He Who Posts Well
Superstar
Spo better keep that bum on the bench
It'll be a good thing if Spo plays him. It'll mean that we are blowing the other team out. I hope dude averages 30 minutes a game.
''I ain't got no worries'' Official 3x NBA championship Miami Heat Season Thread
- Thread starter He Who Posts Well
- Start date
It'll be a good thing if Spo plays him. It'll mean that we are blowing the other team out. I hope dude averages 30 minutes a game.
He Who Posts Well
Superstar
Former Denver Nuggets star Chris Andersen was the victim of a wide-ranging and complex Internet impersonation scheme when authorities searched his home last year, an attorney for Andersen said Wednesday.
The Douglas County District Attorney's office on Wednesday confirmed that it will not file charges against Andersen in connection with the search.
Mark Bryant, the attorney, said Andersen was being impersonated online by a woman in Canada. The woman, posing as Andersen, sought relationships and gifts but also threatened at least one person, Bryant said. The woman in Canada was also posing online as other people to Andersen, Bryant said.
Bryant said the woman, whose name he would not release, has been charged in Canada with multiple crimes. She has not yet been charged in Colorado but could be.
"It is my understanding that this case involves numerous victims," Bryant said. "... Chris was a victim in this case."
The revelation appears to settle questions about why authorities from the Douglas County Sheriff's office's Internet Crimes Against Children unit searched Andersen's home last year. Andersen was not charged with a crime, and Bryant stated emphatically Wednesday that "there was no crime committed in Colorado."
A spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriff's office said the investigation has been turned over to prosecutors but otherwise declined to comment about the findings.
"We are confident that we have done a thorough and complete investigation and ultimately will have successfully closed this case out," Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Hanavan said.
A spokeswoman for the Douglas County District Attorney's office said prosecutors would "announce our findings in the near future" but had not yet completed their review of the case.
"Based on the information that we have been able to obtain and analyze we are not pursuing charges against Chris Andersen," spokeswoman Lisa Pinto wrote in an e-mailed statement.
A spokeswoman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Manitoba confirmed that a woman from a small town in the province had been charged in a case that was jointly investigated by the RCMP and the Douglas County Sheriff's office.
Shelly Lynn Chartier, 29, has been charged with crimes of possession and transmitting of child pornography, personation, extortion and making threats, RCMP Sgt. Line Karpish said. Karpish said Chartier lives in Easterville, Manitoba, a town of fewer than 100 residents on the shores of Cedar Lake nearly 300 miles north of Winnipeg. Chartier was charged in January and is scheduled to make a court appearance in October, Karpish said.
Karpish would not say whether Andersen was a victim in their case, but she did thank the Douglas County Sheriff's investigators for their help in the case.
"The investigation is ongoing," Karpish said. "We're not done."
Bryant said the statements were a vindication of Andersen, who Bryant said suffered greatly from the public suspicion that had fallen upon him.
"We knew from the beginning he was innocent," Bryant said. He said Andersen — who won an NBA championship this year with the Miami Heat — wants to thank the people who believed in him. But Bryant said Andersen's response to the news was a solemn one.
"There's no great joy in knowing you're a victim," Bryant said.
Andersen was a multi-tattooed fan favorite known as "Birdman" during his seven years with the Denver Nuggets.
In March 2012, Douglas County Sheriff's detectives searched his Larkspur home as part of an ongoing investigation by the department's Internet Crimes Against Children unit. Authorities did not disclose the nature of the investigation.
Andersen, now 35, denied wrongdoing and asked the public to believe in him.
I "just wanted to thank everyone that supported me and knew this was a lie from the beginning," Andersen said in a statement provided to The Denver Post earlier this year. "They know how I love people, they know how I love kids and they know where my heart has been in this community."
Hints emerged about the bizarre nature of the case shortly after Andersen's home was searched. An attorney for Andersen told The Post that Andersen had been threatened with retaliation by a young woman from California with whom he had a relationship. The woman apparently became upset when Andersen's interest waned, attorney Colin Bresee, who was representing Andersen at the time, told The Post.
Bresee said the young woman's family demanded payment from Andersen.
"I want him to pay for everything on her Amazon wishlist and 5k for her bedding stuff and her victoria secret wishlist," wrote a woman purporting to be the young woman's mother in a document reviewed by The Post last year.
Bryant now says the woman in California was also a victim of the woman in Canada. The message purportedly from the California woman's mother is now believed to have been written by the woman in Canada, Bryant said.
Essentially, the Canadian woman was an unseen interloper in the relationship, simultaneously duping Andersen and the young woman in California, Bryant said.
For example, though Andersen and the woman from California met once in person, Bryant said it turns out they never actually communicated directly with one another online. Instead, all the communication unknowingly flowed through the woman in Canada — posing as Andersen to the California woman and as the California woman to Andersen. Sometimes the woman would simply pass along messages, Bryant said. At other times, she would fabricate messages, he said.
Bryan said, at one point, the woman in Canada — posing as Andersen — threatened the woman in California with violence and with releasing lurid photos of the woman taken when she was under 18.
The investigation of the case spanned several states and two countries, Bryant said. He said the woman in Canada posed as multiple real and fake people online. There are more than a dozen victims in the case, Bryant said.
Bryant said he and Andersen first learned the full extent of the case about a month ago in a meeting with prosecutors and investigators. He called the investigative effort "extraordinary."
Bryant said he doesn't know why Andersen was targeted but that the case has been devastating to Andersen, who prides himself on his charity work in the community and with disadvantaged children. He said Andersen now hopes his reputation has been restored so he can move on with his life.
"It had an extraordinary effect upon Chris," Bryant said. "...To this day, Chris is so disturbed because some of the public opinion was just brutal."
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingn...rmer-denver-nugget-victim-internet?source=rss
When catfish gets real.
The Douglas County District Attorney's office on Wednesday confirmed that it will not file charges against Andersen in connection with the search.
Mark Bryant, the attorney, said Andersen was being impersonated online by a woman in Canada. The woman, posing as Andersen, sought relationships and gifts but also threatened at least one person, Bryant said. The woman in Canada was also posing online as other people to Andersen, Bryant said.
Bryant said the woman, whose name he would not release, has been charged in Canada with multiple crimes. She has not yet been charged in Colorado but could be.
"It is my understanding that this case involves numerous victims," Bryant said. "... Chris was a victim in this case."
The revelation appears to settle questions about why authorities from the Douglas County Sheriff's office's Internet Crimes Against Children unit searched Andersen's home last year. Andersen was not charged with a crime, and Bryant stated emphatically Wednesday that "there was no crime committed in Colorado."
A spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriff's office said the investigation has been turned over to prosecutors but otherwise declined to comment about the findings.
"We are confident that we have done a thorough and complete investigation and ultimately will have successfully closed this case out," Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Hanavan said.
