Do Dion Waiters and Justise Winslow still fit into the Miami Heat rotation?
The rule of thumb in most sports is that a starter never loses his position due to injury. At least that is the story plenty organizations tell when stars are involved. So the next few weeks could really show where two former priorities are valued in the Miami Heat lineup.
In other words, the team will need to see if it still has space for Justise Winslow and Dion Waiters.
A winning record without Winslow (8-3) and Waiters (5-3) has led to questions about their worth in the long run—and rightfully so. Beyond contracts and former draft potential, they do not seem to come off as ideal fits for the Heat’s new ball movement offense.
Before Winslow went down with a knee injury, he was rounding into something like an all-around threat. The problem is that his 6.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists average is on a much lower level than what even a hobbled James Johnson has shown to be capable of. Not necessarily by the numbers, but by the impact on the floor.
Part of the reason is that despite Winslow shooting the 3 better than Johnson, his paltry shooting of the past finds him hesitant at times. A hesitancy that throws the rhythm off, instead of keeping the offense flowing with a shot or immediate pass.
It also does not help that Winslow was being used almost exclusively at power forward. And in his absence, Kelly Olynyk has been having breakout games, to the point where he starts and finishes most.
Being outplayed by all-purpose players like Johnson and Olynyk may be Winslow’s issue, but not Waiters’. Questions about his fit come in because the ball literally sticks when it touches his hands. Not because he is nervous to shoot, but because he wants to dribble his way into his points.
Waiters is dribble-heavy. Which goes against the quick cutting screens and ball movement of head coach Erik Spoelstra’s new offensive strategy.
Yet, Waiters could still fit in if he was at least consistent. Then, his ball-stopper role would come in big during the team’s clutch, go-to moments. He is not the one-on-one closer that a few last second shots made fans believe he would be though. Which hurts his cause.
Next: 3 things Miami Heat fans can look forward to in 2018
For both Winslow and Waiters, chemistry could make them the odd men out. But if they happen to land back in, they need to prove that their -83 and -85 total plus-minus numbers are nothing more than a lie.