The Miami Heat can capitalize on versatility with Kelly Olynyk
Olynyk In The Middle
In what will effectively be year two of this Heat roster, Miami should prioritize its reliance on Olynyk.
Formerly of the Boston Celtics, Olynyk was once known for his Kelly Oubre Jr. chest bumping and Kevin Love arm ripping antics.
He emerged as an enforcer type, willing to buck horns with all who opposed his bandmates.
With Miami however, Olynyk has transitioned from sheer muscle into a combination of brawn and brain. He still leads the team in charges drawn, being one of just five centers to crack the NBA’s top-15 in the category.
But he also has translated his bodily control into Miami’s third highest usage rate (21.9 percent) among players to spend at least half the season in South Beach.
Olynyk opened the floor in a way Whiteside, even with his career 100 percent accuracy from 3, could not. Trailing on the break, Olynyk doesn’t hesitate to pull up as the defense scrambles back into position.
Although Miami trends towards a group of fleet-footed youths, the team ranked 24th in running sets in transition. When it did however, Olynyk offered an instant option as most defenders would rather he pull up from deep than barrel downhill to the rim and draw a foul.
In half-court situations, his willingness to bury the opponent in his embrace while screening left the defense dazed, trying to play catch-up in the set.
Where Olynyk’s true versatility was recognized however, was in his passing game.
The box score most reflected his court vision and nimble-fingered prowess in March, when he averaged a career-high 4.1 assists per game. That month, he also notched a career high 10 assists against the New York Knicks.
Even though Olynyk played a modest 23 minutes per night with Miami, akin to his averages in four seasons in Boston, his touches had an increased importance, centralized in the high post and fanning out appropriately.
Compared to his Celtics days, Olynyk amassed more games with five or more assists with the Heat (14) than he did through 278 career contests with Boston (13).