A look at the Miami Heat and the dice roll of changing roles

Jae Croder’s new role in the starting five is paying off for the Miami Heat. 

Pat Riley and the Miami Heat front office made a trade for Andre Iguodala that included Jae Crowder in the return, and now he’s looking like the prize of the trade. All it cost them was an injury ailed Justise Winslow, and the salaries of Dion Waiter and James Johnson to match.

When the season restarted and coach Spoelstra had to come up with a replacement for Meyers Leonard in the starting five, he turned to Crowder; the veteran enforcer who’d shined in his minutes off the bench since arriving back in February from the Memphis Grizzlies.

Bam Adebayo was shifted to starting five, and Crowder took place next to him in the power forward slot. Since, Miami’s defense and offense have improved, and he’s played a larger than life role in their recent and dominant successes in these playoffs.

Over the team’s 12 playoff games Crowder is averaging 13.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and a steal per game while knocking down 41 percent of his field goals and 39 percent of his threes.

Leonard was a capable floor spacer, but having Adebayo man the five slot has improved their post defense, in matchups where they needed to maximize that, against guys like Myles Turner, Brook Lopez, and most recently Daniel Theis of the Boston Celtics.

The Miami Heat are Jae Crowder’s fourth team in two seasons. Head coach Erik Spoelstra still trusted that this team was bringing the best out of the forward, and gave him a spot in the starting five. And it’s looking like the best decision he’s made all season.