With all the talk surrounding LeBron James' chance at redemption, Mike Miller's most recent injury and the acquisition of Eddy Curry and Shane Battier, we almost forgot that the Miami Heat also made one of the smartest moves of the NBA draft.
Possessing a pick late in the first round, the Heat used it on Cleveland State point guard Norris Cole to help address the issue of depth at the one spot, as well as looking for a capable floor general who can control the tempo of the offense. With Mike Bibby now a member of the New York Knicks, Cole joins a point guard class that includes fourth-year guard Mario Chalmers and veteran Eddie House.
House isn't your typical point guard, as he spends the majority of his time taking shots from the perimeter, which means that the Heat only have two point guards on their roster that are capable of leading this high-tempo offense in Chalmers and Cole.
Both players are similar in terms of them both being athletic, but they show a number of disparities amongst each other in just about every other outlet of the game, which is why Cole could be the starter by the mid-way point of the season.
The Heat thought that they had the steal of the draft when trading for Mario Chalmers during the 2008 NBA draft after he was taken early in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Chalmers was most remembered as the player who hit the game-tying shot in NCAA Tournament Finale that sent the game to overtime before his Kansas Jayhawks eventually won.
Chalmers was thrown into a starting role in the first game due to the Heat's lack of depth at any position. With Dwyane Wade being the only star and Udonis Haslem and Michael Beasley being the only support, Chalmers became the starter by default and would impress the team with his range and his defense in the passing lane.
Mario tied a rookie record for steals in a game with nine early on in the season in a win against Philadelphia. It was at that point that the Heat realized they may have found a diamond in the rough in Chalmers, as he would go on to average 10 points and five assists per, to go along with a three-pointer per game at a 37 percent clip from beyond the arc.
High expectations must have taken their toll in his second season, because Chalmers would lose his starting job shortly after the season started. Mario's shot wasn't consistently falling as it was in the season before, he was making too many mistakes when leading the offense and his on-the-ball defense was costly whenever the team faced off against an elite or above-average point guard.
Coming off a third season where he regained his starting job before quickly losing it, Chalmers shot a career low 40 percent last season but managed to regain his touch from beyond the arc as he shot 36 percent. Still, Mario was wildly inconsistent at all aspects of the game. From his three-point shooting to his ability to limit turnovers, he was all over the place, and it cost a Heat team that couldn't afford the inconsistency.
While many expected Chalmers to become Rajon Rondo once the big three arrived, it was not the case at all as he was stuck in old habits. He's only managed to obtain the starting job for next season due to the collapse of Mike Bibby and the fact that he took advantage by having a stellar postseason where he managed to limit his mistakes and consistently hit from deep.
The Heat re-signed Chalmers over the offseason, and this may be his last chance to prove himself as he's set to be the starting point guard on opening day.
It might not be for long, though, as the casual fan was just given their first look at Norris Cole during a Miami Heat scrimmage earlier this week, and they liked what they saw. Cole was directing traffic like a veteran, racing down at breakneck speed, while still maintaining complete control of the ball, hitting shots from inside and outside and even playing stellar on-the-ball defense against Dwyane Wade.
The fact that Cole is the type of point guard that likes to run, while still being able to maintain control of the ball, is going to allow him to fit perfectly in the Heat's offensive system. The Heat are looking for a point guard who isn't prone to committing unforced turnovers, as well as one who can be relied on to direct traffic when the ball is in his hands while still being able to be relied on for makes on open-shot opportunities.
On the defensive side is where Cole truly excels. He may be only 6'2", 175 pounds, but it doesn't phase him in the slightest, as he possesses the quick feet and hands to keep up with the faster point guards of the league. To go along with the quickness and agility he possesses, Cole is also extremely strong, and that means he's able to hold his own against the likes of Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook.
Cole spent four seasons at Cleveland State and excelled in his final season at the NCAA level by averaging 22 points, six rebounds and five assists per. He also managed to convert on 44 percent of his field goals, 34 percent from deep and 85 percent from the foul line. The fact that he can play on both sides of the court at an efficient rate is what's going to allow Cole to start in the future and possibly early on in the season.
It was easy to miss out on Cole, too. He came from a little-known institution and was in a draft laden with quality point guards, which included the likes of Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight and Jimmer Fredette. However, those teams may have just missed out on a point guard with more upside than any other guard in the draft, as Cole can efficiently play quality ball on both sides of the court.
I wouldn't expect Cole to get the immediate start since the team will continue to start Chalmers to see if he can respond well to the competition that he's set to receive from Norris, but I expect Cole to get the start in the near future and most likely by the mid-point of the season after a strong first half of the season.
Pittsburgh Pirates San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants St. Louis Cardinals Washington Nationals Jonathan Albaladejo
No comments:
Post a Comment