The Heat saw the vast potential of a Hassan Whiteside/James Johnson starting power rotation pairing in the final week of last season, with those two combining for 120 points and 69 rebounds in pressure-packed victories against Washington, Cleveland and the Wizards again.
Throw in the 17 combined assists from Johnson in the final two games of that final week, and there was every reason to believe Johnson — who replaced injured Luke Babbitt in the starting lineup late last season — would be a dynamic starting running mate alongside Whiteside.
Nearly 10 months later, the Heat hopes that Whiteside/Johnson combo reignites over the second half of the season.