Miami Heat: P.J. Tucker Plays Physically, But It May Not Be As Taxing As It Looks
P.J. Tucker’s offensive style of play is very generous on the body. Heck, up until the previously aforementioned renaissance from him in Miami, as far as the expansion of his offensive repertoire, he’s typically been a guy that just stands in a corner to wait on a good open look at a shot.
Yes and as he did this past season, he does a little banging but to be fair, he did a little more of that than he has done on offense in a long time this past season. Again, that also stands for a huge part of that expansion and renaissance.
His renewed dribble-drive game can put pressure on the body but again, it’s something that you hadn’t seen a ton of from him up until this past season. There is also this.
Prior to being traded to Milwaukee in the season before this latest one to help complete their title run, he didn’t do an awful whole lot in his last season with Houston. He only played in 52 games in that season, 32 with Houston and 20 with the Bucks during the regular year, before going on that playoff run of theirs.
To a similar point but on a more macro level, he spent quite a bit of time away from the NBA in other leagues. Though you’d imagine the professional player isn’t afforded as many amenities in other lower professional leagues around the world, the game probably isn’t as strenuous on them either with smaller seasons and not as high a quality of competition on a game-to-game basis.
So, while 37 years of age is 37 years of age, his heart, workman’s mind, effort, grit, and circumstances may not quite be reflective of his age when you think about what he has left in the professional tank.
This isn’t a declaration that the Miami Heat should give him exactly what he wants either. It’s just an observation that says giving him most of what he wants, especially if it’s a longer-term commitment than the two years, might not be as silly as it may seem on the surface.