A spokeswoman for the Douglas County District Attorney's office said prosecutors would "announce our findings in the near future" but had not yet completed their review of the case.
"Based on the information that we have been able to obtain and analyze we are not pursuing charges against Chris Andersen," spokeswoman Lisa Pinto wrote in an e-mailed statement.
A spokeswoman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Manitoba confirmed that a woman from a small town in the province had been charged in a case that was jointly investigated by the RCMP and the Douglas County Sheriff's office.
Shelly Lynn Chartier, 29, has been charged with crimes of possession and transmitting of child pornography, personation, extortion and making threats, RCMP Sgt. Line Karpish said. Karpish said Chartier lives in Easterville, Manitoba, a town of fewer than 100 residents on the shores of Cedar Lake nearly 300 miles north of Winnipeg. Chartier was charged in January and is scheduled to make a court appearance in October, Karpish said.
Karpish would not say whether Andersen was a victim in their case, but she did thank the Douglas County Sheriff's investigators for their help in the case.
"The investigation is ongoing," Karpish said. "We're not done."
Bryant said the statements were a vindication of Andersen, who Bryant said suffered greatly from the public suspicion that had fallen upon him.
"We knew from the beginning he was innocent," Bryant said. He said Andersen — who won an NBA championship this year with the Miami Heat — wants to thank the people who believed in him. But Bryant said Andersen's response to the news was a solemn one.
"There's no great joy in knowing you're a victim," Bryant said.
Andersen was a multi-tattooed fan favorite known as "Birdman" during his seven years with the Denver Nuggets.
In March 2012, Douglas County Sheriff's detectives searched his Larkspur home as part of an ongoing investigation by the department's Internet Crimes Against Children unit. Authorities did not disclose the nature of the investigation.
Andersen, now 35, denied wrongdoing and asked the public to believe in him.
I "just wanted to thank everyone that supported me and knew this was a lie from the beginning," Andersen said in a statement provided to The Denver Post earlier this year. "They know how I love people, they know how I love kids and they know where my heart has been in this community."
Hints emerged about the bizarre nature of the case shortly after Andersen's home was searched. An attorney for Andersen told The Post that Andersen had been threatened with retaliation by a young woman from California with whom he had a relationship. The woman apparently became upset when Andersen's interest waned, attorney Colin Bresee, who was representing Andersen at the time, told The Post.
Bresee said the young woman's family demanded payment from Andersen.
"I want him to pay for everything on her Amazon wishlist and 5k for her bedding stuff and her victoria secret wishlist," wrote a woman purporting to be the young woman's mother in a document reviewed by The Post last year.
Bryant now says the woman in California was also a victim of the woman in Canada. The message purportedly from the California woman's mother is now believed to have been written by the woman in Canada, Bryant said.
Essentially, the Canadian woman was an unseen interloper in the relationship, simultaneously duping Andersen and the young woman in California, Bryant said.
For example, though Andersen and the woman from California met once in person, Bryant said it turns out they never actually communicated directly with one another online. Instead, all the communication unknowingly flowed through the woman in Canada — posing as Andersen to the California woman and as the California woman to Andersen. Sometimes the woman would simply pass along messages, Bryant said. At other times, she would fabricate messages, he said.
Bryan said, at one point, the woman in Canada — posing as Andersen — threatened the woman in California with violence and with releasing lurid photos of the woman taken when she was under 18.
The investigation of the case spanned several states and two countries, Bryant said. He said the woman in Canada posed as multiple real and fake people online. There are more than a dozen victims in the case, Bryant said.
Bryant said he and Andersen first learned the full extent of the case about a month ago in a meeting with prosecutors and investigators. He called the investigative effort "extraordinary."
Bryant said he doesn't know why Andersen was targeted but that the case has been devastating to Andersen, who prides himself on his charity work in the community and with disadvantaged children. He said Andersen now hopes his reputation has been restored so he can move on with his life.
"It had an extraordinary effect upon Chris," Bryant said. "...To this day, Chris is so disturbed because some of the public opinion was just brutal."
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingn...rmer-denver-nugget-victim-internet?source=rss
When catfish gets real.
7 footer 
After adding Michael Beasley by way of a non-guaranteed contract, the Heat may not be done yet. Miami has recently expressed interest in a number of free agents including Von Wafer, Julyan Stone, Vander Blue, Yakhouba Diawara, Larry Drew II, Je'Kel Foster and Justin Holiday among others, according to sources close to the situation. All of these players recently worked out for the HEAT. Miami may bring in several other free agents for additional workouts in the coming days. ... Miami enters the 2013-14 season with 13 players under guaranteed contracts. Many of these guaranteed players have been training at the team's facility including Beasley, Ray Allen, James Jones, Mario Chalmers and Chris Bosh among others
954UAlreadyknow
All Star
I agree that Spo was too concerned with offense that series..... Joel shouldve played way more then he did and Lebron should've guarded Paul George more also. No way that series shouldve went 7
they not too concerning with Joel scoring alot of points. they just want him to be reliable catching the ball. everytime a pass is sent to him he fumbles the ball. thats why birdman was so usefull because he was finished oops and drawing fouls doing essentially the same thing as joel.
Can you imagine the fukkery that could have been our "Harlem Shake" video last year if Beasley was part of it? 
shyt is already epic. Beas would have made it legendary
shyt is already epic. Beas would have made it legendary
Adam3000
-
When catfish gets real.
People to this day still call him a pedophile. Seriously some fukked up shyt, and the original story gets 100X more attention than the retraction/follow up
Here are our player scouting reports and 2013-14 projections for the Miami Heat.
PROJECTED STARTERS
MARIO CHALMERS, PG
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPp RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
9.0 2.3 3.5 .512 4.4
Scouting report
+ Super-confident combo guard who can run an offense and shoot the rock.
+ Struggles to penetrate. Either makes a brilliant pass or throws it away with no in-between.
+ Disrupts passing lanes with very active hands. Not quick, but uses his body well.
Analysis
Chalmers is the ultimate zero-sum player. On one possession, he'll do something great that makes you wonder whether he really is a great point guard. On the next, he'll dribble the ball off his foot and then blame his foot for getting in the way. One step forward, one step back.
But the Heat will put up with all the headaches as long as he shoots 40 percent from 3-point range like he did last season. Chalmers has improved his deep shooting to the point where he's above-average at his position and absolutely deadly from the right corner (55.6 percent).
Chalmers briefly turned into Magic Johnson during the opening weeks of the season as he threaded the needle with amazing dishes to his teammates, but he quickly fell back to Earth and reverted to a shoot-first point guard. Overall, his turnover rate dropped while his assist rate nudged up slightly, which is a good sign for his development.
