Miami Heat: 3 reasons why Kelly Olynyk is probably the right starter

The Miami Heat don’t want to be a puny lineup, which also helps protect Bam a bit. Having another decently sized guy helps everyone.

The Miami Heat have played their fair share of small ball. Most famously, they played that brand of basketball when they featured the Big 3.

Here’s the thing though, even with that version of small ball, their small-ball lineups often featured LeBron James and Chris Bosh. Chris Bosh is near seven feet tall at 6’11”, however, Lebron is almost the same size and girth if not thicker, mass-wise, than Bam Adebayo is.

You also include the fact that at times, the Miami Heat played lineups that featured LeBron James, Bosh, and any of Chris Andersen, Joel Anthony, Ronny Turiaf, and another big or two( We see you Dexter Pittman). Regardless of the names, it means that even they played with multiple big bodies on the floor at times.

It speaks to the Miami Heat’s recognition that size is a necessity too, even in this era of small ball and their dedication to it. Kelly Olynyk offers size next to Bam Adebayo.

To be perfectly frank, although Bam Adebayo’s game and skill set make him more suited to be the “center”, Kelly Olynyk is a bigger dude. He is taller and probably weighs a bit more than Bam.

They are practically interchangeable because of their size and the next reason that I am about to mention.