Miami Heat: 5 goals for guard Dion Waiters in 2017-18
By Simon Smith
2. Stay aggressive
While it slightly contradicts the previous stated goal, the Heat nonetheless are a different team when Waiters is in attack mode and looking to make something happen. The numbers back this up.
The first example is 3-point shooting. When Waiters attempted eight or more 3-pointers last season, the Heat posted a 5-0 record. In contrast, when he attempted just three or less, the Heat had a 7-7 record.
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Then there’s something as basic as points scored. When Waiters posted at least 21 points, the Heat were 9-3. However, when he scored just nine points or less, the Heat were just 4-8.
Last of all there was Waiters’ usage rate, which is defined as an estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while he was on the floor. In essence, it determines how often a player controls the ball, and therefore the influence he has in that particular contest.
Last season, the Heat posted a 6-2 record when Waiters recorded a usage rate of 30.0 or greater. In contrast, the team had a 6-9 record when he had a rate of 23.9 or less.
Bottom line: if the Heat are to take the next step this season and be legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference, it’s essential that an aggressive Waiters takes to the court as often as possible.