Any NBA coach, player, analyst, fan, or even courtside dancer knows all championship teams need a role player. A team is only as good as its bench, and a bench is only as good as its specialists. Just look at the last five seasons. The Lakers had Trevor Ariza in 2009 and Lamar Odom in 2010 when Andrew Bynum was healthy. The Celtics and Heat had James Posey. The Spurs had Michael Finley. Seemingly every champion had Robert Horry.
If the Heat are going to fulfill the expectation that’s been set for them by winning multiple championships, they’ll need multiple guys with the ability to change a game coming off the bench. The new Heat have only played five games together, but James Jones looks to be an early candidate for the sixth man award.
Miami president Pat Riley is said to be looking for a player, preferably a point guard, with the ability to stretch the floor. If it’s stretching the floor he’s after, Riley need look no further than his own bench. As LB already mentioned on Twitter (which if you aren’t following, you should be) Jones already has 18 three pointers through five games. He’s shooting over 50 percent, so he’s bound to start missing a few at some point. However if, over the course of a season, Jones can give them 75 percent of what he’s given them through the first five games, he can play as important a role in how far Miami goes as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, or Chris Bosh.
Am I ready to hand Miami the trophy now? Not even close. But a lights out shooter off the bench like James Jones only helps their chances.
