The Curious Case of Justise Winslow

[shanedude]

Winnie is such a weird player to me. On one hand he knows how to win games, defends 1-4, crashes the boards, pushes the ball in transition and is a great teammate. He's one of our 4 best playmakers alongside Jimmy,Bam and Goran. He can organize our offense and mostly makes smart decisions with the ball. He is clutch and a factor on both sides of the ball in the 4th quarter. At his best he can be a 2 way force, which he has demonstrated early in the season. He is an extremely valuable piece for this team as a wingman for Jimmy and one of the few young players who actually elevates his game in the playoffs and plays with an edge. He is just 23 years old and defends at an all NBA level. If UD can spend 17 seasons and his entire career with the Miami Heat so can Justise. He had bled for the team and his all the makings of a Heat Lifer.

On the other hand, in his 5th year now, his drives to the rim are complete prayers and his shooting touch is non existent. Free throw percentage is also completely laughable. He had some success with his three point shot on very low attempts and not really as a weapon for the team. And most frustrating is that his athleticism just isn't that impressive. He doesn't know how to leverage his strength and ball handing to create space and his own shots. We all know he looks like plays with cinder blocks tied to his shoes. His individual offense has improved from his rookie season at a glacial place, despite trending upwards towards the end of last season and the start of this one. He also hasn't been able to stay on the court without suffering every basketball injury you can imagine. It's hard for the team to rely on him as a leader when he's just not available.

I'm not sure if Pat will continue to ride it out with him in hopes that he puts it all together, or ship him out as part of a larger package including expiring contracts, prospects (Nunn, Herro, DJJ, Duncan,KZ) and picks for a whale. Winslow has shown enough to not just be used as an incentive to dump Dion and JJ. Or traded for 34 year old Lamarcus Aldridge.

Justise is a key component of the Heat's title chase. We just don't know if it's it will be as a player or as a trade chip.

Hope you enjoyed the write up

[goodboy]

As a non winslow fan. He is a "decent asset" to a team. He plays within the team, plays smart and hard. Listens well with his coaches/teammates and a good person in general.

His improvement is pretty lackluster but if Pat needs to make a decision, it needs to be sell him high as possible right now, which still isnt alot. He's stupid young with glaring injuries piling on more and more isn't going to help us in the long run. We have a star now in Jimmy, he's of age, with tons of miles on him.

We need to make moves now.

[Firespo]

Winslow has always been super frustrating ever since we first drafted him.

He isnt going to be worth much as a trade chip imo.

Keep him. Prey he can stay healthy. Offer him basically nothing for his next contract and if he doesn't like it let him walk.

[gom]

Elite defending wing player with above average 3-point shooting, exc court awareness, and great ball control. Injured. When he returns, we are even better.

[Hallstar]

Elite defending wing player with above average 3-point shooting, exc court awareness, and great ball control. Injured. When he returns, we are even better.

He got the Rondo treatment last year

[BBallFreak]

I'm personally losing patience with him. He always seems banged up. This is a problem as far as I'm concerned.

[MadD23]

Winslow needs to go. The problem is that we waited too long and his trade value is now pretty much none existent. The only thing we can hope for, it's for him to get healthy and somehow break out as a player and become a force on both ends of the floor for us. A man can hope right?

[HIF]

I like him but he appears to be injury prone. That's a big weakness in a team sport.

[fishfuego.]

He is irrelevant to the team right now. If you had players such as Nunn, Robinson, Dragic or even Herro, out for x amount of time, you would truly miss what they bring to the team. Not so much with Winslow, who has been no part of this year’s success in any form. Sure he can be another body for player relief, but is not as if anyone is saying “ oh chit Winslow is in the game” as impacting anything.

[IggieCC]

The Heat entered Tuesday ranked No. 12 in defensive rating, but December, in particular, has been concerning. After giving up 123 points to a Wizards team led by barely-in-the-rotaton guards Jordan McRae and Garrison Mathews, Miami ranked No. 22 in defensive rating for the month. The Heat finished December allowing 111.1 points per 100 possessions.