Defensively, Chalmers is still a disruptor, but he doesn't pressure the ball well because of mediocre quickness. His defensive isolation numbers in Synergy sagged into the bottom 20 percent in the league, but if he continues to rack up steals that ignite a LeBron James-Dwyane Wade fast break, the Heat will be happy.
DWYANE WADE, SG
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
20.0 4.8 4.6 .623 11.4
Scouting report
+ Strong, slashing guard with amazing shot-blocking ability, vision and finishing skills.
+ Irresistible pump fake. Terror to guard in transition. Great rebounder. No 3-point range.
+ Tough enough to anchor back line and swat shots. Nose for the ball, but lazy in transition D.
Analysis
Pop quiz: There were two players last season who scored at least 20 points on 50-plus percent shooting while averaging at least five rebounds and five assists. Name them.
One is LeBron James and, well, if you're paying attention to this section, you can probably guess who the other guy is.
Wade delivered yet another monster campaign that will go largely unnoticed because of that guy who wears No. 6 for Miami. He is listed at 6-foot-4, but he plays about a half foot taller because of his long arms, brute strength and jumping ability. Combine that with an incredible gift slicing to the rim, and you have one of the most impossible players to guard in the NBA.
Only one slight problem: He has chronic knee issues.
It's become an annual tradition in the NBA postseason that Wade must fight through various knee injuries to win the trophy, and 2012-13 was no different. Plowing through bone bruises that required PRP treatment and a fluid draining, Wade struggled to penetrate defenses that loaded the paint. What's worse, his midrange jump shot abandoned him, as he shot just 32.9 percent from 16 to 23 feet in the postseason, compared to a 42.0 percent conversion rate in the regular season. With no 3-point shot whatsoever, Wade looked shockingly powerless on offense.
To get his body right, Wade has gone back to working with famed trainer Tim Grover and he also underwent OssaTron shock treatment to alleviate knee pain. If those knees can't get close to 100 percent, he'll cramp up the Heat's offense again and perhaps force coach Erik Spoelstra to ponder giving more time to floor spacers like Ray Allen and Shane Battier.
But Wade can contribute elsewhere even with bad knees. He still averaged 4.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per 36 minutes in the playoffs, which are still elite numbers for his position. However, Wade became slow on closeouts and routinely jogged back on defense to protest foul calls to near referees.
The knee-jerk eulogies on Wade's career are ridiculously premature, but he'd be wise to follow James and find a reliable long-range shot as athleticism insurance.
LEBRON JAMES, SF
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
25.7 8.0 6.8 .783 22.9
Scouting report
+ Do-it-all physical freak with elite shooting, passing and dribbling skills. Defies position.
+ Intelligent player who can find teammates where no one else can. Deadly 3-point jumper.
+ Average free throw shooter. Can defend almost anyone. Excellent rebounder. Is never hurt.
Analysis
At this point, James is the closest thing we may ever have to a perfect basketball player.
He crushed the rest of the league in PER last season with a 31.7, just shy of his career high. He shot a ridiculous 56.5 percent from the field. He scored more points in the paint per game than anybody else in the league. He dished out more assists than most point guards. He registered a higher rebound rate than Marc Gasol and Robin Lopez. Defensively, he's tall, quick and strong enough to guard just about anyone in the league, and he almost did.
And if all that wasn't enough, consider this: He now wields one of the most potent jumpers in the league. Only Jose Calderon averaged more points per spot-up play than James, according to Synergy Sports.
Most efficient spot-up players, 2012-13 regular season(Min. 100 plays) James' name pops up near the top of all the jump-shot leaderboards for last season. And that includes the unguarded catch-and-shoot category, in which he effectively shot 73.1 percent once you account for the added value of 3s. Only five players were more lethal with open shots. While he couldn't find his shot in the Finals until the very end, he ended up converting 37.5 percent of his 3s in the postseason, which is well above average. (For perspective, Kevin Durant shot 31.3 percent from deep in the playoffs.)
So, what's left for him to master?
Free throws. James seemingly switched up his routine every other game last season, and he still shot his lowest rate since 2007-08. It crept up to 77.7 percent in the playoffs, but he should be doing better and he vows that it's his No. 1 priority this offseason. We'll believe it when we see it.
Coach Erik Spoelstra nicknamed him 1-through-5 for a reason. James guarded everyone from Tiago Splitter to Tony Parker to Al Jefferson to Nate Robinson to Kevin Durant last season, but it's almost impossible to quantify that versatility. Nonetheless, the Heat were 4.4 points better per 100 possessions defensively with him on the floor, and 82games says he held his small forward counterpart to just a 12.7 PER.
With a lethal jump shot now in his repertoire, he's a reliable free throw routine from achieving the basketball ideal.
UDONIS HASLEM, PF
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
4.0 5.3 0.5 .332 -2.2
+ Jump-shooting, tough center in an unathletic forward's body. Short corner specialist.
+ Ugly shot mechanics that yield inconsistent results. Doesn't draw fouls.
+ Smart defender. Tenacious rebounder with knack for ball. Fearless enforcer.
Analysis
Haslem enjoyed a bounce-back season after struggling through foot problems that kept him grounded in 2011-12. But Haslem adjusted his game this past season to take fewer contested shots at the rim and limit his basket attacks to open layups coming from pick-and-roll actions. As a result, he was blocked just 6.2 percent of his shots in 2012-13, compared to 10.6 percent in 2011-12. Basically, Haslem found peace with where he is in his career.
The herky-jerky jumper comes and goes. When it goes in, he looks like a useful player. When it doesn't, he looks all but washed up. But the guy makes it just enough to keep him in the starting rotation and logging big minutes. He shot 41 percent from 16 to 23 feet last season, up from his 35.0 percent rate the previous season. Like Norris Cole, his shot improved as the season progressed.
Haslem tallies big rebounding numbers individually, but the Heat actually cleaned the glass slightly better when he was on the bench (49.3 percent to 48.5 percent). That disparity worsened in the playoffs, lending credence to the notion that Haslem sometimes gobbles up rebounds at the expense of his teammates.
His defense is a mixed bag. Haslem never shies away from contact on the defensive end and continues to be one of the best charge-takers in the league. He's still woefully undersized, and his opponent counterpart PER of 21.1 reflects that he can get physically dominated underneath. His foul rate soared last season, but he's a high-IQ defender who has mastered coach Erik Spoelstra's highly detailed system.
PROJECTED STARTERS
MARIO CHALMERS, PG
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPp RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
9.0 2.3 3.5 .512 4.4
Scouting report
+ Super-confident combo guard who can run an offense and shoot the rock.
+ Struggles to penetrate. Either makes a brilliant pass or throws it away with no in-between.
+ Disrupts passing lanes with very active hands. Not quick, but uses his body well.
