Tyler Johnson eyes top-four finish

Pat Riley said last month that his team should view home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs as a goal. Today, Tyler Johnson voiced the same goal.

Johnson asked, “Who’s to say we couldn’t crack that top four?” if the Heat continue to build on their habits from last year. He also said that Dion Waiters and James Johnson will be hungry to prove their worth, just as he was after signing a four-year deal a year ago.

The backup guard also characterized 7-footer and Heat free agent pickup Kelly Olynyk as a player “you hate to play against but love to have on your team.” Perhaps that’s a sentiment Hassan Whiteside shares. Remember, Whiteside was ejected for a flagrant foul against Olynyk in Whiteside’s first season with the Heat.

We’ll see how Olynyk meshes with Johnson, Whiteside and the rest of the Heat squad. Hopefully, it’ll be as part of an exciting team — Riley and Johnson are setting their hopes pretty high.