Miami Heat: If Jamal Cain Can Stick, He Certainly Has A Chance To Be It
Before closing your browser window, hear this out. There are similarities to what P.J. Tucker offered the Heat in Cain’s game.
He isn’t built like P.J. Tucker, more wiry strong than stalky and solid, but he does offer the same inside-outside presence that Tucker did as a guy capable of helping impact the game from the inside and on the perimeter on both sides of the ball.
An excellent rebounder for his size in college, he also was a high steals guy during his senior season at Oakland, averaging nearly two a game. Though the steals are there and he has the obvious athletic gifts to be a plus defender in the leage, you still need to see it against NBA level offense to make a complete determination or not.
He doesn’t shoot the ball nearly as well as Tucker did percentage wise, however, he’s capable of more versatility, overall and from range, than Tucker seemed to be. In one example, you are extremely comfortable with Cain with as a driver or slasher, at times, especially with his high athletic ability giving him a high chance to finish or draw fouls.
Besides some of the other things mentioned though, when it comes to the other high flyers that have helped make a bigger name for themselves in Miami, a few of them have started off really humbly as well. There is also something else, though from a different perspective.
Marquette guys tend to do well in Miami. And if he can remain until the final cuts are made, he might not just be the Miami Heat’s next notable former Golden Eagle, but their next notable high-flyer as well.