Miami Heat: Could Kelly Olynyk help save this series?

Could Kelly Olynyk save the day for the Miami Heat?

It’s no easy task coming back from being down 3-1 in a playoff series.

But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. So the Miami Heat are going to do whatever it takes to ensure themselves a Game 6.

Falling just shy of a Game 4 win, the Heat are headed back to Philadelphia on Tuesday night, to once again face off against the 76ers. A team that undoubtedly now thinks it has the first round in the bag.

In other words, it could be argued that Miami has them right where they want them.

However, in order to find success in Game 5, some adjustments must be made; two major ones being free throw shooting, and defensive effort (especially late down the stretch). The question of rotations has also continued to arise, many criticizing head coach Erik Spoelstra for still not having figured out how to properly use certain players.

One being Kelly Olynyk.

Olynyk, who scored 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting in 31 minutes in Game 1, only saw nine minutes of playing time on Saturday. And while he did rack up three quick fouls, it seemed bizarre he was essentially shut out for the remainder of the matchup.

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Now, it can be argued that this was due to shaky Game 2 and 3 performances. The 7-footer finished with just 11 and nine points, respectively. Despite playing 33 and 36 minutes. But a closer look at his stat-line shows just how versatile the forward can be.

In Game 2, he may only have shot 3-of-8 from the field, but knocked down a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe; something the team has a whole struggled with on Saturday. He also grabbed five rebounds and dished six assists, recording a block and two steals to boot. Olynyk did a little bit of everything, which certainly contributed to the Heat’s win.

Things went similarly for Olynyk in Game 3. He went 2-of-5 from downtown, and 3-for-4 from the free throw line, while recording three rebounds, five assists, three blocks and a steal; numbers that may not jump off the page, but do show his well-rounded skill-set.

So, could he be a secret weapon in Game 5?

Absolutely.

Aside from being a jack-of-all-trades, the pace at which he plays the game could help Miami out. The team struggled to keep up with the run-and-gun 76ers on Saturday, instead of trying to set their own tempo. However, when Olynyk gets thrown into the mix, things automatically slow down significantly.

And if the Heat have any chance at overcoming the dreaded 3-1 deficit, they need to take the time to first move the ball, and then take calculated shots, playing into the strengths of each guy on the floor.

J.J. Redick may be able to hit shot after shot, on a dime, off-kilter, but guys like Tyler Johnson need a minute to find their spot and get a clean look.

Next: Miami Heat: Free throws and defense can unlock Game 5

Can the Miami Heat take this series any further? It’s not over till it’s over.

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