The Miami Heat are getting the absolute best out of what they have right now. That goes without saying when you look at some of their victories across the last few games and who they’ve been able to get it done without.
No Jimmy Butler, no Bam Adebayo, an extended period of no Markieff Morris, and no Caleb Martin for the last couple of games are just some of the circumstances that the Miami Heat have had to endure.
Still and among all of that though, also speaking towards getting the best out of guys or a guy, they are getting a ton out of a forward with over a decade of service under his belt. For all the money over here, P.J. Tucker is having his absolute best year as a professional ballplayer.
For starters, there are certain situations where the case is clear as far as a player’s most elite or best year, regardless of scenarios surrounding it. However, there are also times where the factors that surround a certain set of season stats matter.
This might be the case for the man lighting it up in Miami right now.
Miami Heat: P.J. Tucker Continuing Upon One Of His Best Years Ever
With that, there are statistical seasons in P.J. Tucker’s career that may be a bit better than the one he’s currently having, stressing the “a bit” part, but those same seasons don’t share the same meaningfulness that this one does.
What that means is that though he was putting up the numbers in those other years that may match this season’s output, the influence or impact on winning at the highest levels wasn’t that moved by those numbers.
That’s exactly the opposite of what he’s found himself doing for the Miami Heat. What really also makes this a, somewhat, easy case is the fact that the numbers he put up in those other seasons on lesser teams are even close to his current numbers.
Enough romanticizing about them though, here’s a quick look at the two seasons that most stand out to contend with the current one.
One dead giveaway before diving right in, you have to go all the way back to his days in Phoenix to find years where he has been as effective as he’s been this year.
Miami Heat: They’ll Take All P.J. Tucker Can Muster Up, So Hopefully He Has More
For the Suns, he averaged 9.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists back in 2013-14, shooting nearly 39 percent from range.
In that season though, the Suns didn’t even make the playoffs. In 2015-16 and though he played in all 82 games, the Suns finished with a record of 23-59, good enough for 14th place— in the Western Conference.
Regardless of his eight points, 6.2 rebounds, and his 2.2 assists, but partially reflecting his 33 percent range shooting, they were a terrible team that year. That’s why his stats and impact this year, though slightly down compared to these years, mean more.
You also have to throw in the fact that he’s shooting the ball from range as good as he ever has, 44.7 percent on 2.7 attempts, a click under his career average of 2.9. Regardless of how you view it and especially when the Miami Heat need it the most, P.J. Tucker is playing some of the best ball that he ever has.
Though in a losing effort, his 23 points, nine boards, and five dimes on 9/15 shooting from the floor and 5/8 from range on Monday wasn’t too shabby either. Again, a Heat defeat, so you take it with a grain of salt but it still speaks to how well that he is playing.
You know he’s always going to give a great effort in the all-around game and on the defensive side of the ball, guarding everybody and whomever he needs to on the court for his team. The offensive production is a bonus in normal times, but essential now.
The Heat need all they can get. If what he’s done is any indication though, he’ll keep bringing a ton to give them every night.