NBA Miami Heat

Justin Hamilton Providing Huge Boost for the Miami Heat

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By @outofboundsjay

November 7, 2014; Steve Mitchell; Justin Hamilton

Steve Mitchell- USA Today Sports

The Miami Heat are vulnerable in terms of frontcourt depth; there is no denying this. Through the first five games, the most reliable force on the glass has been Chris Bosh, and no other player on the Heat’s roster even comes close. With that being said, one player in the frontcourt rotation has begun to elevate his game, and it’s rookie center Justin Hamilton.

The absence of Chris Andersen has been the primary reason for Hamilton’s steady increase in minutes. The added minutes have also given the Heat franchise an opportunity to see how talented Hamilton is both offensively and defensively. Shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc as a center in the NBA is pretty absurd, and his ability to shoot threes is just another weapon to stretch the floor for the Heat (who are currently one of the top three-point shooting teams in the league).

Hamilton has also provided a steady boost on the glass, averaging 3.5 rebounds, two of which have been offensive boards. In the Heat’s first loss against the Houston Rockets, Hamilton managed to grab seven rebounds against the bulky Rockets frontcourt, while also scoring nine points and registering a block and a steal. This was the first big game for Hamilton while playing in a Heat uniform, and coincidentally came when he received a career-high 31 minutes.

Coach Erik Spoelstra has to continue giving minutes to Hamilton, even when Andersen returns from injury. A steady rotation of both players in the frontcourt could be the ultimate recipe for success.

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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