Greg M. Cooper-US PRESSWIRE
The hometown kid playing for the hometown team is mostly considered a novelty. Few times does that hometown kid become an integral part of the team. Such is the case with the Miami Heat and Udonis Haslem. He went from being a training camp invitee to a team captain in nine NBA seasons. Here is what to expect from the fan favorite simply known as ‘UD.’
Last Season: It was expected for the 2011-12 season to be more of a rehab year for Haslem as he came back from injury during the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately he might have instead become a casualty of the NBA lockout. With a compacted training camp Haslem may now have been able to continue working the cobwebs out of injury and it showed during the season. He played well below his standards, especially when it came to shooting. Haslem’s reliable mid range jump shot seemed to go on vacation for the majority of the season. This continued somewhat in the playoffs and it led to his role slightly diminishing. This was also attributed to Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra shifting his starting lineup to put Chris Bosh to the center position and inserting Shane Battier.
Haslem finished the season averaging six points, 7.3 rebounds, and .04 blocks. This was his worst offensive season.
This Season: Haslem is certainly going to benefit from a full training camp this time around. His role on the team though has changed. He still has a shot at the starting lineup depending on what happens to Bosh. However, he will likely become come off the bench. Haslem’s main intangible, his toughness, will also receive a boost from starting the season healthy. Being healthy will also bring back his jump shot, which opens up the court for Miami.
The addition of Rashard Lewis won’t affect Haslem’s position on the team. Lewis is a perimeter threat that is not known for banging inside the paint like Haslem.
Overall Prediction: This will be a bounce back season for Haslem. A full training camp will shake off any remaining cobwebs from his injury that remain. Expect his point average to go up along with rebounds.
The respect he has in the locker room makes him an invaluable asset on the bench. While still having a shot at starting, the situation is out of his hands.
Doubt that it matters for a man that has gone from undrafted to a two-time NBA champion.
