Miami Heat: Duncan Robinson is their most important player as NBA resumes

The Miami Heat and the rest of the NBA are seemingly preparing to get back to it. Duncan Robinson is most key for the Heat as they look to complete the season.

The Miami Heat, like every other team in the NBA, are surely prepping and getting set for what is to be their glorious return to play. While all the exact details haven’t been finalized as of yet, one has to assume that they will take place in Orlando on the Disney World campus, or at least that they are the leader in the clubhouse to host the event.

With any return to anything after a long absence or break, there is sure to be rust. With sports, especially those on a professional level, and most certainly when talking about the league that houses the absolute most gifted athletes in the world, you also have to account for conditioning or them having to work themselves back into playing shape, just as much as the common rust associated with laying off of something for as long as they have.

Even with the Miami Heat’s renowned conditioning programs and fitness standards that they set for their players, they are bound to have a player or a few come back in from such a long hiatus in less than ideal playing shape. As if it takes this assumption, but if Miami Heat players will need time to get back into the proper shape to play again then you know players from every other team from around the league will have to as well.

That is where we begin to think a little deeper. With that being the case for all teams, a sort of equal unequal playing field in the beginning, what shall set them apart?

Who will be the most important Miami Heat player upon returning, the guy who can most quickly get readjusted to help give them that extra edge or little something over the competition as they jump back into it and progress throughout the postseason? The answer may surprise you.

The Miami Heat are presumably gearing up to make their return to the hardwood. Who will be their most important player in doing so?

You might first think Jimmy Butler, of course, right? Well, Jimmy Butler is as tough as they come, but a lot of his game and effectiveness depends on his physicality and effort.

Those are traits that are fueled by having outworked others to be in better physical conditioning and a mental toughness that is built through consistent endurance training. Not that he has been loafing, but without playing in actual games for over two months, he might need a few games to get back to exactly where he wants to be.

You might then think Bam Adebayo. While that isn’t a bad choice either, it isn’t quite the best answer.

Bam Adebayo is another guy who’s game depends a ton on his physical conditioning. A high energy, springy, skilled big, Bam has to be able to move, get up off the floor, and be as quick twitchy as he possibly can to do what he does offensively and guard everyone on the opposing team defensively. It will probably take a bit of time for him to get back to himself as well.

The man who should be least impacted by the layoff is Duncan Robinson, thus meaning that he should be the one that is most quickly able to get back to where he was before the hiatus took place. His elite skill isn’t determinant on conditioning as much as it is just being on the floor.

He could not walk a single step for a month or two straight but rise up to shoot a jump shot and muscle memory will take its course. That is why he is the most important Miami Heat player as they make their return.

He is one of the few in the NBA with an elite skill that is completely unaffected by lack of prime NBA conditioning. Hopefully, our theory is correct and becomes more of a prophecy. Either way, we’ll just be glad to have Heat basketball back in our crystal balls.