Rookie Point Guard Norris Cole Will Help LeBron James Win His First Title
When the Miami Heat traded up three spots in the draft to pick Cleveland State point guard Norris Cole in the first round, people realized that Cole was going to be the point guard of the team moving forward.
Whether they plan on starting him or letting him play off the bench is still undecided, but the rookie will log plenty of minutes on a team looking for defense and smart playmaking choices at the point position.
By using Mario Chalmers and Mike Bibby the way the Heat did last season, they were outmatched on a regular basis at the point guard position, and neither player showed much talent on the defensive end.
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On a team with such a plethora of offensive and defensive talent, Cole?s transition will not be difficult, and he should have plenty of opportunities to exploit double teams on his teammates.
Cole told the Miami Herald:
I?m going to be confident on the court. You don?t have to so much defer to them. They?re going to make plays, they?re going to demand the ball anyway. [If] I?m out there, I?m going to just play my role. If I have a shot or a lane, I?ll take it. If not, I?ll be ready to play off those guys because they?re such great players.
Cole is already coming into a team full of egos with one of his own, and it will be interesting to see how he handles that big of a stage with players like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
James had a great playoff run last season, but faltered in the finals like it was his job. Next season, Miami will try to avoid that by getting a point guard that will take the ball when LeBron freezes up.
With Cole?s mindset of being a facilitator or scorer depending on the team?s needs, he is a perfect fit for a team that depends on one the streakiest players in the NBA.
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