Miami Heat: The recent emergence of the Platinum Group
The Miami Heat’s second unit has been unstoppable lately.
The Platinum Group may sound like a local insurance company, but it actually refers to the Miami Heat’s second unit. A group of guys who have been largely responsible for the team’s recent success.
"“It starts in practice and shootaround,” Justise Winslow explained. “We have the white jerseys. We call ourselves the Platinum Group and we try to hold ourselves to a platinum standard. We use our voices. We try to be solid and give up nothing. So when we’re out there we try to use that same intensity and same focus, try to shut the other team down.”"
And it’s certainly been working.
Winslow, Bam Adebayo, Wayne Ellington, Kelly Olynyk (and Josh Richardson), have been holding it down lately for the Heat. With the team’s fourth best rating (116.9 points per 100 possessions), this particular group has been making every minute out on the court, count.
"“If we come in up by eight we want to come out up more than eight,” Winslow said. “If we’re down, we want to trim the deficit. That’s our mindset.”"
A mentality that’s been especially important recently, as the starters have been inconsistent over the past few matchups.
A two-time Eastern Conference Player of the Week recipient already this season, Goran Dragic started the year off strong. And overall has been playing high-level basketball, as proven by averaging 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists a game. However, between being sidelined with a bone bruise and scoring just five points in 23 minutes on Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets, Miami has had to find other offensive options.
Like say, Ellington, who averaged 19.0 points on 46.5 percent shooting (42.2 percent from downtown) over the last four contests. Olynyk has also been carrying his weight, finishing with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists in 20 minutes, in the 95-90 win over Charlotte.
Over the last two games, the bench unit has outplayed the starting five, as individually they were outscored by 97 points, and all (with the exception of Richardson) had negative plus-minuses.
"“It’s a puzzle. You can either build a puzzle or you can struggle to put it together,” said Olynyk. When you build it the sum of the whole is greater than the parts. That’s what makes a really good team. For us we believe every time we step on the floor we can either push a lead or regain one.”"
Now eventually, the starters will figure out their rhythm once again. Especially with Tyler Johnson having just returned from injury. But it’s good to know that the rest of the team is just as involved in finding success, as the so-called headliners.
Next: Wayne Ellington's clutch shot caps Miami Heat comeback over Hornets
The Miami Heat may still have things to figure out, but they’re platinum in at least one area.