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Stepping into the starting role because of an injury to Josh McRoberts, Shawne Williams has been the biggest surprise of the Miami Heat’s infant season. So far he’s made 18 of 38 3-pointers.
His 47.4 percent average is the same as that of Klay Thompson. Klay has the green light to shoot, and so does Williams.
"“He’s in this role right now, and we’ll see where he goes from here, but he’s versatile and he brings a toughness, so the things that he brings I like,” coach Erik Spoelstra said when asked about the similarities between Williams and Battier. “But he’s that type of shooter. I will never say anything even if he’s contested and has someone draped all over him. He has the absolute neon green light.”"
(Via Joseph Goodman for the Miami Herald)
To boot, he’s got his legs under him in Spo’s defensive scheme faster than any other player since Spoelstra introduced his blitz and help system.
Williams’ emergence as a reliable 20-25 minute player and starter (and possible candidate for Most Improved Player of the Year?) certainly elevates the team, but it also mucks of Miami’s plans at power forward.
Williams is expected to transition to coming off the bench once Josh McRoberts is inserted in the starting lineup. But should he? Williams has fit in perfectly with Miami’s other four starters. He’s a more reliable 3-point shooter than McRoberts has ever been (a 34.2 percent career 3-point shooter), and he’s a positive on defense.
McRoberts brings other things to the court–like terrific court vision and passing skills, as well as being able to create his own shot better than Williams–but he could be Spo’s utility man off the bench. It may not come down to a Williams or McRoberts discussion. It may just come down to the need to have the team’s best 3-point shooter on the floor to start games.
I would still bet on McRoberts becoming the starter, but I also don’t think Spoelstra is in a rush to make the switch. For the Heat, the phrase “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” certainly applies.
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