In a 30-part series leading up to the start of the 2021-22 National Basketball Association season, we will take a look at each NBA franchise from a fantasy perspective. The 16th team we will review is the Miami Heat.
The Miami Heat have had some outstanding players over the years. They include Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, Alonzo Mourning, and Dwyane Wade. Currently, their starting five consists of Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson and P.J. Tucker.
From a fantasy perspective, the one Heat player who is making the most strides is center Bam Adebayo of Newark, New Jersey. Despite being an All-Star in 2020, and not in 2021, you could make the valid argument that Adebayo had the better offensive season in 2020-21 compared to 2019-20. This past season, Adebayo had career highs in points per game (18.7), assists per game (5.4), and free throw percentage (.799). He also had 2088 fantasy points*, which ranked him ninth among centers. In 2020-21, Adebayo had a field goal percentage of .570, free throw percentage of .799, 1197 points, 573 rebounds, 346 assists, 75 steals, 66 blocks and 169 turnovers.
At the forward position, Jimmy Butler is a fantasy asset when it comes to steals. His 2.1 steals per game last year led the NBA, and his 108 steals were second in the NBA. Butler only trailed T.J. McConnell of the Indiana Pacers, who had 128 steals. Butler’s 1868 fantasy points were 15th among small forwards, and his 1861 fantasy points were 12th among power forwards.
In his career, Butler has the distinction of putting up better statistics in the playoffs than the regular season. In the playoffs, he has averaged 18.5 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, and 4.3 assists per game. In the regular season, he has averaged 17.4 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, and 4.0 assists per game.
At point guard, the Heat acquired Kyle Lowry in a sign-and-trade deal with the Toronto Raptors. At 35 years of age, Lowry is still performing at a high level, as he averaged 17.2 points per game, and 7.3 assists per game. Known throughout the NBA as Philly’s Finest even though former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper once thought he was Canadian, Lowry was an instrumental part of the Raptors’ team that won the 2019 NBA Finals.
Duncan Robinson meanwhile should be considered in the middle rounds. Known for his crisp three-point shooting from either the shooting guard or small forward position, Robinson made 250 three-pointers, which was fourth last year in the NBA. He only trailed Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (337), Buddy Hield of the Sacramento Kings (282), and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers (275).
*Please note: To calculate NBA fantasy points for point guards, shooting guards and small forwards, I use the formula (3PTM+Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals-Turnovers). For power forwards and centers, I use the formula (Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals+Blocks-Turnovers).
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