Analysis
Chalmers is the ultimate zero-sum player. On one possession, he'll do something great that makes you wonder whether he really is a great point guard. On the next, he'll dribble the ball off his foot and then blame his foot for getting in the way. One step forward, one step back.
But the Heat will put up with all the headaches as long as he shoots 40 percent from 3-point range like he did last season. Chalmers has improved his deep shooting to the point where he's above-average at his position and absolutely deadly from the right corner (55.6 percent).
Chalmers briefly turned into Magic Johnson during the opening weeks of the season as he threaded the needle with amazing dishes to his teammates, but he quickly fell back to Earth and reverted to a shoot-first point guard. Overall, his turnover rate dropped while his assist rate nudged up slightly, which is a good sign for his development.
Defensively, Chalmers is still a disruptor, but he doesn't pressure the ball well because of mediocre quickness. His defensive isolation numbers in Synergy sagged into the bottom 20 percent in the league, but if he continues to rack up steals that ignite a LeBron James-Dwyane Wade fast break, the Heat will be happy.
DWYANE WADE, SG
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
20.0 4.8 4.6 .623 11.4
Scouting report
+ Strong, slashing guard with amazing shot-blocking ability, vision and finishing skills.
+ Irresistible pump fake. Terror to guard in transition. Great rebounder. No 3-point range.
+ Tough enough to anchor back line and swat shots. Nose for the ball, but lazy in transition D.
Analysis
Pop quiz: There were two players last season who scored at least 20 points on 50-plus percent shooting while averaging at least five rebounds and five assists. Name them.
One is LeBron James and, well, if you're paying attention to this section, you can probably guess who the other guy is.
Wade delivered yet another monster campaign that will go largely unnoticed because of that guy who wears No. 6 for Miami. He is listed at 6-foot-4, but he plays about a half foot taller because of his long arms, brute strength and jumping ability. Combine that with an incredible gift slicing to the rim, and you have one of the most impossible players to guard in the NBA.
Only one slight problem: He has chronic knee issues.
It's become an annual tradition in the NBA postseason that Wade must fight through various knee injuries to win the trophy, and 2012-13 was no different. Plowing through bone bruises that required PRP treatment and a fluid draining, Wade struggled to penetrate defenses that loaded the paint. What's worse, his midrange jump shot abandoned him, as he shot just 32.9 percent from 16 to 23 feet in the postseason, compared to a 42.0 percent conversion rate in the regular season. With no 3-point shot whatsoever, Wade looked shockingly powerless on offense.
To get his body right, Wade has gone back to working with famed trainer Tim Grover and he also underwent OssaTron shock treatment to alleviate knee pain. If those knees can't get close to 100 percent, he'll cramp up the Heat's offense again and perhaps force coach Erik Spoelstra to ponder giving more time to floor spacers like Ray Allen and Shane Battier.
But Wade can contribute elsewhere even with bad knees. He still averaged 4.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per 36 minutes in the playoffs, which are still elite numbers for his position. However, Wade became slow on closeouts and routinely jogged back on defense to protest foul calls to near referees.
The knee-jerk eulogies on Wade's career are ridiculously premature, but he'd be wise to follow James and find a reliable long-range shot as athleticism insurance.
LEBRON JAMES, SF
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
25.7 8.0 6.8 .783 22.9
Scouting report
+ Do-it-all physical freak with elite shooting, passing and dribbling skills. Defies position.
+ Intelligent player who can find teammates where no one else can. Deadly 3-point jumper.
+ Average free throw shooter. Can defend almost anyone. Excellent rebounder. Is never hurt.
Analysis
At this point, James is the closest thing we may ever have to a perfect basketball player.
He crushed the rest of the league in PER last season with a 31.7, just shy of his career high. He shot a ridiculous 56.5 percent from the field. He scored more points in the paint per game than anybody else in the league. He dished out more assists than most point guards. He registered a higher rebound rate than Marc Gasol and Robin Lopez. Defensively, he's tall, quick and strong enough to guard just about anyone in the league, and he almost did.
And if all that wasn't enough, consider this: He now wields one of the most potent jumpers in the league. Only Jose Calderon averaged more points per spot-up play than James, according to Synergy Sports.
Most efficient spot-up players, 2012-13 regular season(Min. 100 plays) James' name pops up near the top of all the jump-shot leaderboards for last season. And that includes the unguarded catch-and-shoot category, in which he effectively shot 73.1 percent once you account for the added value of 3s. Only five players were more lethal with open shots. While he couldn't find his shot in the Finals until the very end, he ended up converting 37.5 percent of his 3s in the postseason, which is well above average. (For perspective, Kevin Durant shot 31.3 percent from deep in the playoffs.)
So, what's left for him to master?
Free throws. James seemingly switched up his routine every other game last season, and he still shot his lowest rate since 2007-08. It crept up to 77.7 percent in the playoffs, but he should be doing better and he vows that it's his No. 1 priority this offseason. We'll believe it when we see it.
Coach Erik Spoelstra nicknamed him 1-through-5 for a reason. James guarded everyone from Tiago Splitter to Tony Parker to Al Jefferson to Nate Robinson to Kevin Durant last season, but it's almost impossible to quantify that versatility. Nonetheless, the Heat were 4.4 points better per 100 possessions defensively with him on the floor, and 82games says he held his small forward counterpart to just a 12.7 PER.
With a lethal jump shot now in his repertoire, he's a reliable free throw routine from achieving the basketball ideal.
UDONIS HASLEM, PF
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
4.0 5.3 0.5 .332 -2.2
+ Jump-shooting, tough center in an unathletic forward's body. Short corner specialist.
+ Ugly shot mechanics that yield inconsistent results. Doesn't draw fouls.
+ Smart defender. Tenacious rebounder with knack for ball. Fearless enforcer.
Analysis
Haslem enjoyed a bounce-back season after struggling through foot problems that kept him grounded in 2011-12. But Haslem adjusted his game this past season to take fewer contested shots at the rim and limit his basket attacks to open layups coming from pick-and-roll actions. As a result, he was blocked just 6.2 percent of his shots in 2012-13, compared to 10.6 percent in 2011-12. Basically, Haslem found peace with where he is in his career.
The herky-jerky jumper comes and goes. When it goes in, he looks like a useful player. When it doesn't, he looks all but washed up. But the guy makes it just enough to keep him in the starting rotation and logging big minutes. He shot 41 percent from 16 to 23 feet last season, up from his 35.0 percent rate the previous season. Like Norris Cole, his shot improved as the season progressed.
Haslem tallies big rebounding numbers individually, but the Heat actually cleaned the glass slightly better when he was on the bench (49.3 percent to 48.5 percent). That disparity worsened in the playoffs, lending credence to the notion that Haslem sometimes gobbles up rebounds at the expense of his teammates.
