The Miami Heat Bench 'MOB' Isn't As Big As You Think

When you hear talk of the basketball mobs, thoughts naturally either go to the olden days of coaches with slicked back hair and tailored suits or the generic name that has been passed on throughout the years to the most productive NBA benches of the season. In both cases the Miami Heat may come to mind. But for the purpose of this article, let’s focus on what Hassan Whiteside refers to as the most outstanding bench (M.O.B).

Other teams may scoff at the label, but numbers do not lie. As the Miami Herald’s Ethan Skolnick pointed out, the Heat’s backups are first in rebounding, field goal percentage and sixth in points since last month’s All-Star break. And although they get praise as a collective, the credit for the second unit’s revival falls in the laps of three guys.

The leader is often the first man off of the bench and former starting center, Whiteside. Not only does he top the bench in all of the categories they have dominated in since the tail end of February, but individually he in the NBA’s top 10 in total rebounds, offensive rebounds, blocks, double-doubles and field goal percentage. However, his biggest contribution has been accepting an anchoring role off of the bench while playing in a contract year.

That type of selflessness allows him to come in and jump-start the team — with his 14 points, four blocks and 12 rebounds average — when they drop into early deficits. And for as much as Whiteside’s defense reflects the Heat’s backbone, Rook 1 and Rook 2 do nothing but add to the avalanche.

Justise Winslow, while slow to develop on offense, is a natural on defense who usually spends his crunch time minutes guarding the opponent’s best scoring threat. Then comes the surprise of the Heat’s season, Josh Richardson.

Injuries to Beno Udrih and Tyler Johnson put the 6-foot-6 second round pick on the court, but his chase-down blocks and fast-break saving steals kept him there. Couple that with his 13 points per game and 63 percent three-point shooting in March and the Richardson rounds out the three-headed monster that is one of the most outstanding benches of the 2015-16 season.

Now just imagine if Josh McRoberts and Gerald Green could find some consistency.