MIAMI — To the unfocused eye, Joe Johnson looked like the typical NBA buyout recipient. He was years removed from his last All-Star appearance, seemingly more attractive for his name than his actual numbers.
But to the injury-riddled, shooting-deprived Miami Heat, Johnson was perfect. He could simultaneously address their need for spacing, creativity and crunch-time scoring. And, as a 15-year veteran, he could acclimate himself on the fly to a Miami team furiously fighting for playoff positioning.
Two games into their midseason marriage, they're already envisioning a shared future.
Maybe that's how everyone feels during the honeymoon phase. Or perhaps it's because they fit like pieces from the same puzzle. The Heat are 2-0 since Johnson's arrival and averaging more than 16 extra points than they did without him (113.5 per game, up from 96.9). The 6'7" swingman, meanwhile, has settled in like a long-lost relative who finally found home.
"Everything's been pretty easy," Johnson said. "The guys have been great. My family loves it here. I just want to continue to have fun on and off the court."
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Zach Buckley
Right Place, Right Time: Miami Heat and Joe Johnson Proving to Be Perfect Match
March 3rd, 2016 by Zach Buckley Leave a reply »
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