His defense is a mixed bag. Haslem never shies away from contact on the defensive end and continues to be one of the best charge-takers in the league. He's still woefully undersized, and his opponent counterpart PER of 21.1 reflects that he can get physically dominated underneath. His foul rate soared last season, but he's a high-IQ defender who has mastered coach Erik Spoelstra's highly detailed system.
CHRIS BOSH, C
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
15.8 7.1 1.8 .510 5.2
Scouting report
+ Versatile, left-handed big man with silky jumper and driving ability.
+ Automatic from midrange, improving 3-point shot. Great finisher. Poor rebounder.
+ Smart defender but lacks size to guard bigger 5s. Sneaky shot-blocker who doesn't foul.
Analysis
In the hoops version of nature versus nurture, Bosh represents Exhibit A for the nurture side. It's stunning to see the transformation from a one-way paint maven in Toronto to a two-way marksman in Miami. For Bosh, winning appears to be the ultimate catalyst for change.
In 2009-10, his last season in Toronto, 35 percent of Bosh's offense came from post-ups and just 9.9 percent come on spot-ups. In Miami last season? His post-up offense dropped to just 14.1 percent and his spot-up portion rocketed up to 32.8 percent. While it's been something of a gradual change, Bosh is essentially a stretch big at this stage of his career.
And for good reason. Moving Bosh to the perimeter affords LeBron James and Dwyane Wade space to penetrate, but it also allows Bosh to showcase what might be the most money midrange jumper in the game. Yes, even better than Dirk Nowitzki's. bosh has made it clear that he'd like to puncture the paint more this upcoming season, and it could help his plummeting rebounding rate, which fell to a career-low 12.6 percent. However, much of that slide can be attributed to Udonis Haslem, who is often guilty of board-snatching; Bosh's rebound rate was near Toronto levels when Haslem hit the bench last season.
On the defensive end, Bosh saw his block rate nearly double last season, but he's not thick enough to hang with monsters like Roy Hibbert, and the Heat were no better off defensively with him on the floor, according to NBA.com. Still, he understands the angles and puts in the effort, which is more than you could say of him in Toronto.
RESERVES
RAY ALLEN, SG
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
9.5 2.3 1.6 .481 2.7
Scouting report
+ Perhaps the best shooter ever. Picturesque form and deadly from the corners.
+ Waning off-the-dribble game. Balky ankles have sapped athleticism. World-class conditioning.
+ Flaming bag defender who picks up cheap fouls. Outstanding foul shooter. Good rebounder.
Analysis
It's fitting that Allen hit his late-game tying shot in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals from the corner. That should be the top priority for any defense against Allen. The 38-year-old shot 45.0 percent from there in the 2012-13 season, which is somehow worse than his mark there the previous season but still among the best high-volume rates in the league.
Allen remains ageless, and as a corner marksman off the bench he proved to be the perfect complement to LeBron James. Get this: During the 2013 playoffs, the Heat scored an impressive 116.4 points per 100 possessions with James and Allen paired together but just 102.2 points per 100 possessions with James playing without him.
Allen's lateral explosiveness is all but gone, so he found himself forcing too many shots off drives, trying to prove he can turn back the clock to his Seattle days. As such, Allen turned the ball over on 28.3 percent of his pick-and-roll drives, one of the highest rates in the league.
As you might suspect, his value on the defensive end is just about nil. Even though he held his shooting guard counterpart to 12.2 PER, the Heat pretty much hide him under a rug on that end of the floor. Other than the occasional overly ambitious drive, Allen gave the Heat another 3-point threat but, more importantly, a safety net for the Heat in case Dwyane Wade got injured. Everyone remembers the Game 6 shot, but Allen rescued the Heat many times throughout the season. Expect more of the same in 2013-14, but the Heat had better make sure the robot has enough fuel to last one more season.
CHRIS ANDERSEN, PF
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
4.2 4.0 0.4 .545 3.1
Scouting report
+ Springy, energetic big man who can finish anything near the rim. Fantastic weakside blocker.
+ No shooting range outside four feet, but higher vertical than most bigs. Great rebounder.
+ Struggles to defend bruising big men. Extremely foul-prone. Might be a professional wrestler.
Analysis
Andersen maintains that he stayed in shape during a 15-month layoff by running up and down the Rocky Mountains. Whatever he did, it worked. Andersen came back to the court in January and fit in seamlessly to give the Heat an element that they didn't have on the roster: a high-flying big man who could grab anything near the rim and throw it through the net.
Andersen's efficiency was off the charts. He shot 57.7 percent from the floor during the regular season, with 99 of his 123 shots coming at the rim. In the playoffs, he broke a pseudo-record by shooting 80.7 percent from the floor, with 47 of his 57 shots coming at the rim. Sure, all those buckets came at point-blank range, but if it was easy, everyone would do it.
Defensively, regularized adjusted plus-minus thought he was a monster. Only eight players were more valuable on that end of the floor, according to RAPM, which is amazing considering he didn't even play for the first two months of the season. He still fouls way too much (5.1 every 36 minutes), but the Heat aren't asking him to play 30 minutes a night. His slight frame can be exposed by stronger big men in one-on-one opportunities, but he's still a major plus on that end.
Like with many of the Heatles, Andersen's getting old, and it will be interesting to see if the injury bug doesn't come back to bite him at age 35. But nabbing this combination of efficiency and basket protection for the veteran's minimum is yet another heist by Heat boss Pat Riley.
SHANE BATTIER, F
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
5.7 2.7 1.3 .484 2.8
Scouting report
+ High IQ. Deadly corner sharpshooter with athleticism of a scarecrow. Ultimate role player.
+ Slow set shot from chest. Effective baseline drive. Crafty passer in high post. Limits mistakes.
+ Charge-taker who gets abused by stronger 4s. Horrible rebounder, but boxes out with vigor.
Analysis
Battier was one of the most automatic shooters in the league last season. And then the playoffs happened. A corner dweller, Battier had the third-highest true shooting percentage of any wing in the regular season, behind Kyle Korver and Kevin Durant (62.3 percent). In fact, the No-Stats All-Star led the NBA in made corner 3s by a wide margin and did so at a 46.1 percent clip. He was actually 14 made corner 3s from matching the output of the entire New Orleans Pelicans.
Most corner 3-pointers ('12-13 season)
Player FG FGA FG%
Shane Battier 88 191 46.1
Martell Webster 73 149 49.0
Danny Green 73 169 43.2
Klay Thompson 72 160 45.0
Corey Brewer 71 198 35.9
But it all fell apart once the postseason came around. Until his timely barrage in Games 6 and 7 of the NBA Finals, Battier had made just 22.4 percent of his postseason 3-pointers and 22.2 percent of his shots overall. It's worth wondering if he was physically battered from having to "guard" David West and Carlos Boozer in the playoffs to preserve LeBron James. Either way, the Heat will have to do a better job of conserving Battier's body for playoff time as he begins life as a 35-year-old in the NBA.
