As sharp as his flat top, Norris Cole has played extremely efficient during the early stages of the 2013 NBA Playoffs. Coming off the bench, Cole has provided a solid defensive presence as well as a reliable scoring option for Miami. Meanwhile, Mario Chalmers has faded into the background with mediocre production this postseason. What this spells is a cause for concern for Rio and his future with the Miami Heat.
Cole Versus Chalmers
With Cole garnishing attention from analysts, fans and the Heat staff, he is bolstering his value as a viable point guard in this league. The high-energy, quick-footed guard is stepping it up when it counts: in the playoffs. He's averaging 9.3 points per game (ppg) compared to his 1.8 ppg in the 2012 NBA Playoffs.
And Cole has performed even better during the Eastern Conference Semi Finals this season, averaging 12.5 ppg while shooting 75% from the field (18 of 22) and 90% from three-point land (9 of 10). That's what you call undeniable efficiency.
On the other hand, Chalmers is averaging 7.1 ppg while posting a 41% FG percentage and shooting 30% from behind the arc this series. Don't forget, Chalmers is also getting more minutes than Cole. In other words, he's being nowhere near as effective as his backup.
Miami's Point Guard Situation
The Miami Heat's "Position-Less Basketball" system does not require the role of a traditional point guard. With LeBron James and Dwyane Wade doing most of the ball-handling, the Heat's point guard primarily needs to worry about consistently hitting open shots and playing sound defense. That's exactly what Cole is providing right now.
Keep in mind that Chalmers is entering the final year of his contract next season. If Cole keeps improving and Chalmers continues to be stagnant, Rio will essentially become expendable next season.
Think about it, if Miami believes that Cole is the answer now, then trading away Chalmers will make complete sense for them. That's $4 million they can take off their salary cap while receiving a future draft pick or an affordable player in return. Plus, team's in need of a point guard could test out Chalmers with the benefit of having his expiring contract (i.e. if things don't work out they don't re-sign him, if they do they can negotiate on their own terms).
Knowing Pat Riley, he will field all calls inquiring about Chalmers starting this offseason. We all know that Godfather Riley can lure a veteran point guard to replace Chalmers with a minimum contract offer.
So, either Rio responds in the coming games with exceptional play or he'll be driven out of town by the Cole Train. It's as simple as that.
Every year football fans ponder the possibility of drafting the next game-changer, star athlete to their team's respective roster. This season Dolphins fans were extra eager to see the direction their team took after an aggressive offseason, highlighted by acquisitions like WR Mike Wallace and LB Dannell Ellerbe. So the Fins took to the clock with a new sense of hope as well as a new look (check out the new uniforms here), ready to build a contending team with solid draft choices.
Here's the rundown on the Dolphins 2013 draft picks:
1. Dion Jordan (DE, Oregon)
First Round, 3rd Overall Pick Height: 6'6 Weight: 248 lbs
Continuing the theme of an aggressive offseason, the Dolphins made a splash early in the draft by unexpectedly trading up to the 3rd overall pick with the Oakland Raiders. At the point, many analysts were claiming Miami would take one of draft class' highly touted offensive tackles.
Nope. They went pass rusher. And they took the freak athlete known as Dion Jordan. If you haven't watched the Sport Science feature on Jordan, then stop reading this post and go now.
Talent wise, this guy has all the tools to compete in the NFL and become a premiere pass rusher in the league. While Oregon wasn't known for it's defense, Jordan was a standout in both pass rushing and coverage situations. Miami will be thrilled to line up Jordan on one end and have Cameron Wake on the other.
2. Jamar Taylor (CB, Boise State)
Second Round, 54th Overall Pick Height: 5'11 Weight: 192 lbs
Last season Miami allowed the 6th most passing yards in the league. With that said, the secondary was clearly an area in need of improvement entering the draft - especially after losing Vontae Davis and Sean Smith. Jamar Taylor was their first attempt at addressing that need.
Taylor is a strong, physical defensive back (22 reps on bench press) that is unafraid of challenging receivers off the line. He's also athletic enough to keep up with speedy receivers (ran a 4.39 40-yard dash) and make plays on the ball. He may need to sure up his run tackling technique and gain more discipline on reading routes but Taylor has plenty of upside.
3. Dallas Thomas (OT, Tennessee)
Third Round, 77th Overall Pick Height: 6'5 Weight: 300 lbs
Since trade talks with the Kansas City Chiefs over Branden Albert went awry, Miami decided to draft Dallas Thomas and add depth to the offensive line. Thomas is a versatile lineman that played both tackle and guard in college against SEC opponents. Analysts believe he would excel more in the NFL as a guard but could be a viable tackle option as well.
