Kelly Olynyk has slowly been improving in his new role for the Miami Heat. Can this team evolve with a versatile forward like him coming off the bench?
Miami Heat big man Kelly Olynyk hasn’t always been a recognizable name in this league. He just recently started gaining recognition when the Boston Celtics surged from mediocrity to one of the top contenders in the East last year.
His 26-point performance in a crucial Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals was a sign that this 26-year-old had something special. It was his heroics that led Boston to the conference finals for the first time in over five years.
Now facing a new atmosphere and with a tough transition from starter to role player off the bench, is Olynyk being utilized to his full potential by head coach Erik Spoelstra? Of course, Olynyk is no Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kristaps Porzingis, nor will he ever come close to being one, but Miami has something good here that can develop chemistry to reveal a new identity that’s been lost this past year.
It happens a lot, especially when new role players are trying to get accustomed to fresh faces and their skill-set. With the Miami Heat being new residents to the ever-growing injury bug, the team must adapt and fast. The season is 82 games, but with a quarter of that now behind them, these next games have now transformed into must wins for the ninth-ranked Heat.
How can they solve this dilemma short-term while their starters come back? Easy: Keep adding fuel to the rising fire that is Kelly Olynyk. KO is a hidden gem that, judging by his stellar 32-point performance against the Celtics, can erupt given the right timing.
Kelly Olynyk returns to Boston with a career-high 32 to lead the @MiamiHEAT! #HeatCulture pic.twitter.com/OXy1ev2sA3
— NBA (@NBA) December 21, 2017
The timing is right for a major increase in his minutes. While there has been a small jump in his minutes, from 20.5 per game to 22.3 this year, his role still isn’t clear regarding whether he’s better suited as a starter or bench player. He has to start, for various reasons, but more to solidify the weak backcourt Miami has with both Justise Winslow and James Johnson out.
Granted, the former Gonzaga star had a breakout game against his old team, so he knew exactly how to play them. But so far this season, he has shown spurts of improvement in his overall game. Credit that to the adaptability with his new teammates — something that takes years for some teams to hash out.
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If Olynyk can continue to take advantage of a depleted Heat roster by constantly adapting and improving his game, then it won’t be long before we see KO roughing up bigs along Miami’s starters permanently.