Miami Heat: These Guys Have Been Huge Too And In All Senses Of The Word
P.J. Tucker- Under-the-Radar MVP
P.J. Tucker’s name almost never jumps out when looking at a box score. He does not score a lot of points, has flashy dunks, or light up a highlight reel.
Instead, Tucker plays All-NBA caliber defense on the opponents’ best wing player, shoots over 50 percent from the field on low-volume shots, and brings championship experience to a championship-hungry roster.
He was also yet to miss a game for a Heat team that has been devastated by injuries all season, before sitting out his first game against the Pacers on Tuesday, a game they were able to get without him.
Every team needs a P.J. Tucker.
Dewayne Dedmon- Honorable Mention
For an honorable mention, Dewayne Dedmon has been thrust into a much larger role than he was initially brought in for.
With Adebayo missing, at least, four more weeks, Dedmon will presumably continue to fill in as the starting center. He could have qualified for a number of these other awards.
What Next?
With over 50 games left to play this season, there is plenty of time for these mid-season awards to change hands.
If Robinson remembers how to shoot, Herro cools off, or any number of injuries happen, this list could look significantly different by mid-January, which is when we will take a look at mid-season awards again.