James Johnson is inching his way back into the Miami Heat’s active roster, as the team shows their need for him.
Miami’s power forward has been taking steps in the right direction, after suffering a sports hernia; Johnson has returned to practice, but the Heat continue to take the safe rather than sorry stance, and are making sure he’s good to go when the time is right.
Johnson has been listed as out once again this Wednesday against the New York Knicks.
After missing the first three games of the season, Miami has plenty of questions left to answer.
With Dion Waiters, Wayne Ellington and Justise Winslow also out, it’s hard to see exactly where Johnson has been missed the most.
The two problems that the Heat have presented the most though have been foul trouble and turnovers. The Heat rank third with 81 personal fouls amongst teams who have played the same amount of games.
They have also committed 52 turnovers through their first three games.
Johnson brings a little more consistency when it comes to this area. He fouled out only twice last season, and saw five fouls only seven times. It’s almost hard to believe when you look at the four, who is the perfect example of the Heat’s infamous hard-nosed culture.
Standing at 6-foot-9, and weighing 250 pounds, the trained fighter in Johnson is disciplined where the Heat needs it the most. Defensively, he steps up against some the Heat’s more difficult matchups.
More importantly, he won’t foul while doing so.
Would he have stopped Kemba Walker’s 39-point performance in their one-point loss on Saturday night?
Walker is a player that is going to get his no matter who’s there. But, we know Johnson would have had an impact. He’s a disciplined defender with the ability to quickly slide over and impact a guard like Walker, on their way to the rim.
On the other side of the court, Johnson gives the Heat some much-needed spacing. He’s not going to take as many 3’s as Kelly Olynyk will, but he’s a stronger overall offensive player.
Johnson has the ability to beat his matchup off the dribble. 11 percent of his shots came from the top of the key last season, but his efficiency inside is where the Heat need him. The majority of his shots came inside the paint, where he was 63 percent in the 2017-18 season.
Finding minutes again for Johnson will be difficult.
But, the positives of him back on the court for Miami, could have made the difference in the close games that the Heat have faced early this season and moving forward.