The problem right now is as simple as personnel. Wing Tyler Herro is a Rookie of the Year contender, but his defense is still often a liability. The same goes for guard Kendrick Nunn and sharpshooting swingman Duncan Robinson. The Heat doesn’t have a traditional rim protector and too many players on the perimeter can’t stay in front of their men consistently.

When Butler and Adebayo are on the court together, Miami allows just 102.7 points per 100 possessions — only the Bucks are better as a whole team. Make it a trio by adding Winslow, who has only played 10 games this season, and the number drops even more to 102.1.

Winslow, however, missed his 12th game in a row Monday, and Butler and Adebayo can only spend so much time together on the court. With no timetable for Winslow to return from a lower back bruise, the Heat’s current personnel has to figure out ways to be better in 2020.
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article238839108.html

[fishfuego.]

A good opinionated observation, but an opinion nevertheless. Winslow was getting beat by his man many times this year, and although he is a proven elite defender, this is an offensive driven league, and his defense without an offense leads to a full bag of disappointments . The Heat’s record so far is due not to Winslow but everything else in place. So yes he could be needed here and there as I stated before, but he is not a make or break player IMO but just another body in a selective role, nothing more and nothing less, and very expandable.

[gom]

Does everyone forget how good the closing Bam+Butler+Winslow formations were? I do not. When Winslow returns we will be a better team.

[MartyConlonJr]

I am still on the Winslow train, think once he gets a head of steam we are going to be talking about him like our third star.

What I find curious about him though, to stay on topic, is his athleticism. I have seen him throw down a few amazing dunks where he got major elevation - I can remember one put back dunk I swear he came down the middle and got 1.5 feet above the ring or something tremendous. I see this from time to time, very rarely, but something that shows me he actually has very good hops, then I see him stay so low to the ground on layups when he has space and I wonder why.

[Wiltside]

I am still on the Winslow train, think once he gets a head of steam we are going to be talking about him like our third star.

What I find curious about him though, to stay on topic, is his athleticism. I have seen him throw down a few amazing dunks where he got major elevation - I can remember one put back dunk I swear he came down the middle and got 1.5 feet above the ring or something tremendous. I see this from time to time, very rarely, but something that shows me he actually has very good hops, then I see him stay so low to the ground on layups when he has space and I wonder why.

Watch on YouTube

There are some pretty athletic plays in last years highlight package, both on dunks and blocks. I agree though, there are times where he looks super athletic, and other times where it looks below par for a guy his size and build. It certainly seemed he would be flying around, given he was reasonably athletic at Duke.

Really hoping Justise will get a decent opportunity to contribute once he’s back. He’s a rhythm player, let’s hope he can find it relatively quickly after being out almost the entire season so far.

[Mos_Heat]

I will never understand why guys like Marcus Smart and Justise Winslow are so divisive

[HeatFanLifer]

I will never understand why guys like Marcus Smart and Justise Winslow are so divisive

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/justise-winslow/

[gom]

I will never understand why guys like Marcus Smart and Justise Winslow are so divisive

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/justise-winslow/

Weaknesses: Throughout his high school and AAU career he flashed tremendous talent but struggled to sustain a high level of consistency … Can lose focus at times during games, but has been a lot more consistent and prepared then expected … He needs to continue to show a high level of aggression and intensity in order to realize his immense talent … Shot shows high potential but still has some minor kinks in his mechanics that need to be ironed out in order to add range and consistency … Should look to improve upon his current 62% FT shooting …

not wrong

[MartyCONLONNN]

IMO The perception with Winslow all starts with expectation. He hasn't lived up to the fan bases expectations so there will always be people who dislike him. Some go as far to hate him But if you take it for what he is, he provides a lot of value to the team as currently constructed.. especially as the team defense continues to regress while lacking reliable players.

Winslow is no star player, but he is a very capable and dynamic wing on an cheap contract with a team option. He makes us a better team now and if he doesn't reach what everyone wished he would, at least the FO gave themselves the opportunity to continue observing his development with proper cap flexibility. Why hate on a 23 year old rotation player with upside on a cheap contract?

[Mos_Heat]

I will never understand why guys like Marcus Smart and Justise Winslow are so divisive

Spoiler:

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/justise-winslow/

Didn't know nbadraft so influential

[Dr_Heat]

Point Winny back ? Oof