Defensive assignments for PJ Tucker with the Miami Heat: Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton is a great shooter, as well as PJ Tucker’s former teammate. If there’s anyone suited to guard him, it’s a player who knows how he works.
Tucker played with Middleton for the entire second half of the season last year. While this doesn’t necessarily make him more qualified to guard Middleton, he definitely has more insight than other players.
Obviously, Bam Adebayo will be the primary defender on Giannis Antetokounmpo moving forward. Past that, though, there’s some wiggle room for Miami.
They have Lowry, Butler, and Tucker, who are all great NBA defenders. However, Tucker might be Miami’s best bet to guard Middleton.
Butler could easily handle the assignment, but the Miami Heat might be better suited putting him on Jrue Holiday. Lowry is a bit undersized and could guard the likes of Donte Divincenzo instead.
This means Tucker would get the Middleton assignment, which works out super well. Middleton is their closer, and they need a defensive-minded player to focus on him.
If Tucker can shut Middleton down in the final few minutes of games, the Bucks might be out of luck. As dominant as Antetokounmpo is, Middleton is the guy who ends up making a bunch of their clutch shots.
Tucker could get in his face and disrupt his rhythm. That would give the Miami Heat their best chance to win.