The Miami Heat are all about effort. That’s what tends to separate them from most teams around the league.
Even with their shots aren’t falling, the sets aren’t as crisp, and the moves just aren’t there on a given night or evening, the Miami Heat can always fall back on the fact that they play harder than most teams will every single night.
That has always been a characteristic of Miami Heat teams and it is no less true now. That’s a huge part of the culture and also a huge reason as to why P.J. Tucker has fit in nicely here.
You can tell that it all matters to him, every single play and possession. That’s based on the effort that he always puts in.
Hang on to that though. It will all come back around.
Though the Miami Heat find themselves in first place in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, they still find themselves amongst the chatter of the rumor mill as well.
What’s important though in this instance aren’t the rumors themselves, revolving around Houston Rockets big man Christian Wood, but a tidbit mentioned in the report.
Let’s check it out.
Miami Heat: It All Just Seems To Matter More To P.J. Tucker
The details of note concern the former rocket-turned Miami Heat guy, P.J. Tucker. In the reporting of Kelly Iko, via The Athletic (subscription required), it’s noted that the Rockets would like to keep Eric Gordon around, as it seems as though he wants to be around and is beneficial to the young core.
However, there is one small detail at the end of the specific Gordon reporting that seems, a bit, telling. Here is the quote.
"There is a good deal of internal admiration for how Gordon carries himself on and off the floor and the work ethic he shows on a daily basis, characteristics the staff is trying to impart on some of their younger players. They are in no rush to ship him away, a much different situation than the one involving Tucker last season."
While you don’t know a ton of what went into that whole fiasco, from the outside looking in, the Rockets were a mess last season. It seems as though they weren’t looking to give a solid effort to anything— besides the rebuild they’re in now.
Miami Heat: Synergy Betwixt P.J. Tucker and Environment Have Led To Peak Year
What’s also evident is that according to his relationship with and willingness to give a max effort, that situation wasn’t something he wanted to be around for, but who could blame him.
Though he went to the Milwaukee Bucks, helping them get a title, you are glad that he now finds himself with the organization that he was seemingly destined to play for. However, this is also an interesting thinkpiece-type detail that shows you just how much some of these guys care.
Tucker is definitely one of those guys. It matters to him, it seems, and a ton at that.
If it’s not going to matter to everyone around him, he won’t be a pleasure to be around. While you could knock him for the social skills of it all there, you can’t knock him for the fiery competitiveness that is manifested in this notion and that he plays with on a nightly basis.
Perhaps that’s why, finding himself with a likeminded organization and group of guys, he is having, arguably, his best or one of his better years as a pro. It all matters in the grand scheme of it all and definitely to him.
If anything and everything could matter as much to us all, as maximum effort matters to P.J. Tucker, we would all be better off for it.