Toney Douglas isn't a superstar by any stretch, but the Miami Heat knew that when they acquired him from the Golden State Warriors in a three-team deal on Jan. 15.
What the Heat also knew, though, was that they could provide Douglas with the perfect environment to thrive.
As it turns out, Miami has been a pretty good place for many veterans to succeed. That's largely because there's already a clear system in place on both ends of the floor, one in which everyone's roles are clearly defined. There's no question about the team's talent hierarchy, which mean's there's little temptation or opportunity for one-dimensional players to overreach.
Shane Battier, Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and Chris Anderson have all extended their careers with the Heat, maximizing their somewhat limited talents for a team that only needs niche contributions from its non-stars.
In that sense, Douglas isn't so different from many of the vets the Heat already have. But his particular set of skills (Liam Neeson voice) fit especially well in Miami. After leaving a situation in Golden State that set him up to fail, Douglas has to be ecstat ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Grant Hughes
Why Toney Douglas Will Be More Important to Miami Heat Than Anyone Thinks
January 21st, 2014 by Grant Hughes Leave a reply »
Advertisement