden State Warriors (November 6), he continued on to have head-scratching performances like totaling just four points and four rebounds in 33 minutes versus the New York Knicks (January 5).
This yo-yo act kept up, marked by the likes of 22-point, 6-rebound, 7-assist games against the Charlotte Hornets, followed by recording only four points in 29 minutes versus the Sacramento Kings.
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In a year filled with question marks, Johnson was perhaps the biggest of all.
Truth be told, however, some decrease in efficiency should have been expected. In his first run with Miami, the Wyoming-native flourished in a completely different environment. He came off the bench in all but five games, working off the chemistry he had developed with the other Johnson. But once this year rolled around, Johnson was forced into splitting his time between a starter and a role player.
Of 64 games played, he has started 32, partly due to filling in for injured teammates, but also because of head coach Erik Spoelstra still playing around with multiple rotations. Between new guys like Bam Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk coming aboard, and the return of Dwyane Wade, the Heat have constantly been toying with their lineups.
The good news is, Johnson seems to be finding himself once again, right in time for the team’s playoff push.
Currently 39-33, sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference, Miami is doing whatever it can to finish off the season strong. Johnson very much included.
In a double overtime win over the Denver Nuggets, the forward scored 31 points on 13-of-17 shooting, going 4-for-6 from downtown. He also grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out six assists, outworking the opponent on both ends of the court.
"“I mean, what can you say? Our captain was so inspiring tonight,” said Spoelstra, after the matchup. “It was challenging to score end of games and overtimes, especially when they started to adjust everything. And J.J. was just able to create opportunity out of seemingly nothing, or when we got stuck. And that’s what great leaders do for you.”"
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James Johnson certainly has the ability to be a great asset for this Miami Heat team, especially come playoff time, so here’s hoping he keeps going in the right direction.