Updated NCAA Bracket Projections

Sign Up for B/R Bracket Challenge

Miami Heat Don't Need a Conventional Point Guard to Help LeBron James

Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories
Miami Heat Don't Need a Conventional Point Guard to Help LeBron James

There are a few things the Miami Heat need. They need a bit of creativity from their head coach regarding their offensive rotations, they could use some defense and they desperately need rebounding.

But one thing they don't need is a conventional point guard, because in all honesty, they already have the NBA's best facilitator in LeBron James.

Complimenting James with a conventional point guard, much like the L.A. Lakers did this offseason by bringing Steve Nash alongside Kobe Bryant, would be an absolute mess. It would take away James' greatest asset, which is his ability to truly take over a game.

If you don't think James can take over a game, just call Kobe up and ask him what he thought of James' 39 points on 17-of-25 shooting during the Heat's most recent, dominant victory against the Lake Show.

While it's odd to type these next words, the Heat have exactly what they need with Mario Chalmers at the point guard position—and it isn't because he is a good point guard.


Chalmers, aka "big shot Mario," is versatile enough to be at the point guard position on paper and still be a threat without the ball in his hands.

Unlike a conventional point guard, Chalmers is able to rely on his shooting touch beyond the arc and his ability to cut to the basket to compliment the star talent around him.

James doesn't need help from anyone else on the floor. His teammates are the ones who need the help, and it's exactly what James is able to do when he has the ball in his hands.

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

He doesn't need someone to create open shots for him or to create offense for him, because he does it himself better than anyone else in the NBA.

Having a conventional point guard would force the Heat into an offense, in which LeBron could still be the focus, but it wouldn't highlight his skills, which are creating offense for himself and teammates with the ball in his hands.

When James is handling the ball and controlling the pace of the game the Heat are at their best.

If James wants to, he can then take shots, drive to the rim and take over a game with pure offense all on his own. 


That's not all he does, though. If he wants to, he can also take over a game by creating wide-open shots and offense for everyone on the court. 

With the ball in his hands, defenses are forced to constantly keep an eye on where he's at and what he's doing with the ball. That, in turn, allows teammates to find open space, subsequently creating offense for themselves.

If the Heat had a point guard, say like Nash, that type of flow wouldn't work and it would make James a much different player, which wouldn't be a positive thing.

The point is, James doesn't need players to fit into a conventional system for him to be successful.

James just needs players who are willing to take a back seat, not because he is a diva who needs all the attention. When James is running the show, he's able to truly maximize the talent around him.

It's James' world—we're all just living in it. 

Load More Stories

Follow Miami Heat from B/R on Facebook


Miami Heat

Subscribe Now

We will never share your email address

Thanks for signing up.