Norris Cole Excels in Opener as Miami Heat’s Starting Point Guard
By Wes Goldberg
Norris Cole made his first career opening day start, and excelled as the Miami Heat’s starting point guard in the team’s 107-95 win against the Washington Wizards.
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In semi-transition, Norris Cole saw the space behind his defender John Wall. He shook right, went left and around Wall and finished the play with a two-handed jam. It was the second time in just a few minutes that Cole flashed right by Wall to get to the rim.
In a word, he was aggressive.
Cole was aggressive in the Miami Heat’s opening 107-95 win against the Washington Wizards, scoring 23 points on 15 shots in 28 minutes.
Cole downplayed that this might be a trend.
"“It’s just one game. We wanted to come out and be aggressive. We wanted to come out and defend.”"
"“Just being aggressive. Taking what they give me, but being aggressive. We’re going to need that at some point from everybody this year.”"
Unlike in years past, the Heat are going to need it from the point guard position this season. When LeBron James was in Miami, the Heat rarely used its point guard as an initiator or even a facilitator. Those duties lied in the hands of James and Dwyane Wade.
Now the Heat will need more scoring from its point guars, and have been asking them to be more aggressive during the off-season.
But what gave Cole the start over Chalmers was his consistency. Erik Spoelstra have him a shot at the starting gig in the preseason and Cole committed just eight turnovers while providing decent scoring and plus defense.
"“I set out to be consistent, play well and take what they give me. I was able to get to certain spots, spots that I practice every day, spots that we practice as a team every day coming off pick-and-rolls and making the right read and the right read was to, you know, make the shot,” Cole said. “Sometimes it might be to hit the guys on the pocket pass or get off the ball, but tonight it was open so take the shot and be aggressive.”"
Cole’s performance reaffirmed Spo’s decision to start him. Wade and Bosh are going to give the Heat somewhere around 40-50 combined points every game and, like Cole said, the Heat will need a big game from someone with a hot hand almost every game.
Tonight, it was Cole. But that’s not a coincidence. Neither is his starting job. Many people have written off Cole as the odd man out after the Heat acquired Shabazz Napier during the NBA draft and re-signed Mario Chalmers for two years.
But Cole can be extended until Friday. I still don’t think Pat Riley gives him the extension* but he may not even want it. Maybe Cole pulls a Joe Flacco, has a breakout season and signs a big deal in the off-season. It’s a lot to think about after just one game, but it’s something that needs to be thought about for both parties.
Cole’s strength had been his propensity to not turn the ball over (that word, consistency) and play plus on-ball defense. He did that, too. He had three turnovers and fought over screens all night long the best he could. A lot of those screens were set by Marcin Gortat for John Wall. That’s not an easy task, but Cole stayed on Wall’s hip all night.
Then he was aggressive. He got out in transition, took shots and got to the basket. The Heat needed this game from him. It’s just one game and questions remain with this squad, but this certainly starts the season on the right foot.
Quotes via MiamiHeat.com.
*Keeping Cole as an expiring deal provides more flexibility for the Heat. An expiring deal is a more valuable asset and the Heat would still be able to give Cole a qualifying offer and match other offers when he’s a restricted free agent.