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Are The Miami Heat Using Goran Dragic Correctly?

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 28, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) drives on Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) during the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Off The Ball

If you were to take a look at the number of touches and time of possession on this team, you’d think that Dragic was dominating the rock. He has the most touches on the team through six games (440), which is almost 100 more than the next closest player, Chris Bosh (364). He’s also had the ball in his hands for 14 more minutes than the next closest player (Bosh again).

But compare the per game numbers to his breakout season in 2013-14, and it’s pretty easy to see that the Heat haven’t utilized Dragic to the fullest extent:

2013-14:

  • Touches — 78.2 per game
  • Time of possession — 6.5 MPG

2014-15:

  • Touches — 73.3 per game
  • Time of possession — 5.8 MPG

Dragic showing up to training camp out of shape certainly didn’t help matters, but those numbers would represent a significant drop-off from his best season, when the Phoenix Suns rode Dragic’s crafty playmaking ability to a 48-win season. The Dragon didn’t leave a team where his job was to stand in the corner so he could play for another team where he stands in the corner — even if he’s being paid handsomely to do so in Miami.

Six games is a small sample size, but we saw this disturbing trend of playing Dragic off the ball last season when Dwyane Wade and/or Mario Chalmers shared the floor with him. For whatever reason, head coach Erick Spoelstra has played Dragic off the ball as a 2-guard far too frequently, allowing Wade and even Chalmers to initiate the offense instead.

Wade is one of the greatest shooting guards of all time, and Dragic should not be absolved of the full blame for his slow start. But the whole point of bringing Dragic to South Beach was making Flash’s job easier. He’s not a spot-up shooter or a three-point threat, but Wade initiating the offense is a misuse of the skills Dragic brings to the table.

Though the numbers are clearly skewed in Dragic’s favor, it’s somewhat alarming that Wade is currently averaging more assists per game (4.5) than Dragic (4.3), and that Wade has a higher assist percentage (26.0) than Miami’s starting point guard (22.0).

However, Dragic has created more points per game with his assists than Wade, per NBA.com, which just goes to show how much the ball needs to be in his hands.

The Heat have not gone to the Suns’ level of playing Dragic at the 3, but they’re alienating him all the same. Chalmers is a two-time NBA champion, but any time the offense begins with him when Dragic is on the floor, it’s not only detrimental to the team’s success, but it’s also insulting to a point guard of Dragic’s caliber.

Next: Pick And Roll

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