The Brooklyn Nets are on the road in Miami, to take on the Heat and former franchise player “Iso” Joe Johnson.
Brooklyn Nets (21-51)
Miami Heat (42-30)
NBA, Today, 7:30 PM on YES, Full Preview
American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
After the Brooklyn Nets and Joe Johnson officially parted ways in late Feb., there were multiples interested in his services. It was the Miami Heat who signed him though and he’s been a great asset in those 14 games, in which Miami has gone 10-4.
ESPN’s Mike Mazzeo tweeted about Johnson’s positive scoring impact.
No surprise but Heat outscoring opponents by 9.5 points per 100 possessions in Joe Johnson's 446 minutes on the court.
— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzNYDN) March 28, 2016
Yes, it’s a small sample size and the comparison to his minus-4.3 points per 100 possessions differential with the Nets is implausible, being as he played over 1,800 minutes for Brooklyn this season. But, no that doesn’t mean you can’t say that Johnson’s presence hasn’t been a great asset.
Joe Johnson first 11 games with Heat: 15.7 ppg, 57.1% fg, 59% 3
Last 3 games: 5.7 ppg, 31.6% fg, 14.3% 3
Miami 10-4 since his acquisition— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzNYDN) March 28, 2016
Johnson has slowed down the last three games, but overall his season has taken an incredible turn, specifically his absurd shooting numbers.
While with the Nets, Johnson was scoring just 11.8 ppg, 40.6 %fg, and 37.1 % from 3. A few factors can be attributed to Johnson’s new success, the decreased workload, a new offense, or maybe it’s as simple as a winning atmosphere. Whatever the reason, Joe clearly made the right decision and he’s earned every bit of this success.
Always the professional, Johnson downplayed tonight’s game when asked if there was any significance to playing his former team.
“No,” Johnson said. “None at all. Not really. None at all. No significance. I’m not trying to prove nothing to those guys. Man, I’m trying to do what’s best for this team. And that’s us piling up wins. That’s the only thing that matters — for me, anyway. I have no ulterior motives. Trying to impress by no form or fashion.”
The Nets are coming off of back-to-back wins against playoff teams (Indiana, Cleveland) and with no incentive to lose picking up another one against the Heat tonight would be great motivation.
After losing Chris Bosh for the season, the Heat’s title dreams went up in smoke but they are likely still clinging to a serious playoff run. Losing a game against the Nets at home isn’t an option for them.
Game night vs. the #Heat in Miami. Read up on tonight's #Nets matchup: https://t.co/R16IJzEcGX pic.twitter.com/vILZ0YotfB
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) March 28, 2016
