Miami Heat: 3 lineups to look forward to in 2018-19

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 14: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers passes the ball against James Johnson #16 and Kelly Olynyk #9 of the Miami Heat during Game One of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoff at Wells Fargo Center on April 14, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ben Simmons;James Johnson;Kelly Olynyk /

Lock Down D

Lineup: Goran Dragic, McGruder, Richardson, James Johnson and Olynyk

Notes: Did not play together last season.

What happens when you swap Dragic for Whiteside and Johnson for Winslow? You get a lineup that while having an assortment of scoring options, is primed for defensive contributions.

One of Miami’s biggest weaknesses last season was scoring after halftime. The Heat scored 23.9 points per game in the third quarter, just shy of dead last in the Association.

While this lineup doesn’t directly combat that, it does have an eye for stifling the opponents’ scoring just the same. With Dragic as the group’s spiritual, on-court leader, each member brings both defensive versatility (ok, maybe not Olynyk) and the ability to cover on or off-ball.

Last year Richardson and Johnson were first and second in deflections on the team, with 216 and 142 respectively. Not to be left behind, Dragic and Olynyk were third and fourth on that list, though their contributions are best felt elsewhere.

Dragic led the team in tracking down loose balls, and subsequently converting those mishaps into buckets: an average of three of his points each game came off turnovers.

His knack for hunting down ill-timed passes is supported by his abilities as a point guard. Dragic is more than capable of converting the fast break on his own, but his court vision opens more options to hit his trailing teammates.

But what about Olynyk? At 7-feet tall, he’s the least switchy of this group? While that’s very true, Olynyk brings a quality that isn’t usually associated with centers.

Drawing charges.

Olynyk led Miami in beating his man to the spot, notching 15 drawn charges last year. Though the resulting turnover leads to an inbounds play and not a fast break, taking charges immediately shifts the game momentum, causing offensive players to rethink their next approach.

All things considered, this bunch should be able to hold its own on both sides of the floor. And as long as Dragic doesn’t lose anymore teeth on defense, they should be able to hold court together for a while.

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