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Miami Heat: Will Luol Deng Be Used Differently This Season?

By David Ramil

Dec 23, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) takes a breather during the second half against Philadelphia 76ers at American Airlines Arena. The 76ers won 91-87. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) takes a breather during the second half against Philadelphia 76ers at American Airlines Arena. The 76ers won 91-87. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Now set to begin his second season with the Miami Heat, forward Luol Deng may be looking at a new role to play during the 2015-16 season.

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Deng averaged 14 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in 72 games last year in Miami; a solid campaign, at least statistically. But the numbers are somewhat misleading, in that he had long stretches of productivity spliced together with moments of ineffectiveness, a 26-point outing followed by a woeful low-scoring affair.

When asked about his first year with the Heat at the end of the season, Deng seemed critical of the role he played:

"“€œI don’€™t really like to just stand still. It’s not my strength. I could shoot a high percentage but I’€™m not per se a shooter. I slash, I cut. I’m better in motion than standing still. When I played [for] Scott Skiles [in Chicago], he didn’€™t want me shooting any threes. He wanted me close to the rim. My whole focus was the mid-range. This year, [the Heat] wanted me to take the corner threes more than I’ve done in the past.”"

Deng did attempt 221 shots from three-point range last season, his third-highest total in 12 NBA seasons. It was still an effective shot for him, converting 35.5 percent. But his statement indicates at least some discomfort with the stand-still shooting role.

A recent statement by head coach Erik Spoelstra shows that might all be about to change.

Spoelstra spoke to reporters prior to training camp and explained how this summer was a huge step in getting to know Deng better — and use him more effectively during the upcoming season:

"“We’re both more comfortable. We got together this summer and we both just kind of laughed, and kind of said, ‘You know even when you’re a veteran coach or a veteran player and you come together, it does take some time to build a relationship, build a comfort level,’ and we started to hit our stride in the spring last year. So Lu is coming in in terrific shape this year. I’m excited about him feeling more comfortable in our culture and our system, coming into camp.”"

This, like so many statements prior to the season, sounds nice but doesn’t quite ring true. You’ll hear a lot about players gaining muscle, losing weight, adding range to their jumpshot, etc. But rarely do these improvements actually manifest once the season begins.

The problem is that Miami lacks adequate long-range shooting, especially in their starting lineup. Dwyane Wade (28.9 percent for his career) is a poor shooter from 3-point range and Goran Dragic, while effective (a career mark of 36 percent), is more efficient when attacking the basket; neither is really considered a floor spacer.

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    • Chris Bosh has certainly developed into fine shooter (32.6 percent for his career but 37.5 in 42 games last season), but he can’t be Miami’s only long-range option. Hassan Whiteside has reportedly expanded the range on his shot (another summer success story) but he’s not a realistic option.

    That leaves Deng to carry the load from along the perimeter yet again.

    The question of who — if anyone — will provide that kind of shooting is one the Heat have to answer early in the season. While on paper the team seems talent-laden, there might be an adjustment period that could hurt their chances at success early on.

    Last season, Deng proved that he was most productive when mixing his three-point shooting into his repertoire: in 35 games where he scored 14 points or more, he shot 40 percent or better from long-range in 21 of those contests.

    And while Deng and Spoelstra may have reached a new “comfort level” this past summer in their relationship as player and coach, if the Heat look to contend, someone will have to provide at least a threat of the occasional three-point shot.

    It’s a big part of why you can only take what you hear from teams about their offseason workouts with a grain of salt: the reality is usually far from different from what’s discussed. And while Deng and Spoelstra might have a better understanding of one another, if Miami has any hope of winning early and often, the Heat’s best hope is that Deng understands that his role with the team will be one he’s been uncomfortable with in the past.

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