Miami Heat: Who Plays Largest Role Aside From The Big Three?

For an NBA team to reach their goal at the end of the season by securing an NBA championship, they need a number of factors to surround them.

They need an overwhelming confidence that every player must have, a desire to win that no other team can match, and most importantly a balance so that every player on the team is able to contribute in some way.

Any championship team needs a balance on the starting lineup and bench with players that have a specific speciality that aids the team. The Boston Celtics big three is easily one of the best core's to ever be assembled on an NBA team, but even they needed players like Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins to ensure victory.

Much like this Miami Heat team with its big three.

The trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh exceeds the talent of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen that was assembled three years ago, due to the modern day big three's youth and talent level, but it does not ensure anything near a championship because the team still needs a balance.

With a team president like Pat Riley, however, the balance was restored and the Heat now have a plethora of bench players that all contribute in their own way.

Offense won't pose too much of a problem with James, Wade, and Bosh most likely set to combine for at least 60 to 70 points on average per contest, but they'll still require help from their teammates to completely ensure victories later on in the post season.

Defense, three-point shooting, and shot blocking are all factors that aren't completely answered by the big three and it is there that their teammates will be most needed.

As much as critics want to say the Heat don't have a stable supporting cast, the team contains a bench that can do a bit of everything. Eddie House and James Jones pose huge three-point threats, Jamaal Magloire and Juwan Howard provide veteran leadership, and Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony contribute hard-nosed defense and shot blocking.

But, in dire straits, which player on this juggernaut will aid the big three the most?

Perhaps it is Mike Miller who is coming off of a season where he averaged a ridiculous career high of 48% from beyond the arc with the Washington Wizards. The Heat lost their sole three-point shooter from last season in Quentin Richardson and replaced him with three-point specialists in Miller, House, and re-signed the mostly inactive Jones.

They will all get plenty of open looks thanks to the big three.

Miller will serve as the first option off the bench for the Heat who will need him when the team requires a spark of energy from beyond the arc. No starter aside from Mario Chalmers is a true three-point shooter and a sharpshooter like Miller would be huge in the long run. Not only that, but Miller has already developed a chemistry with James and Haslem prior to joining the team as he is a Nike teammate of James and Haslem's former Florida Gator roommate.

While Miller's three-point shooting will be key, there are others players who could play a larger role in the long run. For example, Udonis Haslem's hustle and defense off the bench will be a contributing factor in the Heat's championship run for next season and beyond.

Haslem is a seven-year Heat veteran and the only other player aside from Dwyane Wade left from the 2005-'06 championship squad.

Udonis has been Wade's right hand man over the past few seasons helping him win a number of games in the clutch with his consistent jump shot, unmatched commitment to defense, and having Wade's trust when he must find a player to help him win a game.

Udonis is coming off his first season off the bench since his rookie year and adjusted to the role perfectly and with no complaints as he averaged 10 points and eight rebounds per game. Despite coming off the bench, he was inserted late in games during crunch time and would somehow manage a way to step up in the biggest ways possible by contributing a number of game winners and converting open shots when Wade was double and triple teamed on drives.

Haslem however is still not the most important role player on this team despite his commitment and strong defensive ability. To find the the player that will need to step up the most to help this team, you'll have to look under the net for now fourth year center Joel Anthony.

Believe it or not, the undersized Canadian born center plays the largest role on this team aside from the big three. How on earth does a player that has averaged less than three points per game for his career overshadow the talents that Haslem and Miller will contribute to every game?

Let me explain.

You need to look at the road to the finals, as well as the finals themselves. To get to their desired destination, they'll need to go through teams such as the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls. Each of these teams possess a center that provides some sort of scoring output, rebounding, and strong defense. None of these centers proves more daunting than the Magic's Dwight Howard, but if you have watched Heat and Magic contests in the past, you'll know that Anthony has been known as a Dwight stopper.

Even though he is listed at 6'9", Anthony plays like he is 7' and has limited Howard at the basket by keeping him out of his range. His unheralded shot blocking ability is something worth noting as well as he averaged 1.4 blocks off the bench last season which equates to three per 36 minutes. I'm not saying that Anthony will average three blocks per game next season, but his shot blocking will be prominent and needed under the basket against the quality center's of the league.

If a date is made with the Los Angeles Lakers in the upcoming NBA finals, Anthony will be needed to match up against Andrew Bynum. Laker fans have been waiting for Bynum to break out of his shell, but with constant injuries keeping him at bay, they have not witnessed the full potential that he posesses as a 7' scoring machine. If he is healthy, then Anthony could play as the largest defensive factor on the Heat by keeping Bynum out of his range and off the score card.

Joel will also find plenty of open looks under the basket with double teams on Bosh in the paint and could develop some form of an offensive game if given enough experience with the ball in his hands. He will be needed mostly for his defense and shot blocking which lead to fast break opportunities.

In his 16 starts, Miami amassed an impressive 13-3 record.

Any opportunity Anthony starts off by affecting shots in the paint will most likely lead to two points with Wade and James leading the fast break. Joel's role in the paint will be the most influential for the Heat, and the big three, as he will be the defensive stopper and shot blocker that they need.