Miami Heat: Why Udonis Haslem Is the Key to a Their NBA Title Hopes

Before I address the topic of the article, let's get things straight with the Miami Heat.

They're fine. They're two pitiful free-throw shooting games and a Tracy McGrady-inspired comeback away from being undefeated. LeBron James may be showing a lack of confidence once again in the fourth quarter, but we can't put all the blame on him. Collectively, you've been witnessing some of the worst free-throw shooting you'll ever see from a professional team.

All this talk of James choking wouldn't be happening if the Heat made their free throws in their losses to Golden State and the L.A. Clippers. The Warriors were playing inspired basketball and couldn't miss, which ultimately resulted in a Heat loss; and the Heat did everything right against the Clippers aside from making their free throws.

Also, haven't we learned anything from last year? We did this exact song and dance last year throughout the regular season and it nearly resulted in an NBA title for the Heat. We're 11 games into the season—please calm down. No one is getting traded and no one is getting fired.

"Keep calm and carry on" should be the motto for this team, but we'll get back to that a different time.

For now, we'll speak of one of the Miami Heat's greatest players in franchise history in power forward Udonis Haslem, who is currently leading the league's bench players in rebounding at 10 boards per game. Due to the lack of a pure center in the middle, Haslem has been consistently cleaning up the mess around the rim early on this year.

There's no reason why Haslem's work on the boards should desist either. Unless Eddy Curry returns and immediately has a hard work ethic or Chris Bosh decides to stop shying away from contact under the rim, Haslem should continue leading the way for a Heat team that desperately needs toughness and physicality around the rim.

One of the Heat's biggest problems that they ran into last year without Haslem was finding a competent rebounder and defender down in the low post. Even though Joel Anthony provided some resistance around the rim, he lacked other significant intangibles, which includes being able to put the ball in the basket and scoring more than two points per game.

Anthony also lacked on rebounding thanks in part to hands that are the equivalent to spatulas made of marble and greased in butter. As much as Juwan Howard wanted to contribute, his old legs just couldn't find the lift to compete with the younger, more physical players in the league that you face in the front court.

We won't make any excuses for the Heat's depressing end to last year because they should have won regardless; but you have to believe that Haslem is going to add a lot more to the equation when his team played the Dallas Mavericks. They did have Haslem back, but not nearly at 100 percent as the team brought him back out of desperation.

The Heat lacked that tough physical presence that could have been utilized to deter Dirk Nowitzki. During the 2006 NBA Finals, Haslem held Nowitzki to less than 40 percent from the field by constantly harassing him and forcing him out of his comfort zone.

Without the defense, a consistent jump shot and an overall toughness, the Heat were greatly lacking in several key departments that gave the Mavericks a glaring advantage. Going against a front court headed up by Tyson Chandler, all of the defense's attention was allowed to be focused on Wade and James, instead of it also being on Haslem who could hit the baseline jumper over and over again.

Haslem is able to perform so well on defense because he chooses where his opponent shoots. He doesn't allow the opposition to get into position and in their comfort zone. Haslem picks and chooses where he wants his assignment to start and finish at, usually resulting in a difficult shot.

But that's in the past now. The 2010-11 season is over, and the Heat start the 2011-12 season with a clean slate. They have started out 8-3 and can't seem to hit a free throw; but it's all momentary problems that could be solved. The Heat can now look forward to a brand new season that comes equipped with a healthy Udonis Haslem.

With Haslem in the lineup, a lot of offensive pressure gets taken off of the already burdened shoulders of the Big Three. Last year, the Big Three basically did everything on both sides of the ball, but especially on the offensive end. They would have to each score over 20 points so that they can secure a win, and would even go as far as to score as much as 90 percent of their team's total output.

This wasn't showing off either, the Big Three had to do this, because they didn't have a player like Haslem to look to for rest on the offensive end. It may not seem like it at the moment, but Haslem is an excellent offensive threat when it comes to knocking down mid-range shots.

Rather than always looking to score and having all of the defense's attention focused on them, any member of the big three could look towards the open Haslem for an easy jumper.

