Players such as rookie guard Norris Cole are providing quality depth for the Heat.
MIAMI – That photo to the left shows one of the key new pieces of the Miami Heat. If you don’t recognize him, that’s understandable.
Norris Cole is not a household name or face. But he is one of the key reasons why the Miami Heat have the NBA’s best record.
At certain points in Miami’s improbable 116-109 triple-overtime victory at Atlanta last week, the Heat played lineups that didn’t include any of the Big Three – not Dwyane Wade, who was out with a foot injury, not LeBron James, who was out with an ankle injury, and not Chris Bosh, who scored a game-high 33 points.
So what’s left on the Heat’s bargain basement roster? Plenty.
Forwards Shane Battier, Udonis Haslem and James Jones. Center Joel Anthony. Guard Mario Chalmers. You know those guys.
But what about Dexter Pittman, Cole and Terrel Harris? These were the guys who also helped deliver one of Miami’s most stirring regular-season victories in recent memory, a game coach Erik Spoelstra said looked like “a heavyweight fight at the end.”
Shockingly, it seems the Heat has quality depth, an asset they can use to win even without Wade and James.
“They have a very good team without those guys,” Atlanta guard Willie Green said.
The injury-reduced Heat did it again two nights later, beating New Jersey, 101-90. James returned in that game (scoring 32 points, 22 in the first quarter), which made things easier, but Wade was still missing, And the Heat won comfortably.
So just as the Heat’s struggles with the zone defense was a red flag to Spoelstra, their surprising display of depth against the Hawks serves as a huge wakeup call to everyone else in the NBA. Miami, battle-weary because it was short-handed and playing the second night of a back-to-back, showed it’s built both for the rigors of the regular-season and the specialized play of best-of-sevens.
“The way it went down was an exercise in absolute endurance,” Spoelstra said after the Hawks game.
The fact that the Heat could win in Atlanta without Wade and James was enough of an eye-opener. The Hawks are good.
But the fact that the Heat won this game with notable contributions from players such as Pittman (five points, three rebounds, two blocks), the unproven second-year center; Harris (nine points, 14 rebounds, three assists), the rookie forward from Oklahoma State; and Cole (nine points, five assists), the rookie first-round pick, well, that’s just another testament to the idea this Heat team is deeper and more versatile than last year’s team.
And mind you, the Heat still aren’t totally healthy. Swingman Mike Miller (hernia) has yet to play a minute. To a lesser extent, center Eddy Curry (hip flexor) also hasn’t played. The point is, the Heat, even with their best-in-the-NBA 8-1 record, can still get better in this first month of the season.
The way it looks now, the Heat can go man-for-man with some of the deepest teams in the NBA, including Oklahoma City and Chicago.
Even defensively, the Heat seems better and deeper. You know about Spoelstra’s free-flowing offense. But on defense Spoelstra is encouraging more of a dynamic, go-for-the-steal-on-the-perimeter style. That’s a sharp contrast to president/former coach Pat Riley’s philosophy of playing it safe on the perimeter and protecting the rim at all costs. This year’s Heat is going for steals and using its speed and power to kick-start an unstoppable transition/fastbreak offense.
But here’s the thing: that game works even shorthanded, even without Wade and James, two of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.
“We create our success on the defensive end of the floor,” Spoelstra said. “Our energy and our activity opens up a lot of things.”
Miami, it appears, is getting to a game where it can just plug in pieces without changing its style.
Clearly, this team is much better with Wade and James on the court, and clearly the Heat will only go as far as the Big Three can carry them. That won’t change.
Beyond that, you can’t get too excited about early-season contributions from youngsters such as Cole, Harris and Pittman, because they’ll all hit a wall at some point.
However, on nights when Wade, James or Bosh gets that sprained ankle or other ailment, there won’t be a mass panic on the bench. Guys have proved, even for just one night, they’re capable of holding their own.
It’s not known whether Wade will play tonight when the Heat visits Golden State. He might not play Wednesday when Miami takes on the Los Angeles Clippers.
Regardless, the Heat knows it has options. They’re not long-term answers, rather pieces Miami can have confidence in if one of the Big Three is out. The Heat has depth, whether it’s among veterans such as Haslem, Battier, Jones and Miller (and Curry or Juwan Howard), or youngsters such as Cole, Harris and Pittman.
That’s got to be a chilling thought for the rest of the NBA.
The Heat are a very good team from top to bottom. Although you can appreciate the young guys stepping up when LeBron and Wade are banged up, it’s going to be more impressive come playoff time when all members of the Heatles are healthy and in harmony contributing to win games. Playing around hall of fame talent is definitely going to help these kids in the long haul.
Kinda bummed that Harris is likely to get buried on the bench when Mike Miller comes back. James Jones, too. Heat have some pretty strong perimeter depth. Frontcourt depth is also decent, especially if Pittman plays well enough to keep Spo from calling Juwan Howard’s number.
Norris Cole was a genuine steal in the draft, especially since he fits in so well with what the Heat are looking to do. I don’t think he should be starting, but it’s nice that you’re left wondering, “Is he getting enough minutes” instead of “Good thing Lebron can fill in at Point!”
That is Norris Cole
That’s a picture of Norris Cole
Helloes,
Doesn’t the photograph belong to Norris Cole? From what I’ve read, you are calling him Terrel Harris. If I’ve misread it, sorry. If not, could you please make it right? 🙂