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Miami Heat: Justise Winslow wants to play the point, but should he?

By Duncan Smith

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 08: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at American Airlines Arena on March 8, 2019 in Miami, Florida. 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 Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 08: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at American Airlines Arena on March 8, 2019 in Miami, Florida. 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 Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Justise Winslow revealed that he wants to play point guard for the Miami Heat. After a mixed first season at the point, would this be a good outcome?

Justise Winslow revealed Sunday that his goal for next season is to reprise his starting point guard role from the 2018-19 campaign. The do-it-all man for the Miami Heat has extensive NBA experience at all positions but center, but perhaps the best stretch of the last season for the team was when he supplanted an injured Goran Dragic in the lineup as starting point guard.

While the Heat went 39-43 on the season, they were 20-18 with Winslow starting at point guard after he took over in mid-December.

Winslow told Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald his plans for next season:

"“I’m looking forward to playing point guard this season. We’ll see how that works out, but that’s my plan, is to play point guard and be the point guard for this team.”"

His overall performance was strong last season in this role. Especially in this crucial 38-game stretch, he shot 45.4 percent from the floor and 37.6 percent from 3-point range.

While he had the best shooting season of his career, it was actually his off-ball performance which was the strongest. He scored a sparkling 1.271 points per possession (PPP) on catch-and-shoot opportunities, placing him in the 92nd percentile. He also scored 1.108 PPP in all spot-up opportunities, placing him in the 79th percentile.

Conversely, when he played on the ball, things weren’t quite as smooth. In 290 pick-and-roll possessions, he scored just .684 PPP, one of the worst high-volume pick-and-roll scoring rates in the NBA.

Justise Winslow is tremendously effective off the ball as a spot-up shooter, but he’s also a gifted playmaker for his teammates with the ball in his hands. While he struggled to score the ball himself, he was a tremendous passer. His passes generated an excellent 1.19 PPP from the pick-and-roll, placing him in the 83rd percentile.

At just 23 years old, his youth is a major asset in his corner, and young point guards take time to develop and mature. With barely 40 games at point guard, it’s reasonable to suspect that more experience could be just the thing to truly unleash his talents.

dark. Next. Where Bam Adebayo stands in the Heat's plans for 2021

As long as his team is prepared to endure further growing pains from a developing young point guard, the sky may well be the limit for Justise Winslow and the Miami Heat.

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