Battier's rebounding continues to fall off a cliff, as his per-minute rate (3.3 per 36 minutes) has been nearly halved in two seasons. Whatever was left of his athleticism is gone, but as long as he keeps turnovers to a minimum, shoots at a high clip and plays smart defense, the Heat will be thrilled with Battier's contributions on and off the court.
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
15.8 7.1 1.8 .510 5.2
Scouting report
+ Versatile, left-handed big man with silky jumper and driving ability.
+ Automatic from midrange, improving 3-point shot. Great finisher. Poor rebounder.
+ Smart defender but lacks size to guard bigger 5s. Sneaky shot-blocker who doesn't foul.
Analysis
In the hoops version of nature versus nurture, Bosh represents Exhibit A for the nurture side. It's stunning to see the transformation from a one-way paint maven in Toronto to a two-way marksman in Miami. For Bosh, winning appears to be the ultimate catalyst for change.
In 2009-10, his last season in Toronto, 35 percent of Bosh's offense came from post-ups and just 9.9 percent come on spot-ups. In Miami last season? His post-up offense dropped to just 14.1 percent and his spot-up portion rocketed up to 32.8 percent. While it's been something of a gradual change, Bosh is essentially a stretch big at this stage of his career.
And for good reason. Moving Bosh to the perimeter affords LeBron James and Dwyane Wade space to penetrate, but it also allows Bosh to showcase what might be the most money midrange jumper in the game. Yes, even better than Dirk Nowitzki's. bosh has made it clear that he'd like to puncture the paint more this upcoming season, and it could help his plummeting rebounding rate, which fell to a career-low 12.6 percent. However, much of that slide can be attributed to Udonis Haslem, who is often guilty of board-snatching; Bosh's rebound rate was near Toronto levels when Haslem hit the bench last season.
On the defensive end, Bosh saw his block rate nearly double last season, but he's not thick enough to hang with monsters like Roy Hibbert, and the Heat were no better off defensively with him on the floor, according to NBA.com. Still, he understands the angles and puts in the effort, which is more than you could say of him in Toronto.
RESERVES
RAY ALLEN, SG
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
9.5 2.3 1.6 .481 2.7
Scouting report
+ Perhaps the best shooter ever. Picturesque form and deadly from the corners.
+ Waning off-the-dribble game. Balky ankles have sapped athleticism. World-class conditioning.
+ Flaming bag defender who picks up cheap fouls. Outstanding foul shooter. Good rebounder.
Analysis
It's fitting that Allen hit his late-game tying shot in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals from the corner. That should be the top priority for any defense against Allen. The 38-year-old shot 45.0 percent from there in the 2012-13 season, which is somehow worse than his mark there the previous season but still among the best high-volume rates in the league.
Allen remains ageless, and as a corner marksman off the bench he proved to be the perfect complement to LeBron James. Get this: During the 2013 playoffs, the Heat scored an impressive 116.4 points per 100 possessions with James and Allen paired together but just 102.2 points per 100 possessions with James playing without him.
Allen's lateral explosiveness is all but gone, so he found himself forcing too many shots off drives, trying to prove he can turn back the clock to his Seattle days. As such, Allen turned the ball over on 28.3 percent of his pick-and-roll drives, one of the highest rates in the league.
As you might suspect, his value on the defensive end is just about nil. Even though he held his shooting guard counterpart to 12.2 PER, the Heat pretty much hide him under a rug on that end of the floor. Other than the occasional overly ambitious drive, Allen gave the Heat another 3-point threat but, more importantly, a safety net for the Heat in case Dwyane Wade got injured. Everyone remembers the Game 6 shot, but Allen rescued the Heat many times throughout the season. Expect more of the same in 2013-14, but the Heat had better make sure the robot has enough fuel to last one more season.
CHRIS ANDERSEN, PF
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
4.2 4.0 0.4 .545 3.1
Scouting report
+ Springy, energetic big man who can finish anything near the rim. Fantastic weakside blocker.
+ No shooting range outside four feet, but higher vertical than most bigs. Great rebounder.
+ Struggles to defend bruising big men. Extremely foul-prone. Might be a professional wrestler.
Analysis
Andersen maintains that he stayed in shape during a 15-month layoff by running up and down the Rocky Mountains. Whatever he did, it worked. Andersen came back to the court in January and fit in seamlessly to give the Heat an element that they didn't have on the roster: a high-flying big man who could grab anything near the rim and throw it through the net.
Andersen's efficiency was off the charts. He shot 57.7 percent from the floor during the regular season, with 99 of his 123 shots coming at the rim. In the playoffs, he broke a pseudo-record by shooting 80.7 percent from the floor, with 47 of his 57 shots coming at the rim. Sure, all those buckets came at point-blank range, but if it was easy, everyone would do it.
Defensively, regularized adjusted plus-minus thought he was a monster. Only eight players were more valuable on that end of the floor, according to RAPM, which is amazing considering he didn't even play for the first two months of the season. He still fouls way too much (5.1 every 36 minutes), but the Heat aren't asking him to play 30 minutes a night. His slight frame can be exposed by stronger big men in one-on-one opportunities, but he's still a major plus on that end.
Like with many of the Heatles, Andersen's getting old, and it will be interesting to see if the injury bug doesn't come back to bite him at age 35. But nabbing this combination of efficiency and basket protection for the veteran's minimum is yet another heist by Heat boss Pat Riley.
SHANE BATTIER, F
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
5.7 2.7 1.3 .484 2.8
Scouting report
+ High IQ. Deadly corner sharpshooter with athleticism of a scarecrow. Ultimate role player.
+ Slow set shot from chest. Effective baseline drive. Crafty passer in high post. Limits mistakes.
+ Charge-taker who gets abused by stronger 4s. Horrible rebounder, but boxes out with vigor.
Analysis
Battier was one of the most automatic shooters in the league last season. And then the playoffs happened. A corner dweller, Battier had the third-highest true shooting percentage of any wing in the regular season, behind Kyle Korver and Kevin Durant (62.3 percent). In fact, the No-Stats All-Star led the NBA in made corner 3s by a wide margin and did so at a 46.1 percent clip. He was actually 14 made corner 3s from matching the output of the entire New Orleans Pelicans.
Most corner 3-pointers ('12-13 season)
Player FG FGA FG%
Shane Battier 88 191 46.1
Martell Webster 73 149 49.0
Danny Green 73 169 43.2
Klay Thompson 72 160 45.0
Corey Brewer 71 198 35.9
But it all fell apart once the postseason came around. Until his timely barrage in Games 6 and 7 of the NBA Finals, Battier had made just 22.4 percent of his postseason 3-pointers and 22.2 percent of his shots overall. It's worth wondering if he was physically battered from having to "guard" David West and Carlos Boozer in the playoffs to preserve LeBron James. Either way, the Heat will have to do a better job of conserving Battier's body for playoff time as he begins life as a 35-year-old in the NBA.
