Miami Heat center Kelly Olynyk’s all-around game will serve the team well in the playoffs.
The Recap: How We Got Here
Kelly Olynyk agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract with the Miami Heat after four years with the Boston Celtics. In Olynyk’s season debut against the Orlando Magic, he showed glimpses of why he was signed by Miami. But even a few months into the season, the jury was still out on the big man. However, since then, things have changed.
Why Kelly Olynyk Was Coveted By The Organization
Today’s NBA and style of play is all about guards, wings and versatile big men that can stretch the floor, and pass the ball at the top of the key and in the low post. Not to mention defending the pick and roll and guarding on the perimeter.
(Let me know when you feel I’m describing Olynyk’s game. Now hold that thought.)
Small ball, a style of play recently made popular by the Golden State Warriors, is becoming quite a trend in the league. And Olynyk’s aforementioned versatility allows head coach Erik Spoelstra to deploy a lineup that at times can exploit small ball.
But why else was Olynyk coveted by the Heat? Well, they say numbers don’t lie, and whether you believe that or not, these numbers tell the story of Olynyk’s impact on the Heat.
Stats At A Glance: Olynyk is averaging career highs in points (10.6), rebounds (5.8), assists (2.2) and minutes (23.8,), and has a player efficiency rate of 15.77, while the league average is 15.00.
Why Olynyk’s All-Around Game Will Help In The Playoffs
The NBA game has always been about matchups when it is all said and done. Those times hold true now more than ever in today’s NBA. Olynyk allows the Heat to stay big and mobile (if they choose to do so), while being a threat from long distance (he’s shooting a career high of 41 percent from 3-point range).
He gives Spoelstra the versatility to start him or bring him off the bench; his 43 games played with 19 starts speak volumes to that. As previously mentioned, Olynyk allows the team to maintain a high defensive efficiency (currently ranking 11th in the NBA) and fundamental principles which are the very essence of Miami Heat Basketball, when other teams try to go small to their perceived advantage.
Important To Call Out: Miami can stay big if they choose to do so, or go small in terms of style of play and lineup changes.
Prior to the recent loss to the Chicago Bulls, the Heat were riding a seven-game winning streak and Olynyk was a big part of that. And speaking of Olynyk’s all-around game traveling well come playoff time, in a losing effort versus the Bulls, Olynyk scored 21 points and a career-high in assists with eight as a point-forward/center. Olynyk currently ranks 10th in the NBA in assist for centers per 48 mins. Ball movement and floor spacing is crucial in the playoffs, to make a defense work to defend the whole court and get easy baskets.
In the end, its Olynyk’s skill set and all-around game that will travel well in the playoffs and make the Miami Heat a team that other teams will, without question, want to avoid playing in the first round, or in general.
Next: Miami Heat: It's finally guard Goran Dragic's time to shine
As of now, the Miami Heat sit fourth in the Eastern Conference.