Miami Heat: 3 reasons why PJ Tucker was the most important signing
By Noah Decker
This offseason, the Miami Heat formed one of their best teams ever from top-to-bottom. The Heat will look to avenge their first-round exit last season. With their new additions, they should be successful in doing so.
The signing that made major headlines was tat of Kyle Lowry. He is a former NBA champion and All-Star, and his impact on the team will be very apparent from day one.
However, the signing of P.J. Tucker might be even more important than signing Lowry. Here are the three biggest reasons why.
Related Story. One Bold Prediction For P.J. Tucker In Coming Season. light
Why the PJ Tucker signing was the most important for the Miami Heat: He’s no longer on the Bucks
For the past two seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks have been the Heat’s biggest rivals. In the 2020 playoffs, the Heat eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks after creating the perfect defensive scheme to take Giannis Antetokoumpo out of the game.
The following year, the Bucks added more shooting and eliminated the Heat in the first round. However, it was the Heat’s assistant coach Caron Butler who called attention to Antetokoumpo’s long free-throw routine, which eventually led to the infamous ten-second count by entire opposing stadiums.
Last year, the Miami Heat were outplayed on all levels by the Bucks. If the Heat find any way to weaken the Bucks, they will execute that plan. One way they have done exactly that this offseason was by signing P.J. Tucker.
Tucker was a huge piece for the Bucks last year. He was a part of their starting lineup and guarded some of their opponent’s best players. The addition of Tucker to the Heat makes their roster stronger while simultaneously weakening the Bucks’ roster.
Not only will Tucker help cut the talent gap between the Heat and the Bucks, but he also provides the Heat with information they may have never had before.
Tucker was at the Bucks’ practices and was in their locker room. He learned how their players think and feel. What he learned about the Bucks’ stars, particularly how they respond to pressure, could be more valuable than initially realized.