Miami Heat In-Depth Analysis: Super Friends and the Role Players

Everyone in Miami knows what the "3 Kings" bring to the table. They are proven in there previous teams. They all are All-Star players and are in the primes.

What about the other guys?  

While stacking up the competition that Miami is going to be faced against next season, we are also going to look at the role players, who have up to this point, been subjected to a massive amount of criticism.  We are going to try and determine if that sort of treatment is valid, or is everyone making a fuss for no reason?

I will be grading each player on a traditional A-F ranking

A - Tier 1 player (The Elite players in the league)

B - Great player, not a super star.  (Most teams starting 5)

C - Average player  (Exactly that, nothing special about them, role players)

D - Below average (Role players, but 2nd to 3rd string)

F - Poor quality player (Bench warmers, will see very minimal minutes)

Dwyane Wade vs The Others

Dwyane Wade, some argue is better then LeBron James, some argue he is better then Kobe Bryant, and when you get praises like that, it makes it hard to deny his true greatness, and what he brings to the table. Wade is by far one of the quickest shooting guards of his era (2003-2010).

Dwyane is going into his eighth season (2010-2011) while only getting better and better.

Wades mid-range game has tremendously improved season after season, although his 3-point shot is still sketchy, he is by far the best "penetrating 2-guard" the NBA currently has. The majority of his game though, is just that, the same as LeBron. Who takes the back seat? It is Wades team, so it's safe to assume LeBron will be.

Wades main competition in the East for the 2010-2011 Playoffs this year will be: Celtics, Bulls, Magic

Ray Allen - Boston Celtics (6-5 , 205 lbs) 35 years young

Ronnie Brewer - Chicago Bulls (6-7, 227) - 25 years old

Quentin Richardson - Orlando Magics (6-6 , 228 lbs) - 30 years old

Versus

Dwyane Wade (6-4, 220 lbs) 28 years old will have the advantage on most of the shooting guards he plays against.

The competition at the 2-Guard spot is definitely going to be fast and furious.

OVERALL GRADE  : A+

LeBron James vs The Others

LeBron James, some argue the best player in the NBA, puts up fantastic numbers for a small forward, while shooting a high field goal percentage though a majority of his points are scored in the paint and on "And 1's".

He still has to improve on his back to the basket game, and the traditional shooting the basketball from 15-20 feet, and behind the arc.

His strengths though, are his bullish ways of getting into the paint, and drawing contact, and being able to finish, similar to Wade.

Let's see how the competition stacks up against James:

Paul Pierce - Boston Celtics (6-7 , 235 lbs) 33 years old.

Luol Deng - Chicago Bulls (6-9 , 220 lbs) 25 years old

Vince Carter - Orlando Magics ( 6-6, 220 lbs) 33 years old

Versus:

LeBron James - ( 6-8, 250 lbs) 25 years old, going to be 26 during the season, and built like a truck. There is no one in the league who can match up with him, period. There are guys who can slow him down, but no one to date has been able to play "lock-down" defense on him.

OVERALL GRADE : A+

Chris Bosh vs The Others

Chris Bosh is a great power forward, Top 5 in the power forward class, undoubtedly. His skills are great for a big man, nice touch when he shoots, the ability to pass effectively when need be and has a pretty decent back to the basket .

Bosh is one of the lightest (weight) power forwards (with respect to his height) when pitted against his 3 biggest threats in the East.

Main competition

Carlos Boozer (6-9, 266 lbs) - Chicago Bulls, 29 years old

Kevin Garnett (6-11, 253 lbs) - Boston Celtics, 34 years old

Rashard Lewis (6-10, 230 lbs) - Orlando Magics, 31 years old

Versus :

Chris Bosh  (6-10, 230 lbs) - 25 years old

What Bosh lacks in size, he more then makes up for it with his speed and shooting.

OVERALL GRADE : A+

Mario Chalmers - Point Guard

Is the starting point guard a "scrub" like others are making him out to be?

