The Miami Heat have a great problem on their hands. They have, what you would like to call, a wealth of good problems when it comes to their big man rotation, who, with whom, and how much they play.
With that though, this particular conversation focuses in on one of the bigger questions in the midst of all of that… which also happens to focus on the two biggest dudes on the roster, literally. When it come to the cases of Omer Yurtseven and Dewayne Dedmon, who’s the top backup center?
Though the answer is complicated, beneath the surface, it’s just as uncomplicated above it. It’s truly matchup dependent, though Dedmon should stand the better chance of getting the first crack at the backup minutes on any given night.
Let’s chat about it though.
The reasons you say it’s “matchup dependent” are simple. If there is a situation where the opposing big is defensively weak, is a weak point of the opposing defense as a whole, or simply, seems like he can be taken advantage of on a particular night from an offensive perspective, The Big Yurt would probably finish with a higher minute-total than Dedmon on most those nights.
Miami Heat: Omer Yurtseven Or Dewayne Dedmon For Top Backup Minutes?
Again, “most those nights” being the operative words there, as there are some that he won’t. If the opposing center is also a guy that can punish teams with his offensive prowess, then that’s where the problem lies with Yurtseven, where Dedmon starts to balance things out a bit, and why in general, when all things are equal, “Dedmon should stand the better chance of getting the first crack at the backup minutes on any given night”.
The Miami Heat are a team that is built on defense, hard work, effort, and intensity. The most important aspect of those four is the “defense” though.
Shots may fall and they may not, but constantly playing tough defense displays the rest of those qualities mentioned above, if that makes sense. You can’t make the shots go in, but you can always make sure that you are giving everything on the other end.
That, though, is what separates Dedmon from Yurt. He already knows how to play Miami Heat defense and quite well, to be added, whereas the Miami Heat might also need that particular thing from him on more occasions than they’ll, downright, need Yurtseven’s ability to score it.
They’ll need it though, which is why he’s been such a revelation, just not as consistently on a game in and game out basis like they’ll need the physicality, aggression, and defense from Dedmon. Also, there is this about Dedmon.
Miami Heat: Dewayne Dedmon Probably Edges Yurtseven Out On Most Nights
Don’t be confused about his offensive abilities either. Upon joining Miami with only 20 or so games remaining in the season last year, he proceeded to become one of their best offensive players and players, overall.
Hear it out. He wasn’t erupting, however, he was efficient, dominant in his role, and timely with what he did.
He made in impact and in short-order, with every appearance on the floor. He is very adept at catching in traffic or close to the rim, gathering without losing steam, and finishing with, either, power or finesse.
Though he didn’t do a ton of this in his brief stint with the Miami Heat last season, Dedman can shoot the long ball too. Across his career and on 1.1 attempts per contest, he is a 33.1 percent shooter from deep.
That’s darn good for a 7-footer with his role and that does everything else he can do for a team. Shooting 35.5 percent on 2.3 attempts in 2017-18 and 38.2 percent on 3.4 attempts in 2018-19 for the Atlanta Hawks, he has shown that he can actually stretch the floor magnificently for a player of his size.
Dare it be said, with two attempts or a little over per game for the Miami Heat, he assuredly could maintain somewhere between that 33-35 percent he has shown across his history. He just needs the opportunity and the go-ahead, which he’ll get this season… promise.
So, to again answer the question, it’s matchup dependent but The Ded-Man will likely get the first opportunity on most nights. Either way it lands though, you look forward to seeing what both of them can do with steady doses of minutes beside Bam Adebayo… hopefully.