Miami Heat: The Justise Winslow point guard experiment
How have the Miami Heat fared with Justise Winslow running point?
When Justise Winslow declared for the NBA Draft in April 2015, he earned an endorsement so many basketball professionals hope to attain.
Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski supported the thought that Winslow (and for the record fellow 2015 draftee Jahlil Okafor) had the makings of NBA elites.
"“Jah and Justise have a chance to be stars, really,” he told ABC News. “They really do.”"
Winslow’s NBA career with the Miami Heat thus far has existed in relative anonymity.
2015 All-Rookie Second Team has been his highest honor, though he’s slotted in nicely into Miami’s patented culture. As a rookie, he immediately fell under the wing of Dwyane Wade, transforming from nameless “Rook 1” on draft night, to Wade’s self-proclaimed little brother.
The two bonded in part through their mutual success. Winslow had just won an NCAA national championship with Duke, while Wade’s resume of victories spoke for itself.
Working with Wade allowed Winslow to slip into his rookie year with grace.
He played in 78 games, the most of any of Miami’s players with fewer than two years of experience. His defensive grit covered for his shortage of scoring – averaging 6.4 points per game was good enough for 14th among rookies in 2015-16, though it paled in comparison to the draft’s upper echelon, including production from Winslow’s former teammate Okafor.
Since then however, Winslow has grown on both sides of the ball, with notable improvement as part of Miami’s back court. Head coach Erik Spoelstra toyed with playing Winslow at point guard, further diversifying Miami’s portfolio of matchups.
The Justise Winslow experiment
A product of adaptation due to injury (Tyler Johnson and Dion Waiters) and a continuation of Spoelstra’s positionless basketball mantra, Winslow at point has kept the Heat adapting to the changing Eastern Conference landscape.
Possibly Miami’s biggest rivals this season, the Philadelphia 76ers, were proponents of small ball counter-culture this season, running a starting five of which 80 percent stood over 6-foot-9. Sixers rookie Ben Simmons continues the Magic Johnson narrative, eschewing any notion that point guards have to be tiny.
Winslow then, boasting a 6-foot-7, 225 pound frame, can match up better at point than the conventional guard. Though his court vision isn’t as developed as Simmons’, indicative by his 2.2 assists per game through the regular season, Winslow’s development at point will become a staple in Miami’s offensive schemes.
"“There’s going to be some challenges, but it’s just about making the right reads,” Winslow said on his shift to point earlier this year.” He continued, “It’ll come with time, we got a lot of guys figuring out how to play different positions. And for me I feel like I’m adjusting pretty well but still gotta do better with taking care of the ball.”"
This year, Winslow’s defenders included a variety of lengthy forwards who can be as equally effective at guarding the perimeter, as chasing down attacks on the rim.
Using Winslow at point and as a primary ball handler emits an instant gravity that draws opponents’ best defenders to him. With his size and physicality then, Winslow can dump off easy buckets even though he’s not formatively trained in the point guard ways.
As it happens, Winslow’s most played five-man lineup this season ran him in a back court with resident sharpshooter Wayne Ellington. Ellington’s reliability added to Winslow’s repertoire, giving him a target to fire to as needed.
Looking ahead, Winslow’s continued development behind Goran Dragic will only breed flexibility for Miami. Though Waiters is set to return to action after ankle surgery this season and will certainly command more on-ball time, usage of Winslow will be another tool to keep defenses honest.
Next: Miami Heat: What can Rashad Vaughn bring to the Summer League table?
Padding his assist stats would always be welcome, but keeping Winslow confident at point will be one of Miami’s biggest keys to long term success.