HEAT: Stop over-thinking the room.
Some issues surrounding the Miami Heat:
The Heat have found themselves on the wrong side of 2 blow out losses on the road this week. Which means, fans are ready to dive head-first into Biscayne Bay.
Media types like myself, are trying to come up with solutions to a situation that may not really be anything but the normal ebb and flow of an NBA season. It may end up being a speed bump in the Heat's road to a championship.
See, sometimes there are no tangible solutions. So, we start making stuff up or conjuring up ideas that sound like solutions, but really create more of a problem.
For example:
The Heat NEED a Point Guard?
This is a complete overreaction to what's amounted to a bad month by both Chalmers and Cole. Granted, the bad month has been at the same time. However, these were the same guys whom we in the media were mostly praising a month ago.
Despite shooting 34% from the floor and 30% from three-point range, Mario Chalmers is still shooting a career high in both categories this season (by a long shot). Plus, what does everyone always say about Chalmers? He has a sense of the moment. Do you remember how well he played in the NBA Finals? I do.
This seems to be merely a slump. It's certainly not confidence. Most say, Chalmers has plenty of that to go around.
Norris Cole's shooting percentage has gone like this: Dec. 45%, Jan. 41%, Feb. 43%, Mar. 27%. You think there's any correlation to Cole's numbers dropping precipitously after 34 games and hitting the rookie wall?
I do.
Now, there's a possibility that he doesn't get out of his funk as the schedule goes deeper. If that happens, then it means more minutes for a presumably healthy Mike Miller (or James Jones) in the rotation and LeBron handling the ball more.
So, for all the media types clamoring for an Anthony Carter reunion. Shut it.
Need a little luck:
Poor Mike Miller. If it were raining soup, he'd have a fork. That's the way it's gone for him here in Miami.
This team finds itself again at the mercy of him being healthy. Outside of the Big 3, he's the most versatile player on the floor, and his presence is missed.
In the games, Mike Miller has played this season for the Heat, they're 23-5. In the games he's missed? 12-8. Offensively, Miller provides spacing. The threat of a 49% shooter and as skilled a passer as the team possesses.
Defensively, he's a very good system defender and an excellent rebounder. His pursuit on the glass seems to energize the rest of the team.
You believe I may be overstating Miller's importance?
Of all the 5 man combinations, the Heat has used this season, no 5 man unit has been more efficient than the Heat's "closing five" unit of The Big 3, Miller and Haslem.
Offensively, that group is scoring 1.45 points per possession. Defensively, that same group is only allowing 0.67 points per possession. That's the 2nd best defensive unit Miami has.
Unfortunately, that group has only played 14 minutes together this season.
Why's that?
If you recall, the Heat was blowing out the majority of their opponents at that stage of the season. There were only a few tight/late game situations at that point in the season.
So, you don't buy into a small 14-minute sample size?
How about the fact, that Mike Miller is part of three of the Heat's top five scoring groupings. Additionally, on the defensive side, Miller's only on one unit that allows more than 1 point per possession.
So, scoff all you want at the notion that Mike Miller doesn't have real value on this team. The numbers suggest, that he is as important a piece as there is outside of the Big 3.
Solution:
Chris Bosh is talented enough to be the best power forward in the NBA. He's arguably the finest in the Eastern Conference today.
The most tangible option for the Heat to get better is for Chris Bosh to play more like a power player.
Remember these words?
"It is common sense; we can talk about it, but I think it's evident," Bosh said. "I just have to get it where I'm effective. I'm a big man. I can shoot the ball, but I'm a big man. So I have to get it where big guys get it. Then I feel I can start helping out this team more."
Those were Bosh's words last season in the midst of a Heat five-game losing streak. Those words rang true back then and are what's necessary now.
This isn't a revelation. Bosh himself said so in an interview during the preseason with ESPN:
“I'm leaps and bounds better, in my opinion. Not only did I want to get better on the court; I wanted to get better in the weight room and really put the work in and improve my body and endurance. Be in the best shape possible coming into the season, because it's physical down there. There shouldn't be a season where I don't average 10 rebounds. I felt like (last season) I let my team down. And that's not going to happen again. And the only way I can do that is to get stronger, get more physical and be more of a presence on the boards.”
Bosh is currently averaging fewer rebounds this season than he did the last season (8.3 to 7.7).
When you look at his shot selection, he's shooting fewer jump shots this season than last (64% Jump Shots in 11-12 versus 71% in 10-11). So, that's not an excuse. It's about the mindset.
Why is this happening?
Again, if he wants to get it where big men get it, then he has to go down there and ask for it.
When he had his best rebounding season of his career the year prior to joining Miami, only 54% of his total shots were jump shots. That means 46% were either post ups, dunks or tips.
That's how big men play.
That's how they get fed.
When the big man eats, that generally leads to championships.
JS
Jorge Sedano Show weekdays 6am-10am on 790 The Ticket
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