Thomas provides both solid pass blocking and run blocking skills. Scouting reports state that he can defend against pass rushers with his agile footwork and fast recovery. In the run game, Thomas can pull block and reach the second level of defense quickly. He'll just have to adapt to stronger defensive linemen in the pro game and improve on areas like strength, quickness and consistent handwork.
Looks like Thomas will become a plug-and-play lineman for the Dolphins in case of injury or when starting linemen need rest.
4. Will Davis (CB, Utah State)
Third Round, 93rd Overall Pick Height: 5'11 Weight: 186 lbs
As we mentioned earlier, the Fins needed to addressed their DB situation with secondary picks. So, they selected Will Davis in the third round; an athletic, fluid corner that is instinctive and has ball hawk tendencies.
Many describe Davis as a raw talent with his limited football experience (only played one year in high school before entering college). But the kid has shown an impressive skill set on the field, deflecting and intercepting passes throughout his college career. Davis is known to be overaggressive at times and is susceptible to double moves by receivers as a result. However, his instincts get it right more times than not.
The Dolphins didn't really need another linebacker; they already had seven on the roster entering the draft. Regardless, they felt that Jenkins could provide help on special teams and compete for a spot in their defensive sub-packages. Jenkins is known for his cover skills against running backs and tight ends.
The main concern with Jenkins is his medical history, suffering from injuries to his hamstring, hand and foot during college. If he manages to stay healthy and earn a spot on the depth chart, Jenkins can provide solid tracking and tackling skills whenever he's on the field.
Miami's main two tight ends are Charles Clay and Dustin Keller, with Michael Egnew struggling to earn playing time. Enter Dion Sims; a big-bodied target that has the potential to become Miami's red zone threat. Despite his large stature, Sims actually has an impressive vertical jump (35 inches) and surprisingly soft hands.
Beyond that, many scouts were impressed with his pass blocking skills - something Anthony Fasano provided before he left to the Chiefs. Sims could use some work on run blocking situations and is limited when it comes to agility and quickness in the passing game. His frame alone is intriguing but he'll have to prove his worth before lining up in a game for the Fins.
With three backs on the roster already, Miami decided to add more competition to the running back unit with this pick. Mike Gillislee is known as a strong back that prefers going inside and taking on defenders rather than being elusive. He is an well-rounded rusher that can also catch out of the backfield.
Gillislee needs to work on his decisiveness in the ground attack in order to succeed in the pro game. He'll have staunch competition in Miami with Lamar Miller, Daniel Thomas and Marcus Thigpen ahead of him on the depth chart. His first shot at playing time may come in the special teams unit.
The Dolphins continued their University of Florida recruitment tour with the addition of Caleb Sturgis. That marked the third Gator drafted in two consecutive rounds. Dolphins Special Teams Coach, Darren Rizzi was very high on Sturgis and clearly approved of the pick. With that said, Dan Carpenter's seat has officially begun to heat up.
Look for Sturgis to compete for Carpenter's job from day one. It might get interesting if Sturgis starts nailing 72-yard field goals in practice, like this:
Just four spots away from being Mr. Irrelevant, Don Jones joined the Fins as their final pick of the 2013 draft. Jones was drafted as a strong safety but many believe he'll be competing for a spot as cornerback. He was a track star back in high school, so you know the speed is there. Jones actually logged 4.42 and 4.40 times in his 40-yard dash during the Arkansas State pro day.
There isn't much to say on his production in college other than he was sound special teams player and did a decent job playing the nickel position at Arkansas State. Looks like Miami just wanted to bring in his athletic skills to see if they can translate that into special teams production and perhaps secondary help.
In an astonishing 2012 accolade-filled season, LeBron James racked up some impressive awards and recognitions: NBA All-Star, All-NBA First Team, All-Desfensive First Team, League MVP, NBA Champion & Finals MVP. Let's not forget about that gold medal from the Summer Olympics.
Come 2013 and fans could only hope that LeBron matches such a spectacular year. Well, he didn't match it. He surpassed it.
The numbers tell the story. Check out his 2012 stats versus his 2013 stats:
From one season to another, LeBron elevated his game to become more efficient and more complete. That is perhaps the most fitting word to describe LeBron James at this point of his career: complete. He may have taken a 0.3 dip in points per game but he also averaged one less shot attempt per game than last season.
There's little doubt that James will be named the 2013 NBA MVP. That would bump his career MVP titles up to four and give him the distinct recognition of winning the award four out of the last five years. No other player in NBA history has won that many in a five-year span.
LeBron's transcendent 2013 performance has poised Miami for another championship run. He's also helped the Heat make history by spearheading their 27-game win streak and helping the team secure a franchise-best 66 wins.
Miami was favored to win the title before the 2013 NBA season even started. Now they're even greater favorites with online sportsbooks placing them at 2-3 odds to win it all. With LeBron leading a relentless, effective and seemingly unstoppable attack on opposing teams, there's no surprise that oddsmakers are picking the Heat.