Battier's rebounding continues to fall off a cliff, as his per-minute rate (3.3 per 36 minutes) has been nearly halved in two seasons. Whatever was left of his athleticism is gone, but as long as he keeps turnovers to a minimum, shoots at a high clip and plays smart defense, the Heat will be thrilled with Battier's contributions on and off the court.
NORRIS COLE, PG
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
7.3 1.8 2.5 .354 -2.1
Scouting report
+ Pesky, undersized point guard with improved jump shot. Struggles to score in paint.
+ Not a playmaker. Puts the blinders on during penetration and forces shots.
+ Provides intense ball pressure, but court awareness lacking. Fouls a ton.
Analysis
Did Cole steal Shane Battier's shooting talents during the playoffs a la Space Jam? That's the only explanation for Cole's suddenly lights-out shooting from downtown. After hitting a paltry 27.6 percent from deep in his rookie season, Cole shot 35.7 percent last regular season and then scorched opponents in the postseason at a 53.1 percent clip.
It's a good thing he worked on his 3-point shot because it's the only thing keeping him on an NBA roster. After a horrible start to the season, Cole ranked among the worst players in recent memory. Even with a much-improved second half to the season, his 7.92 PER was the fifth-worst in the league (minimum 1,000 minutes).
The best thing about Cole's development is that he understands he shouldn't be taking shots away from LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Really, at his skill level, he shouldn't be taking shots away from anyone. His usage rate dropped from 21.8 percent in his rookie season to a much more palatable 17.0 percent last season. He was ill-equipped to become the scoring spark plug off the bench, but that's what the Heat envisioned when they drafted him two years ago.
Cole morphed into a defensive specialist by the end of the season, which is a role that he can fill. His Synergy grades checked out well, but regularized adjusted plus-minus says he's a major negative on that end of the floor. He can pressure the ball like crazy, but he's not a high-IQ player and he tends to be overly aggressive, which leads to loads of fouls.
JOEL ANTHONY, C
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
1.1 1.5 0.1 .352 -0.8
Scouting report
+ Undersized, mobile center with traces of offensive skill and flyswatters for hands.
+ Can't catch the ball. Improved around the basket but still struggles to score. Bad rebounder.
+ Covers incredible amount of real estate defensively. Excellent shot-blocker. Knows his role.
Analysis
Yes, this is the same guy who started the 2011 NBA Finals. A casualty of coach Erik Spoelstra's positionless scheme, Anthony completely fell out of the Heat's rotation this past season and became a benchwarmer behind Chris Andersen, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem.
Anthony is what he's always been: a hardworking, defensive specialist who has little to no value elsewhere. Offensively, he turned the ball over 21.5 percent of his possessions (which seems generously low) and he used just 8.6 percent of the team's possessions while on the floor. Distributors have to gently hand him the ball on a platter, and he has no jump shot to speak of. His wide stance is useful in screening situations, but he's often called for moving screens and his offensive ineptitude forces the big to double the ball handler.
But he's mastered the defensive end of the floor. Few players can go from blitz-to-basket as quickly as he can, and his Synergy grades in pick-and-roll situations reflect it. (Anthony checks out in the top 10 percent in the league here.) He's a great shot-blocker on top of that, but even the Heat's superstars can't fully compensate for his offensive deficiencies. He'll assume garbage duty for the Heat, especially with Greg Oden lurking.
MICHAEL BEASLEY, PF
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
0.0 0.0 0.0 .374 --
Scouting report
+ Long lefty wing who loves taking jumpers at expense of teammates. Better at 4 than 3.
+ A wasted talent who hijacks offense. Good handle, but never passes. Mistake-prone.
+ Poisonous presence on and off the court. Takes vacation on defense. Out of shape.
Analysis
If there was a team that could turn around Beasley, it's probably the Heat, who drafted him out of Kansas State but couldn't wait to get rid of him in 2010. Seeing that he's coming to Miami on a training camp invite with no money guaranteed, even they don't seem all that confident he's up to the task.
But it's worth a riskless free trial. No, the Heat aren't getting the same player they drafted No. 2 overall who dominated the college ranks. Beasley's PER peaked his rookie season and has been in a downward spiral ever since. Last season in Phoenix was an inefficiency tour de force. We've seen 436 players in NBA history log at least 1,000 minutes with a usage rate as high as Beasley's last season (27.6 percent) but none of them posted a true shooting percentage as bad as Beasley's (46.2). Translation: He was a ball hog of the highest degree (no pun intended).
Michael Beasley's Productivity Plunge (Player efficiency rating (PER) by season)
Team Season MPG PER
Miami 2008-09 24.8 17.2
Miami 2009-10 29.8 16.1
Minnesota 2010-11 32.3 15.5
Minnesota 2011-12 23.1 13.0
Phoenix 2012-13 20.7 10.8
When he's not busy chucking up ill-advised jumpers, he's a total lost cause on the defensive end. His next successful rotation will be his first. With someone of his size, ambidexterity and athleticism, he could be a lockdown defender, but he doesn't seem to care enough to do the work. The Suns were already terrible last season, but they were 6.6 points per 100 possessions worse with Beasley on the floor. Unsurprisingly, they paid him $7 million to leave.
There's some potential for Beasley to be a stretch 4 off the bench who can rain from the corners, but that's why they have Rashard Lewis and Shane Battier. Otherwise, it's hard to see the fit here. With all the talent in the world, Beasley has flushed his career down the toilet by playing one-on-one ball in a team sport. That simply won't fly in Miami.
GREG ODEN, C
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
0.0 0.0 0.0 -- --
Scouting report
+ Injury-riddled, talented big man with limitless potential and a history of off-the-court issues.
+ Monster rebounder and paint defender. Fouls way too much. Needs to get back in shape.
+ Hasn't played in an NBA game in almost four years.
Analysis
Who knows.
With almost a half-decade away from the game and multiple major surgeries on his knees, it's impossible to know what kind of player Oden will be or whether he will ever take the court this upcoming season. When he last played, back in 2009-10, he was a beast of a big man. At 21 years old, Oden averaged 16.7 points and 12.8 rebounds along with 3.4 blocks per 36 minutes in 21 games. But he also got whistled for six fouls per 36 minutes, which simply isn't acceptable for a big-time player.
The Heat could use him as a big body to throw at the Roy Hibberts and Marc Gasols of the league during the postseason stretch, but & baby steps. Word is that Oden has lost significant weight to relieve the pounding on his restitched knees, but it also might sap his effectiveness in the paint.
