Miami Heat News: Udonis Haslem Working on Developing Three-Point Shot

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Nov 5, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem (40) shoots against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Heat beat the Raptors 104-95. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Udonis Haslem has made just two three-point field goal attempts in his 12-year NBA career.

However, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been trying to develop his stroke from beyond the arc. According to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, the Miami Heat forward has continued to work on his three-point game this offseason. Jackson states that coach Erik Spoelstra told Haslem that he needs to develop a shot from beyond the arc if he wants to receive more playing time:

“Haslem continues to work on his three-point game, having gotten the message from Spoelstra last October that he needs to hit from beyond the arc to get minutes at power forward. Haslem enters the season potentially sixth in the power rotation hierarchy, unless Chris Andersen is dealt.”

Over the past two seasons, Haslem has become a sparsely-used bit player for the Heat. When called upon, he has performed. However, he played just 16 minutes per game last season. Had it not been for the countless injuries to Miami’s frontline, he would have seen even less action.

The Heat enter the 2015-16 season with a lot of depth at center and power forward. Hassan Whiteside and Chris Bosh are projected as the starters, with Josh McRoberts and Amar’e Stoudemire the primary bigs off the bench. The wild card is Chris Andersen, as mentioned in the article by Jackson. If “Birdman” stays, he probably will be the team’s fifth big, meaning Haslem likely won’t even be guaranteed minutes on a game-to-game basis.

However, if the Heat either trade Andersen, or Haslem develops another niche in his game such as three-point shooting, UD could find himself as a member of the rotation on a nightly basis.

In 777 career games played, the veteran power forward has taken just 23 three-point attempts. If he is able to develop a stroke from beyond the arc, Spoelstra would have to find playing time for the three-time NBA champion in his lineup.
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D.J. Siddiqi grew up in the heart of South Florida in Broward County. Growing up in South Florida during the late 90's and 2000's, D.J. witnessed the Pat Riley years where the Miami Heat faced off with the New York Knicks all the way to the painful late 2000's seasons where the Heat were a one-man team with Dwyane Wade. D.J. has closely followed the Heat over the past decade-and-a-half, and unfortunately witnessed Game 2 of the 2011 NBA Finals in person when the Dallas Mavericks overcame a 15-point deficit to knock off the Heat. D.J. has writing experience as a columnist with sites such as Bleacher Report and Rant Sports, and he is proud to bring his knowledge of the Heat and the NBA to Heat Nation.