While it has been beyond entertaining to watch LeBron in the regular season, we all know that the playoffs bring another level of competition. So, although it may be difficult to imagine, we can expect LeBron to provide even more legendary performances to the NBA stage.
Folks, get comfortable because we are about to witness the epitome of playoff basketball in Miami.
We all know about the Big 3 and what they mean to this Miami Heat team. LeBron James is playing at an extraterrestrial level that's overshadowing his stellar 2012 season. Dwyane Wade has resurged in the second half of the season and Chris Bosh has consistently produced solid numbers.
But what about the rest of the supporting cast? Which players have given this team the most bang for their buck?
After all, the Heat do pay a premium for their three superstar studs - dishing out in excess of $17 million per player. But there's nothing better than getting valuable production at a bargain price. That's why we've looked at the Miami Heat's top 3 value players this season.
3. Ray Allen
It's still incredible to think that Miami landed this future Hall of Famer that has made a legendary reputation off of dissecting defenses with his lethal perimeter shooting. Allen has provided the Heat with a consistent scoring option at the reasonable price of $3.09 million this season. Rumors claimed that the Celtics were offering Allen double that amount to stay in Boston. Clearly, he chose title contention over cash. The concept of having Allen come off the bench for Miami is still insane. No other team can say they have the top three point shooter in NBA history coming off their bench.
2. Shane Battier
Coming in at an affordable $3.135 million contract, Shane Battier has filled the essential role of "Glue Guy" on the Heat roster. Comparable to what James Posey was for the '06 Heat team, Battier's contribution goes beyond the stat book and box score. Drawing charges, defending elite scorers, boxing out defenders and forcing turnovers are just some of the intangibles that Shane brings to Miami. Not to mention, his three-point shooting has been a valuable asset for the Heat - nearly 90% of all the shots he's taken this season are from beyond the arc! In essence, Shane does the dirty work that not many people notice but his team absolutely appreciates.
1. Chris "Birdman" Andersen
Take a guess at how much Chris Andersen is earning as a member of the Miami Heat? Whatever you came up with, think less. Birdman is donning a Heat jersey for the bargain price of roughly $700,000 this season. That's based on a veteran minimum contract and the fact that he joined the team mid-season. Regardless of the limited time he's been with the team, Andersen has added an athletic, big man presence in the paint for the Heat, who were criticized for lacking that element. With Andersen, Miami is getting a shot blocker, strong rebounder and emphatic dunker at an extremely low cost. He is the epitome of a value player for any team, especially one that is a title contender. It's safe to say that acquiring Birdman was a steal for the Heat - a move that makes Miami's roster that much more complete.
Travesty is perhaps the proper word to describe it. The Miami Marlins enter yet another season with a cast of mostly fresh faces, unknown names and a dejected fan base. Owner Jeffrey Loria did his best to frame yet another fire sale as a "business decision" that would benefit the team in the long run. Loria even hired a new PR firm to spearhead his campaign to revamp the organization's image, as well as his own.
Guess that effort hasn't entirely worked with the team taking to Groupon to sell Opening Day tickets. The general sentiment in Miami is one of anger, frustration and utter disappointment toward South Florida's pro baseball organization (which some don't even consider at the professional tier anymore).
Despite all this negativity surrounding the Marlins, this season will be a turning point for the team and the league. The result of this season will have league-wide implications that extend way beyond the Miami city limits.
A miserable, losing season will drive Loria's reputation deeper into the ground than he can even fathom. It would make his proclamation of not selling the team much more difficult to stand by. Simply put, it'll be one nail short of firmly sealing his coffin shut.
However, what if the Marlins manage to muster a miraculous winning season? A seemingly insane and highly unlikely scenario but in the wild world of sports nothing is impossible. Perhaps, newly hired skipper Mike Redmond proves to be a masterful manager; motivating his young troops to compete above and beyond expectations.
Wishful thinking? That's an understatement. Impossible? Not really.
The point here is that if, for whatever reason, the Fish have a winning season and actually compete for a playoff spot, Miami will set a new league standard for building winning teams. Let's not forget about the way the Marlins' 2003 World Series team was built: with a young, talented core that nobody expected to win a title.
The youthful faces of Miguel Cabrera, Josh Beckett and Dontrelle Willis come to mind. Sure, you had the veteran presence of players like Jeff Conine and Luis Castillo but the team makeup was overwhelmingly unseasoned.
So, while many anticipate a failing year filled with poor performances and growing pains, there's still a grander implication underneath it all. Needless to say, it'll be entertaining to see what direction this team's fate heads in. Whether that be racing straight to an eventual crash and burn or soaring out the ashes like a newborn phoenix.
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