Miami Heat 2016-17 player preview: Dion Waiters

Oct 4, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters (11) dunks the ball as Washington Wizards guard Tomas Satoransky (31) looks on in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. the Heat won 106-95. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters (11) dunks the ball as Washington Wizards guard Tomas Satoransky (31) looks on in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. the Heat won 106-95. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 12, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Dion Waiters (3) dunks the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

What Waiters does well

Waiters does a number of things well. However, putting these together on a consistent basis has been the challenge. Just viewing the video on the previous page gives you an insight. He can score in a variety of ways – at the rim, mid range and three-point range. Last season, per Basketball Reference, 33.8 percent of his total field goal attempts were at the rim. His conversion rate of 50.8 percent of these shots was more than respectable. Having a player who get to the rim like Waiters can cause a number of issues for a team.

First, if Waiters misses his shot, the chance for an offensive rebound will be high due to the defence converging on him driving to the rim. Also, if the defence does converge, Waiters has shown the ability to dish and find the open teammate. Waiters also last season hit on just under 36 percent of his three-point shots. Making up 42.1 percent of his total shots, this was a positive sign with the Heat hoping he can continue this upward trend (he hit 32 percent the previous season).

Also of note was that Waiters completed 47.9 percent of his field goals assisted. Having stated how adept he is at getting his own shot and getting to the rim, Waiters is also able to work within the structures of the offence to produce on the scoreboard.