The Miami Heat may their championship push on November 23. Not with LeBron bumping Coach Spoelstra, or the anonymous (Maverick Carter) leaked reports of players being unhappy with the coaching staff, but rather the signing of journeyman center Erick Dampier.
For those of you who've watched the heat or who have linked to his stat page above, are asking the obvious question:
Can a guy who shoots 26%, and averages 13 minutes, 1.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.3 assists a game really make a difference.
The answer is yes, otherwise, I wouldn't have written this.
Since his first game against Dallas on Nov. 27, Dampier became the fourth center in the 10-man rotation pushing Eddie House out of the playing rotation. By moving the rotation by replacing a scoring guard with a center it forced the Heat to use their smaller players in other positions.
Chris Bosh never plays center anymore. The heat can go with offensively challenged/defensive minded bangers Erick Dampier and Joel Anthony, or "spread the floor centers, because we're too old and our hips will break if we have too much contact" centers in Zildrudas Ilgauskas and Juwan Howard. Howard can also back up Bosh at Power Forward.
By having Bosh at PF full time moves sharp-shooting James Jones, and soon Mike Miller (once he returns next week from his thumb injury) to playing a lot of small forward and shooting guard. This in turn moves LeBron to his real position of "large as hell" point guard.
Wade stays at scoring guard and this has all the stars at their best positions.
Earlier in the season (the 9-8 start) the Heat kept trying to force conventional logic by having Mario Chalmers and Carlos Arroyo be traditional point guards, but it works much better for LeBron to play point and have these players spread the floor looking for wide open 3-pointers.
The Dampier signing allowed for these roster shifts and we can see a difference in the team and the players stats.
After the Dampier signing:
Dwyane Wade's scoring have jumped from 19.56 to 27.25 points per game
LeBron James's efficiency rating has jumped by 15%
Chris Bosh's scoring raised from 17.6 to 18.3 and rebounding 7.2 to 8.7
Overall the team's defense has improved holding opponents to 86.6 points after Dampier than 93.8 before.
While the media will concentrate on the game in Cleveland as a catalyst, the shifting of personnel to better positions, I believe has a much larger impact. The catalyst there was the moving of Erick Dampier into the rotation.
Whoa, I didn't really realize Erick Dampier was still playing, but now I'm convinced he's the reason the Heat have pulled it together (Bumpgate seems a tad overblown). Does this make ED the Bizarro Robert Horry? A role player that is important only in small ways you don't notice? Only if he wins rings... (and he's already 35)
ReplyDeleteSo, admit it, you're secretly very happy the Heat are playing well. I think we all are. There is no team remotely as interesting as this year's Heat. Kobe wins again and makes a serious run at GOAT is somehow a little sad and boring. I guess the aging Celts making another run could be some fun, especially if Garnett or Shaq were to announce that it's their last year. The Spurs have had the same key veterans for forever and even I have to admit they were never that fun to watch. Even if we root against the Heat in the playoffs it will be way more fun if they're playing well.
Oh, almost forgot the Magic. Does the trade give them a better chance at beating the Heat? Is there reason to believe Arenas is still a deadly shooter (of basketballs) if he's in the right situation? Isn't it weird how everyone is focusing on Arenas (and even Turkoglu) instead of J-Rich?
ReplyDeleteI love the trade for the Magic. They have to show competitiveness to keep Dwight Howard past next year, when he a Chris Paul become free agents, and try to pull a Miami thing, especially if Carmelo ends up on the Knicks.
ReplyDeleteRashard Lewis sucked and gets paid more than Gilbert Arenas. Granted there were was a year less on the deal, but at least Arenas is a major upgrade off the bench. Even if he pulls another gun in the locker room and gets suspended, he would be contributing as much as Rashard Lewis. You're right that Jason Richardson is the key. He can play the 2 or the 3. The trade also allows Brandon Bass to start at the 4, a workman PF who gives good rebounding rates, much like an Antawn Jamison. An awesome fourth option. It also allows Ryan Anderson who shoots better than Pietrus to get back in the rotation, and probably forces Reddick out. The starting core of Nelson, Arenas, Richardson, Bass and Howard is awesome. But with Turkuglo and Anderson on the bench, you have a team that can match big or small.
However, and this is huge, the magic need a back up center. They need size, Somebody like a Brendon Heywood whose buried on the bench in Dallas or a Jamal Magloire. You just need someone ten to twelve minutes a game, because with Howard's offensive evolution this team could potentially be awesome. If Arenas gets himself back to 80% of his former self and plays in a disciplined way (big IF) they can beat the Celtics, Bulls, and Heat. Still can't beat the Lakers.
Also, this is awesome, because Howard called out Lewis and Carter last week for not getting it done, the first time he's ever called out teammates in public, they didn't respond, so management shipped their asses out. Howard owns the team now and that's good when you're best player owns the leadership. I can't wait for round two of the playoffs this year.
(1)Lakers vs. (4)Thunder/(5)Jazz winner
(2)Spurs vs. (3)Mavs
(1)Heat vs. (4)Bulls
(2)Celtics vs. (3) Magic
When have their been nine teams that you could see winning it.
Also if you get a chance to see Paul Milsap of the Jazz play, he's the best player you don't know about in the NBA right now, a top 15 player. Also Kevin Love, he's the white Moses Malone.
I'll bet $1 the Jazz make that 2nd round and another $.50 they don't make it out.
ReplyDeleteJazz need a Dampier.
Throw in a Blake Griffin and I'll say hand's down Champs.
This is a cool blog didn't you use to write for the Miami Herald I'm on to you. Nice wife you have and what a brother in law!!
RARRAAARARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrraaaarronpaul
Jazz will get Mehmet Okur back and he is vastly underrated. Between Al Jefferson, Milsaps and Okur, I would actually pick them to beat the Thunder in a 7 game series. Especially if they make a trade for Andrei Kirilenko's expiring contract for a sharpshooting scoring guard.
ReplyDeleteOf course and team would be a lot more awesome with Blake Griffin. Let's just hope he enters the slam dunk contest.