The Heat have themselves another big man reclamation project who could be another Chris Andersen-type impact & or another Eddy Curry.
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
7.3 1.8 2.5 .354 -2.1
Scouting report
+ Pesky, undersized point guard with improved jump shot. Struggles to score in paint.
+ Not a playmaker. Puts the blinders on during penetration and forces shots.
+ Provides intense ball pressure, but court awareness lacking. Fouls a ton.
Analysis
Did Cole steal Shane Battier's shooting talents during the playoffs a la Space Jam? That's the only explanation for Cole's suddenly lights-out shooting from downtown. After hitting a paltry 27.6 percent from deep in his rookie season, Cole shot 35.7 percent last regular season and then scorched opponents in the postseason at a 53.1 percent clip.
It's a good thing he worked on his 3-point shot because it's the only thing keeping him on an NBA roster. After a horrible start to the season, Cole ranked among the worst players in recent memory. Even with a much-improved second half to the season, his 7.92 PER was the fifth-worst in the league (minimum 1,000 minutes).
The best thing about Cole's development is that he understands he shouldn't be taking shots away from LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Really, at his skill level, he shouldn't be taking shots away from anyone. His usage rate dropped from 21.8 percent in his rookie season to a much more palatable 17.0 percent last season. He was ill-equipped to become the scoring spark plug off the bench, but that's what the Heat envisioned when they drafted him two years ago.
Cole morphed into a defensive specialist by the end of the season, which is a role that he can fill. His Synergy grades checked out well, but regularized adjusted plus-minus says he's a major negative on that end of the floor. He can pressure the ball like crazy, but he's not a high-IQ player and he tends to be overly aggressive, which leads to loads of fouls.
JOEL ANTHONY, C
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
1.1 1.5 0.1 .352 -0.8
Scouting report
+ Undersized, mobile center with traces of offensive skill and flyswatters for hands.
+ Can't catch the ball. Improved around the basket but still struggles to score. Bad rebounder.
+ Covers incredible amount of real estate defensively. Excellent shot-blocker. Knows his role.
Analysis
Yes, this is the same guy who started the 2011 NBA Finals. A casualty of coach Erik Spoelstra's positionless scheme, Anthony completely fell out of the Heat's rotation this past season and became a benchwarmer behind Chris Andersen, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem.
Anthony is what he's always been: a hardworking, defensive specialist who has little to no value elsewhere. Offensively, he turned the ball over 21.5 percent of his possessions (which seems generously low) and he used just 8.6 percent of the team's possessions while on the floor. Distributors have to gently hand him the ball on a platter, and he has no jump shot to speak of. His wide stance is useful in screening situations, but he's often called for moving screens and his offensive ineptitude forces the big to double the ball handler.
But he's mastered the defensive end of the floor. Few players can go from blitz-to-basket as quickly as he can, and his Synergy grades in pick-and-roll situations reflect it. (Anthony checks out in the top 10 percent in the league here.) He's a great shot-blocker on top of that, but even the Heat's superstars can't fully compensate for his offensive deficiencies. He'll assume garbage duty for the Heat, especially with Greg Oden lurking.
MICHAEL BEASLEY, PF
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
0.0 0.0 0.0 .374 --
Scouting report
+ Long lefty wing who loves taking jumpers at expense of teammates. Better at 4 than 3.
+ A wasted talent who hijacks offense. Good handle, but never passes. Mistake-prone.
+ Poisonous presence on and off the court. Takes vacation on defense. Out of shape.
Analysis
If there was a team that could turn around Beasley, it's probably the Heat, who drafted him out of Kansas State but couldn't wait to get rid of him in 2010. Seeing that he's coming to Miami on a training camp invite with no money guaranteed, even they don't seem all that confident he's up to the task.
But it's worth a riskless free trial. No, the Heat aren't getting the same player they drafted No. 2 overall who dominated the college ranks. Beasley's PER peaked his rookie season and has been in a downward spiral ever since. Last season in Phoenix was an inefficiency tour de force. We've seen 436 players in NBA history log at least 1,000 minutes with a usage rate as high as Beasley's last season (27.6 percent) but none of them posted a true shooting percentage as bad as Beasley's (46.2). Translation: He was a ball hog of the highest degree (no pun intended).
Michael Beasley's Productivity Plunge (Player efficiency rating (PER) by season)
Team Season MPG PER
Miami 2008-09 24.8 17.2
Miami 2009-10 29.8 16.1
Minnesota 2010-11 32.3 15.5
Minnesota 2011-12 23.1 13.0
Phoenix 2012-13 20.7 10.8
When he's not busy chucking up ill-advised jumpers, he's a total lost cause on the defensive end. His next successful rotation will be his first. With someone of his size, ambidexterity and athleticism, he could be a lockdown defender, but he doesn't seem to care enough to do the work. The Suns were already terrible last season, but they were 6.6 points per 100 possessions worse with Beasley on the floor. Unsurprisingly, they paid him $7 million to leave.
There's some potential for Beasley to be a stretch 4 off the bench who can rain from the corners, but that's why they have Rashard Lewis and Shane Battier. Otherwise, it's hard to see the fit here. With all the talent in the world, Beasley has flushed his career down the toilet by playing one-on-one ball in a team sport. That simply won't fly in Miami.
GREG ODEN, C
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
0.0 0.0 0.0 -- --
Scouting report
+ Injury-riddled, talented big man with limitless potential and a history of off-the-court issues.
+ Monster rebounder and paint defender. Fouls way too much. Needs to get back in shape.
+ Hasn't played in an NBA game in almost four years.
Analysis
Who knows.
With almost a half-decade away from the game and multiple major surgeries on his knees, it's impossible to know what kind of player Oden will be or whether he will ever take the court this upcoming season. When he last played, back in 2009-10, he was a beast of a big man. At 21 years old, Oden averaged 16.7 points and 12.8 rebounds along with 3.4 blocks per 36 minutes in 21 games. But he also got whistled for six fouls per 36 minutes, which simply isn't acceptable for a big-time player.
The Heat could use him as a big body to throw at the Roy Hibberts and Marc Gasols of the league during the postseason stretch, but & baby steps. Word is that Oden has lost significant weight to relieve the pounding on his restitched knees, but it also might sap his effectiveness in the paint.
The Heat have themselves another big man reclamation project who could be another Chris Andersen-type impact & or another Eddy Curry.
CHRIS ANDERSEN, PF
Pelton's 2013-14 Projections
PPG RPG APG WIN % WARP
Player card »
4.2 4.0 0.4 .545 3.1
Scouting report
+ Springy, energetic big man who can finish anything near the rim. Fantastic weakside blocker.
+ No shooting range outside four feet, but higher vertical than most bigs. Great rebounder.
+ Struggles to defend bruising big men. Extremely foul-prone. Might be a professional wrestler.
Heat
