Davion Mitchell Is The One Heat Player They Can’t Lose

Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn ImagesThe Miami Heat cannot afford to lose Davion Mitchell. He has become the engine that keeps this team moving forward. Without his steady hand and elite defense, the roster falls apart fast. The stats prove he is the most vital piece on the court right now.Mitchell is playing as much as much as Bam or Giannis on the team. He has averaged 35.8 minutes per game, which tops the entire roster. His scoring numbers are strong too, with 16.5 points and 8 assists per contest. According to Sports Illustrated, he shoots 49.6 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from three-point range. Those splits are rare and show he does not force bad shots.The Bench Struggles Are RealWhile Mitchell thrives, Tim Hardaway Jr. is stuck in a deep hole. Hardaway started the season with high hopes but has failed to deliver. He is scoring only 4.3 points per game and shooting under 30 percent from the floor. His defense has been a major problem as well.Coach Erik Spoelstra has had to cut his minutes down to almost nothing. After a game against Utah where Hardaway sat out completely, Spoelstra spoke about the need for change. He said, “I get it for Timmy…sometimes you have to make a change.” The team simply cannot play him if he cannot guard or score. Ryan Conwell has taken his spot because he plays with more energy.Clutch Time Is The TestMitchell shines when the clock runs low and the pressure is high. The Heat as a team struggles in these late-game moments. They shoot just 32.1 percent with under four seconds left on the clock. This is the fifth-worst mark in the league. When the clock gets tight, their three-point percentage drops to a terrible 22.6 percent.Mitchell flips that script with his own shot. He has a 40 percent field goal percentage in late shot clock situations. He is tied for sixth in the league for three-point shooting in those same moments. Yahoo Sports notes that the logic of playing only who is in front of you is faulty, yet Mitchell proves his worth every night. The Heat have won five of their last seven games, but they still need to face tougher foes.The next five opponents include the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, and Houston Rockets. At least three of these teams are among the elite in the NBA. The Heat must go at least 4-1 over this stretch to get on track. Mitchell is the only player who can handle the late-game pressure right now. To get on track seriously, the team must win at least 4-1 over the next five.