Miami Heat: Can Josh Richardson be the leader the team needs?

Can Josh Richardson help get things done for the Miami Heat?

What the Miami Heat need this Friday evening, is a win.

And badly.

At 7-13, including a handful of hard-to-swallow losses to the likes of the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks, it seems like it’s now or never, for the team to get a handle on the 2018-19 season.

Sure, it’s still early in the year.

And truth be told, the Heat do have plenty of valid reasons for why they’ve struggled so much lately (with unavoidable injuries being at the top of that list).

However, the NBA waits for no one; Miami may only be two games behind the No. 8 spot Orlando Magic, but they’re also only three ahead of the last place Cleveland Cavaliers.

In other words, as easy as it could potentially be for the team to start climbing back up the Eastern rankings, it’s equally as simple for them to tumble all the way down to the bottom of the conference.

(Something that perhaps tank-supporters would fully embrace, but most fans would be disgusted by.)

Tonight marks game No. 21 for the Heat, against an opponent that should be able to be overtaken: the New Orleans Pelicans.

Currently sitting tenth in the Western Conference, the Pelicans are coming off of an 125-104 win over the Washington Wizards; Miami needs to take full advantage of their confidence, and exploit their inevitable lackadaisical approach to this matchup.

And it all starts with Josh Richardson.

Richardson, who despite the team’s struggles, is having himself one heck of a season, has stepped up as the Heat’s new leader; with Miami having entered somewhat of a youth movement and Dwyane Wade retiring this upcoming summer, the swingman is learning how to function as this roster’s number one option.

"“It’s a big difference,” Richardson said, when asked about his laid-back personality, compared to his on-court presence. “I just know what time it is. When it gets inside that 94, I know it’s go time. I know things are real serious.”"

Head coach Erik Spoelstra is completely supportive of the Oklahoma-native in that role, too.

"“We all felt he was ready for another big step without us having to define exactly what that is. It’s on the court, it’s leadership behind the scenes, it’s helping impose his competitive will on this group. Sometimes those things are uncomfortable when you take steps forward like that. I think that’s where you really have an opportunity to grow as a player.”"

And Richardson has grown all right.

Averaging a career-high 20.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists a contest, in 35.0 minutes of play, the fourth-year has absolutely made the leap into the epitome of a successful Miami Heat Basketball player.

Now he just needs to keep up the good work.

(Hopefully the rest of his teammates will follow suit as well.)

The Miami Heat continue their homestand tonight, with tip-off scheduled for 8 PM ET.