Miami Heat: 3 lineups to look forward to in 2018-19

The Clutch

Lineup: Wade, Ellington, Dion Waiters, Richardson and Whiteside

Notes: Miami played the most games that went into the clutch (53)

Who is the most clutch player in the NBA?

Judging solely by games played, it’s Richardson.

Richardson played 50 games that entered clutch situations, just three short of Miami’s league-leading 53. On average, he spent 4.2 minutes in such situations, more than, among others, Russell Westbrook, Kemba Walker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant.

Though he’s hit but a handful of big-time buckets, Richardson is poised to be successful in the long run.

"“He’s ready for the next jump, the jump is ready for him,” Erik Spoelstra told the Palm Beach Post about Richardson. “It’s now a matter of when.”"

To supplement that growth, taking the court with the most clutch player in Heat history, Wade, only makes sense.

That duo instantly becomes a trio with the healthy addition of Dion Waiters, who established himself as a late-game threat when the Heat toppled the Warriors in 2017.

Even Whiteside, with his expansive wingspan, has proven capable of winning games with last-second tip-ins.

The biggest problem with this lineup, unfortunately, is determining exactly how long it stays on the court together.

Defensively, spending the entirety of a clutch period (the last five minutes with a score within five points) might be too much to ask for. This group would have to work overtime to ensure Whiteside doesn’t get switched into mismatches. Similarly, covering for defensive gambles on Wade’s part, could put them in tight spots.

Ultimately fielding a five-man group of game-winning threats is tantalizing. The leeway granted by running decoy plays to Ellington or relying on a patented Wade step-back, will leave defenses guessing.

Though another season of 50-plus games going into the clutch isn’t for the best, knowing Miami has a surplus of options should put the team at ease.