Many people (outside of Miami) will not know who Mario Chalmers is, so let's take a look.

Mario Chalmers - (6-1, 195 lbs) 24 years old.

For the NBA, he is undersized, but he plays good defense.

College Career - 3 years at Kansas (great basketball program)

College Career Stats:  12.1 PPG , 2.7 RPG , 3.8 APG, 2.6 SPG

Not bad, not good, so I'd rank his college career at a B-

What about his pro career?

NBA Career Stats: 8.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.6 SPG

Both years, have been with the Miami Heat.

He did get punked by LeBron for his number, I had throw that in there. 

Nothing about him sets him apart from the NBA's huge amounts of talent in the point guard spot.  He isn't a good distributor, nor a good scorer.  The numbers don't lie, he is about as average as they come.  Playing with the 3 kings though, could change this.

OVERALL GRADE:  C

(has a lot of potential)

Joel Anthony - Center

Is the starting center a "scrub" like others are making him out to be?

Many people (outside of Miami) will not know who Joel Anthony is, so let's take a look.

Joel Anthony - (6-9, 245 lbs) 27 years old.

For the NBA, he is very undersized, but he plays moderate post defense, can block shots.

Years Pro - 3

Career Stats: 2.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.4 BPG,  68% FT shooter, 47% in the paint.

OVERALL GRADE : D

Mike Miller - Guard-Forward

Mike Miller is a pretty common name amongst people who follow the NBA and know who the better shooters are.

Everyone has a notion that Miller is a "career sixth man" meaning, he doesn't start.  Well ladies and gentlemen, your wrong.  In the 692 games he's played in his career, he has in fact started 528 of them.  He is best known for his 3 point shooting.

Mike Miller - (6-8, 218 lbs)  30 years old.

Years Pro - 10

He has played for 3 teams in his career (Heat is his 4th).  None of the teams he has played with, were ever championship material.  He has a combined total of 20 playoff games under his belt. He is not known for his defense, so the Heat fans shouldn't expect much.

NBA Stats:  13.7 PPG, 3.2  APG, 5.1 RPG,  77% FT , 46% FG, 40% 3  point avg.

OVERALL AVERAGE:  B-

Udonis Haslem - Power Forward

Udonis Haslem is a common name in Miami, as he is known as a "warrior" and he also went to college and played for Florida.

He was a bench player last year, and will continue to come off the bench this year, to back up Chris Bosh 

Udonis Haslem - (6-8, 235 lbs) 30 years old.

Years pro: 7

NBA Stats: 10.0 PPG, 1.1 APG, 8.1 RPG,  76% FT, 49% FG

The numbers he achieves coming off the bench are solid as a role player. He is a career Heat guy, playing all 7 years since his rookie season, so he is a fan favorite.

OVERALL GRADE : B-

James Jones - Small Forward

James Jones is on his 4th home (Miami), he has played the majority of his career coming off the bench. Known for his shooting ability, he should be able to spread the floor.

James Jones - (6-8, 220 lbs) 30 years old

Years pro : 7

NBA Stats:  6.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG,  86% FT, 39% FG, 39% 3 point

OVERALL GRADE : C   (being generous)

Zydrunas Ilgauskas - Center

Zydrunas Ilgauskas is a center that has played his whole career in Cleveland, with the Cavaliers.  Not really known for his low post skills, he is more known as a knock down shooter, and not one to get in the paint and bang with the big boys.  At his height, he is able to alter shots in the paint, even if he is ready to apply for his AARP card.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas - (7-3 , 260 lbs) - 35 years old

Years Pro - 12

NBA Stats:  13.8 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.6 BPG, 47% FG, 78% FT

2 years ago, he was a starter, last year he came off the bench almost the entire year, so coming off the bench this year should be an easy adjustment. Considering the Cavaliers won 66 games with him starting, and 61 games with him coming off the bench, I can say he is a good addition to the bench.

