From Scrubs to Super-Subs: the Transformation of Miami's Bench

As I sat and watched the Heat dismantle the Bulls last night, my interest level in the game itself shrunk with each passing wide open layup or Ray Allen 3 in the 2nd half. For several minutes, there was at least the potential for some entertaining chirping, mean-mugging, and raised elbows, but Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson were eventually asked by the officials to continue their respective nights from the locker room. From then on, both coaches emptied their benches with obvious orders not to get involved in anything stupid, as it looked like all 10 players on the court for the last 3 or 4 minutes feared they would get suspended for the remainder of the series if they even breathed too closely to someone in the other colored jerseys.

Anderson, Allen, and Cole had a big hand in last night's win for Miami.

The last thing I noticed before turning off the TV was who Miami had on the court, which included James Jones, Mike Miller, and Joel Anthony…wait a minute, weren’t these guys all playing crunch-time minutes for the Heat the last 2 years? Ok, maybe crunch-time is a stretch, but the point is they all got at least a decent amount of run! Anthony was a starter for the Heat during their Finals loss to the Mavs, and was even the 1st big guy off the bench during last year’s playoffs when Miami discovered the small-ball lineup they still use today. Miller made 7 3’s and scored 23 points in the clinching Game 5 of last year’s Finals. James Jones…well, he caused Paul Pierce to get ejected in a playoff game 2 years ago, but that’s something at least! Now, they are filling up garbage time in a 37 point playoff route?

During the 1st 2 seasons of The Big 3, figuring out how James, Wade, and Bosh meshed was the biggest problem. But even when it seemed like they had finally figured that out sometime last season, I still wondered whether Miami had the supporting cast to win a title. Once they decided to go small – playing Bosh or Haslem at center most of the time while LeBron and Battier manned the forward positions – the role players all just kind of fell into their proper places. Haslem and Anthony played D and rebounded. Miller and Battier stood on the perimeter and made 3’s off of LeBron and Wade’s penetration. And Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole could do Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole things as well.

The improvement in their bench this season might actually have given the Heat the deepest roster in the league…a far contrast from the 2011 playoffs, when you wondered if their backups would even make many other NBA rosters. At 37, Ray Allen would be a liability given starter’s minutes, but his current 3-point bench mercenary is the perfect role for him at this stage of his career. (For my money, he’s still the best shooter in the world right now not named Steph Curry.) Battier’s defensive versatility and 3-point shooting is crucial to Miami’s funky lineups. Cole has developed to the point where Erik Soelstra can pretty much platoon him and Chalmers based on who is going good that particular night. And midseason addition Chris Anderson gives the Heat the 1 thing they really never had before: an athletic, high-energy, rim-protecting big man they can spell Bosh with. Haslem, who’s skills have declined, pretty much plays the 1st 8-9 minutes of the 1st and 3rd quarters and then sits the remainder of the game. And Rashard Lewis, the other big-time free agent acquisition of this past offseason for the Heat, only sniffed the court when the dogs had longed been called off. It’s been quite an overhaul…and it’s one of the main reasons they have to be considered the favorite going forward.

Oh, and that LeBron guy’s not bad either.