The Miami Heat have a very peculiar offseason ahead of them, it seems. Though it may not seem like they have a ton to do, it’s not a small amount of work before them either.
One of the most important scenarios to handle though is the one that surrounds a huge part of the heart, soul, and will of this past year’s team, P.J. Tucker.
With a player option and questions about whether he’s actually a “mid-level guy” or not, Tucker will probably be looking to opt out and be taken care of in one or two ways.
He will either want a raise on the coming year outright or to have another year or so tacked on. You have to play it smartly if you are the Miami Heat, which means protecting yourself and doing what you need to do to keep Tucker around, but you also want to keep his age, 37, in mind.
Miami Heat: One Key Improvement For P.J. Tucker Next Season
Though the way he has played, believe it or not, may mean that he isn’t as “treaded” along the tires as some would believe, you still want to keep in mind that 37 is 37 in professional sports. He isn’t done or cooked, by any means, but you want to protect yourself is the point.
While all of that, keeping him, is the main goal for the Miami Heat, here is the improvement P.J. Tucker should be looking to make this offseason.
Being one of the best three-point shooters in the league this past season and one of the best to ever do it when it comes to knocking down the corner three-ball, he should look to expand that part of his game.
Tucker found himself in quite a few scenarios with top-of-the-key or above-the-break three-point opportunities and though he didn’t pass them all up, he could have taken more. And in fact, he’s already shown to be quite adept from that spot as well.
Miami Heat: P.J. Tucker Can Hit The Top Of Key Three, He Just Has To Take It More
While it may not account for all of his three-point shots at the top of the key, his above-the-break range shooting stats are quite indicative of how successful he could be with the shot, in general. And to be fair, a lot of his opportunities would likely come as the trailer there, being a rebounder, defender, and not necessarily one of the faster guys on the court for Miami.
Shooting 9/20 on attempts from the top of the key on the break last season, that put him at 45 percent, a couple clicks higher than his overall 41.5 percent from range. Of course, as he loves the corner three and especially the right one (42/88 on the season for 47.7 percent), he would shoot 71/172 from the corners for 41.2 percent from there.
Basically, he has shown an adeptness to hit the shot already, he just has to take it more. That his key improvement for the offseason—to be more comfortable, willing, and ready to take that top-of-the-key or above-the-break three-point shot.
The most important thing right now is to make sure to bring him back but the second is this shot to go along with his renewed driving game, the P.J. Push Shot, elite corner shooting, defense, hustle, and everything else he gives you on a game to game basis.