Despite the team’s rocky start though, what do you still think is underrated about this roster?
Tachauer: Where do I begin? (You didn’t actually think a rocky start would make me less high on this team, did you?) I think first and foremost, is the fact that there are some truly talented players on this squad. I mean, Josh Richardson is hands-down, a star. Maybe not in the way most NBA fans think of that term in a traditional sense, but the raw skill, high basketball IQ and work ethic is all very much there. I also think people don’t stop to appreciate Miami’s player development nearly enough. Look at how things are going for Derrick Jones Jr. lately. Absolutely no other organization can find a diamond in the rough like the Heat can. I think Justise Winslow definitely deserves some recent recognition too. For him to just grow into a point guard so seemingly naturally like that, is pretty impressive. Especially after almost a full year of injury.
Johnson: I think what’s most underrated is the continual, behind the scenes work that is going into this team. Period. Despite all of the injury qualms—Dion Waiters, Goran Dragic, Winslow, James Johnson, Wayne Ellington—this team has been able to get its players back on the court and healthy. Waiters is participating in full practices again, Dragic is estimated to be out for just two months. Philadelphia told the story the best: you can’t rush rehab. Miami is steadily following in the 76ers’ footsteps, in the sense of keeping a talented medical staff around that is capable of getting guys back on the court and healthy in no time. Fingers crossed this keeps up.