Norris Cole Will Eventually Losing Starting Point Guard Position With Miami Heat
By Jared Doyle
@outofboundsjay
Anthony Gruppuso- USA Today Sports
This was supposed to be the season that Norris Cole made a leap in talent. The young point guard out of Cleveland, Ohio had been a wonderful surprise in terms of productivity over the last three seasons for the Miami Heat, but this was supposed to be the season he took the starting point guard position and truly made it his own. Unfortunately, the complete opposite has happened for Cole so far.
Even though Cole has been the Heat’s starting point guard since the beginning of the regular season, he is averaging fewer minutes per game than he did last season, which could be a testament to the lack of trust coach Erik Spoelstra has in his young guard at the end of close games. Although Cole is averaging 7.2 points per game, the most of his young career, his shooting percentages are at all time lows, currently shooting 39 percent from the field and 32 percent from beyond the arc.
Shabazz Napier has also been playing stellar basketball, especially at the end of close games in the fourth quarter, which is just another reason why Cole could ultimately end up losing his starting gig. Spoelstra has already shown based on the rotation that he trusts Napier, a first-year NBA player, in close game situations over Cole, who has been with the Heat organization for the last three years.
For now, with Mario Chalmers playing primarily as the Heat’s backup shooting guard, Cole will still be the first available point guard option in the starting lineup. But with Napier’s rapid development, it won’t be long until Cole is coming off the bench.
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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