The Miami Heat can capitalize on versatility with Kelly Olynyk

Another Kind Of Player

The change in output stems from Miami using him to buffer its Dragic traditional point duties.

In many cases, Dragic represents everything a team would need in a point guard: a quick first step, a willingness to drive to the rim, and the knowledge of how to retreat from an approach when things get dicey.

But like Nikola Jokic in Denver, Olynyk provides Miami a 7-foot tall option to direct the offense from inside the defense.

Obviously, Olynyk’s 3-point threat improves his passing options; defenders have to honestly contest him when he arrives near the 3-point line, ready to get a hand in his face, in the case of a catch and shoot attempt, or help on a screen and roll.

His inclination to screen can be the defender’s downfall, especially when it comes after a cheeky handoff.

In this lone transaction with Wayne Ellington, Olynyk is responsible for two screens.

The first gets Jamal Murray off his back, forcing him to guess where Ellington’s shot will come.

It’s assuredly a 3, but rather than racing to the arc, Ellington cuts cattycorner, zigs around Winslow and zags back to Olynyk for a handoff and another screen.

At this point Mason Plumlee has to commit to Ellington’s attempt, which even if it missed – which it didn’t – would put him out of position for a defensive board and increase Miami’s chances to follow up.

This all begins because Olynyk has the capability of playing in adjacent area codes. The play covers about 20 feet of space and is enough to disorient the defense, and put Olynyk in position to hit the right target.

The inside-out game continued on the other side of the court, now with Olynyk singlehandedly drawing the attention of all five Nuggets.

Sure, Denver is a notoriously bad defensive team, so much so that it has to compensate by trying to push teams into triple overtime to secure a win.

But still, Olynyk’s ability to control his pace and space improves Miami’s offensive versatility such that he makes a case for starting on the Heat, above Whiteside and his interior defense and over Bam Adebayo and his energy.

"“He became a player that I think on every team we played, just like Wayne Ellington, he was high on their scouting report, that you have to handle him to be able to handle the Heat,” said Spoelstra last April. “And it was a lot of fun.”"

Miami is still awaiting the results of the Jimmy Butler quickdraw, the winner of which will add at least a handful of wins to its last season record, while subtracting some unlucky soul(s) in the trade.

Olynyk however, can buckle up for the long run, assured that his spot on the Heat will continue to unlock the team’s diversity.