Andre Dawkins Has Big Shoes To Fill As Primary Three-Point Shooting Specialist For Miami Heat
By Jared Doyle
@outofboundsjay
Soobum Im – USA Today Sports
One player who many suspected would be cut by the Miami Heat before Monday’s deadline was Andre Dawkins, the 23-year-old shooting guard out of Duke. But in shocking fashion, Dawkins was chosen to be a part of the Heat’s final 15-man roster heading into the upcoming regular season. One of the biggest reasons the Heat organization elected to keep Dawkins is because of his high shooting mark from beyond the arc. If Dawkins is going to be the Heat’s go-to three-point shooter, he has large shoes to fill.
Last season, the Heat’s leading three point shooting specialists was none other than Ray Allen. Although it wasn’t Allen’s highest shooting mark from beyond the arc (during the 2013-14 season), his 38 percent three-point shooting average help space the floor tremendously for the Heat. Dawkins will have a very similar responsibility off the bench, coming in primarily to make shots from beyond the arc and space the floor on offense for the Heat.
The small sample size that Dawkins has for the Heat throughout three preseason games is definitely encouraging. In three games, Dawkins averaged 53 percent from beyond the arc, making nine of his 17 three-point shots. This is by far the highest mark of any Heat player throughout preseason, so you can see why Dawkins ultimately ended up making the roster.
With so many quality three-point shooters leaving the Heat franchise this summer, Dawkins’ sharpshooting will be vital in keeping this franchise a contender this season. Other players on the roster will be expected to shoot well from beyond the arc, especially the starters, but no player will have the sole responsibility of coming into a game primarily to make three point shots, with the exception of Dawkins.
Jared Doyle is a Miami Heat writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @outofboundsjay, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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