His nickname is "Z" or "Big Z".

OVERALL GRADE: C+

Carlos Arroyo - Point Guard

Carlos Arroyo, nothing really outstanding to say about him, nor anything negative.

He will make a nice 2nd string guard, he has more experience then Chalmers, but no where near the talent of Chalmers.

Having played for:  Denver, Toronto, Utah, Detroit, Orlando, and now Miami, it is safe to say, he's been around.

Carlos Arroyo - (6-2, 202 lbs) - 31 years old.

Years pro: 8

NBA Stats: 6.9 PPG, 3.2 APG, 1.7 RPG, 43% FG, 31% 3 point,  84% FT

OVERALL GRADE : C

Juwan Howard - Power Forward

Juwan Howard -  The picture speaks just exactly how long he has been in the league.  The Washington Bullets.   He has been on the decline since 2003.

Listing his career stats are going to very miss-leading, as he was a great player in his prime (8 years ago).  So I will list what he did in Portland, so you can get a fair grip of what he is able to do.  This is Shaq 2.0 in the form of a forward.  One of those, "Don't know when to call it quit" type players.

His list of previous homes include: Washington, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Charlotte, Portland, and now Miami.

Juwan Howard - (6-9 , 253 lbs) 37 years old

Years pro: 16

Last years stats: 6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 50% FG, 78% FT

OVERALL GRADE :  D+ (if he was in his prime, easily a B+)

Eddie House - Point Guard

Eddie House - Mr. one trick pony.  The only thing he does well, is shoot, and even that is inconsistent, streaky at best.

Doesn't play defense to well, has very questionable dribbling capabilities, not well rounded at all, life time bench player.

Eddie House - (6-1, 175 lbs) 32 years old.

Years pro: 10

NBA Stats: 7.6 PPG, 1.6 APG, 1.7 RPG, 41% FG, 39% 3 point

OVERALL GRADE : C (would have been a D- if he couldn't shoot)

Jamaal Magloire - Center

Jamaal Magloire - Just another body on the court, probably just to hassle the centers, commit fouls and give rest breaks.

Most likely not gonna see many minutes (10 is what he seen last year)

Jamaal Magloire - (6-11 , 255 lbs) 32 years old

Years pro: 10

NBA Stats (last year) : 2.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 50% FG, 35% FT

Waste of cap space personally.

OVERALL GRADE: D- (being generous)

Shavlik Randolph - Power Forward

Shavlik Randolph.  Not really known for anything. 

He has acquired a whopping 783 minutes in 5 years.

In my honest opinion, a waste of cap space.

Shavlik Randolph - (6-10, 236 lbs) 26 years old

Years pro: 5

NBA Stats: 2.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 58% FT , 44% FG

OVERALL GRADE:  F

ROOKIES

Patrick Beverley

Kenny Hasbrouck

Dexter Pittman

We will have to see how they do, or if they will get the boot to the D-League.

The roster without the Rookies is 14 deep.  Only 12 can suit up, it's likely they will be sitting on the pine, or playing in the D-League.

Pittman seems to be the keeper. 

Conclusion

Starters:

Dwyane Wade :  A+

LeBron James: A+

Chris Bosh: A+

Mario Chalmers : C

Joel Anthony : D

Bench:

Mike Miller : B-

Udonis Haslem: B-

James Jones : C

Zydrunas Ilgauskas: C+

Carlos Arroyo: C

Juwan Howard :  D+

Eddie House : C

Jamaal Magloire: D-

Shavlik Randolph: F

The bench is lack luster at best.  There are a few players I was being very generous when grading. 

Some players are well past there prime, some never had a prime, and others are just fails.

Overall, Miami has a solid 8-9 man rotation, if there offense flows.  If it doesn't, this could be a very long season. 

I hope you guys like this.  It took some time to compile the data.

If you like it, let me know, drop comments.  If you didn't like the grading, tell me why, and what you think each player should be graded.

Thanks!