Heat Rumors: Joel Przybilla Would Be Huge Addition to Miami's Interior Defense

The Miami Heat already have the NBA's best record at 26-7; now they may be on the cusp of adding veteran Joel Przybilla to strengthen their defense. Jason Quick of Oregonlive.com reported the following:

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According to agent Bill Duffy, who spent halftime sitting courtside with team president Larry Miller, Przybilla is expected to make a decision Wednesday between signing with Miami, Chicago, Milwaukee or Portland ... or remaining idle at his home in Milwaukee

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Joel Przybilla is not a big-time scorer, but the Heat certainly don't need that with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Miami and Denver are tied for the NBA's No. 1 spot in team scoring, with 103.8 points per game.

Przybilla has only averaged four points per game in his NBA career, so whatever points he provides would be gravy.  

The Heat would primarily benefit from Pryzbilla's defensive prowess. The team is ranked 14th in points allowed. They are allowing 94.6 points per game, which is the exact same amount they surrendered last season when their defense was considered top notch.

This is how numbers can be deceiving.

NBA shooting is down across the board this season—one of the most obvious effects from the lockout. From last year, NBA teams' field-goal percentage is down 1.57 percent, three-point shooting is down 2.3 percent and free-throw shooting is down 1.9 percent.

The Heat's opponents' scoring average this season is ranked middle-of-the-pack this season, when it was the sixth-best last year.

Basically, if teams were shooting better, the Heat would give up more points. It is an area where the Heat can improve, and Przybilla's biggest value is in this area.

He has always been a good shot-blocker, averaging 1.5 blocks per game in 20 minutes of play for his career. Right now, Dwyane Wade is the team's leader in blocks per game with 1.5. Przybilla would immediately add a shot-blocking presence in the middle, where it helps a defense most.

Przybilla would also add size, which is another perceived weakness for the Heat. At 7'1" and 270 pounds, Przybilla would give the Heat their only true seven-footer. 

Eddy Curry and Dexter Pittman are close to seven feet, vertically and horizontally, thus the Heat still need depth in the middle.

It's not a huge splash, but when you already have the best record in the NBA, the little moves are what bring a championship team together.

If Przybilla is making his decision based off of the team that gives him the best shot at a ring, he'll take his talents to South Beach.