The Miami Heat need a rejuvenated Dion Waiters for their playoff push

The Miami Heat need Dion Waiter’s confidence back to lead this young core to their playoff push. With time running out, It is now or never.

One thing the Miami Heat have been drastically stubborn about is keeping their young core intact.

For the most part, they are in the right mindset especially with the sheer development both Josh Richardson and Justise Winslow have displayed. Add big versatile standout Bam Adebayo and you have a recipe for success with Miami’s new big three.

Until then though, you need a closer and someone that isn’t afraid to take matters into his own hands when the game is on the line. Someone who has been there before.

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At first glance, the obvious answer is Heat legend, Dwyane Wade, but in his defense, the Heat might not want to rely on someone that is on his way out.

It’s not pragmatic to enforce a heavy workload on Wade’s last dance. He can definitely take on that role, but for the Heat’s sake, it’s not practical.

This team is in a vulnerable position and the man they need to wear that cap is the sole inhabitant of a recently deserted Waiters Island, Dion Waiters. Since his return from an ankle injury, he has been somewhat lost on the constant rotation issues trying his best to get acclimated.

Down from a career average of 13.1 points per game, his current 10.3 seems like an afterthought at times. His confidence is slipping in a plummeting position when it was never an issue before.

He had a solid February where fans saw a season-high 24 points on a 9-of-19 shooting night in a closely contested loss to the Golden State Warriors. Don’t worry, the Heat along with Wade’s help recently got revenge for that loss.

Since then his shooting woes have come back with a combined 37 points in his last four games. The Miami Heat were able to secure a 2-1 record in those four games despite Dion’s poor shooting, but it should be known that Dion should be a 20+ guy per game.  They need that from him and that actually should be the norm for him if he does, in fact, want to lead this team in the future.

Waiters shouldn’t be a fourth-to-sixth option at scoring. He should work on being the first or second.

Richardson is 25 years old, Winslow is 22 years old, and Adebayo is only 21 years.  At 27, Dion has to set an example that will be laid out once Wade retires. With the help of Goran Dragic, they both need to secure the veteran presence among the rookie big three.

He is averaging close to 25 minutes a game, so the opportunity is there. He just can’t overthink those isolation matchups that have shown glimpses of his talent.

With less than 20 games left for Wade, Dion must absorb everything he can and evolve into the future leader this Heat team needs.