Justise Winslow And Josh Richardson: Compare And Contrast

With the bad taste of the Miami Heat’s 2014-2015 season still in the taste of much of Heat Nation’s mouth, it is understandable why so many fans are cautious moving into this year. And it does not help that their team has a 1-4 record so far this preseason.

But there is still a lot to be excited about. For one, the shock of losing LeBron James has worn off. Gone are the days of NBA fans around the league feeling sorry for those “left behind” in South Beach, constantly referring back to the Big Three. Chris Bosh has made a full comeback, averaging 13.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists on around 23 minutes of preseason play. Goran Dragic is ready to start his first full season with Miami. Hassan Whiteside (once healed of his calf injury) is sure to keep developing as a threat on both ends of the court. Really, the pros go on and on.

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Two guys that should surely be kept an eye on are rookies Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson, players who despite having many differences, also share plenty of similarities.

Winslow, a 6-foot-6 combo shooting guard and small forward, came out of Duke University after only one year. As a college freshman, he averaged 12.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 steals, and shot 49 percent from the field (42 percent from beyond the arc). He looks anything but a 19-year-old, built and chiseled, but has athleticism oozing out of every pore.

Richardson also stands at 6-foot-6, but physically, looks nothing like Winslow. At 22, he is long and lean, with an impressive wingspan and feet made for agility. He spent all four years as a Tennessee University Volunteer, going from averaging 10.3 points and 2.8 rebounds a game during his junior season, to 16.0 points and 4.5 rebounds as a senior, when he was named to the First Team All-SEC. He is a true shooting guard, but shooting period is his niche.

The thing some people fail to think of in connection with either rookie however, is defensive ability.

Winslow can certainly get in guys’ faces, his build perfect to be a nuisance to a variety of players. And his drive? Well, his drive does not let him fail at anything. Even though he may not pass as a member of a track team, when his mind is made up to go somewhere, he makes it there. So you better believe that no spot will be left unattended to, if Winslow has anything to say on the matter. He is also one heck of a team player, covering every guy’s back.

As for Richardson, those long arms can swat like there is no tomorrow. And unlike Winslow, he has the natural ability to take off on a dime, granting him the power to always be on top of his man. Richardson may be easier to move through, but it is certainly a task to shake him off.

Although the Heat may not be outwardly known as a team who drills defense over everything else (say like the Tom Thibodeau era Chicago Bulls), the organization certainly still want players who are more than one-trick ponies. President Pat Riley and company appreciate athletes who do it all.