Trust me, Haslem is always open. He was getting open when he only had Dwyane Wade as his teammate and he's still finding ways to get open with Wade, James, and Bosh by his side. There's so much attention being placed on the Big Three that a player like Haslem will eventually find himself open in his comfort zone from 10 to 15 feet on the baseline.

If you just started watching Heat basketball this year, you truly don't know how prolific and consistent of a shooter Haslem has been for his career. There's a reason why those Miami Heat teams in 2008 and 2009 survived, and it was because Wade was able to pass it off to Haslem in late-game situations, which Udonis would consistently hit.

Haslem may have no post game and may not be able to create his own shot, but he knows his purpose on offense and he fulfills it. He's shooting a little less than 50 percent for his career, but is currently struggling at 39 percent. Once he gets back into the habit of shooting the mid-range jumper, we should expect that percentage to skyrocket.

It's not Haslem's offense that's going to put the Heat over the top. It certainly helps, but it pales in comparison to the most important aspects of Haslem's game that is provided on a nightly basis. Haslem is considered one of the greatest teammates you could possibly have on your team because of how much determination and commitment he showcases to the game, as well as the hard-work ethic he provides to the Heat that helps to put them over the top.

Udonis Haslem is the glue to the Miami Heat. Without him, you find a team like last year's; constantly looking for answers, without direction, and an overall mentality that doesn't translate to going after every loose ball or going after every rebound with a purpose. Haslem is the one that does the dirty work so that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of this team can go about their usual activities.

Haslem has acquired this hard work ethic on account of how grateful he is to the Miami Heat organization. After a senior season at the University of Florida, where he shot 56 percent and averaged 16 points and eight boards per, Haslem found himself playing in a professional league in France and not his intended target in the NBA.

Teams didn't want to pick up a somewhat overweight power forward who didn't have a true ability to create his own shot, so Haslem didn't get any workouts. The only team to give him a workout, the Heat, would sign him prior to the 2003-04 season to add some depth to a young team that featured the likes of Caron Butler, Lamar Odom and a rookie Dwyane Wade.

Haslem took full advantage of getting the opportunity to play in the NBA. He played in 75 games, starting in 24, and averaged an impressive seven points and six boards per. The impressive play warranted him a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team. Soon enough, the Heat would trade away a few players in order to acquire Shaquille O'Neal and a spot opened up at power forward.

In two years, Haslem went from being an undrafted, overweight player in France to a domineering force starting at power forward. He has the Miami Heat organization to thank for being in the league and he has proven to them time and time again how grateful he is. His latest act of gratefulness was shown in the 2010 offseason when he took a drastic paycut, so that the Heat could sign Wade, James and Bosh, and keep him at the same time.

Despite receiving offers from the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks to make as much as $6 million per season, Haslem elected to stay with the Heat and make $3 million per year. He didn't just stay with the team because of the success they'd see, but also because he wants to show his appreciation to the club that gave him a chance to prove himself.

All of that translates to the player you see today. Haslem is one of the hardest workers you will ever see in the NBA. He has a blue-collar approach to every game and is out there to handle his business and nothing more. He's not going to post up 20-10 for you every night, but rather post up 10 points and eight boards, just enough for the team to be put over the top.

He's an excellent locker room presence as well. Whenever you're on the floor, you will always have the presence of mind that you have Udonis Haslem to back you up. A few years back, Wade got tangled up with Andres Nocioni. Nocioni shoved Wade out of bounds before Haslem came over and threw him into the second row.

Let's just say that that not many players have messed with a Heat player since.

Haslem's hard work ethic tends to rub off on people. If players are trying to work as hard to go after loose balls and rebounds, it'll mostly be as a result of Haslem being on the floor and giving his usual 110 percent. It's that mentality of his to contribute as much as he possibly could that allows him to be the key to a Heat title run.

When the playoffs come around, a team needs toughness physically and mentally in order to make their way through an important series. Haslem is the player that the players could look towards for guidance. He's the captain of the Heat for a reason. It's because he's an excellent teammate and the fact that he's the type of player anyone could look up to.

A hard worker and an overall amazing person to be around in a locker room, Haslem will be the key to an NBA title because of his strong presence in a physical and mental light.