Miami Heat news: Midseason player grades for each Heat player
By Duncan Smith
Jimmy Butler
20.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.6 blocks, shooting splits of .444/.271/.823
Grade: B+
Jimmy Butler is a reliable 3-pointer away from an A ranking. He hasn’t shot the ball well this season, but he’s done just about everything else to perfection. As a defender, playmaker, teammate and mentor, Butler has checked off all the boxes for his Miami Heat.
The Heat have been better when he shoots less, which demonstrates his all-around impact on both sides of the ball. It also shows his trust in his teammates. That’s remarkable considering the youth and inexperience of so many contributors on this team, but it’s emblematic of how far they’ve come in such a short time.
Duncan Robinson
11.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, shooting splits of .460/.428/.931
Grade: B+
Just like Adebayo and Nunn, Duncan Robinson has already done more than we could have expected. He’s one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA on volume, attempting 7.5 threes per game and hitting 42.8 percent of them.
Robinson and Nunn comprise a rare undrafted backcourt, and they’ve started a combined 77 of a possible 82 games. Yet again, it would be impossible to even hope for more than Robinson has provided the Miami Heat this season.