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Old 02-23-2011, 02:05 AM   #38
G-Man
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This is from the ESPN Heat Index. Has this replaced the Daily Dime? It was usually 9 Heat items a day anyway.

Erick Dampier moves into starting lineup
February, 22, 2011
FEB 22
11:47
PM ET
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By Tom Haberstroh
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MIAMI -- Back in November, Erick Dampier couldn’t find a home in the NBA. Now, he’s the starting center for one of the league’s best teams -- at least for the time being.

“Erick will be our starter for now,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after Tuesday night’s win over the Sacramento Kings. “That’s certainly not an indictment on Zydrunas [Ilgauskas]. This is something that’s best for our team right now."

The lineup change caught many by surprise. Speaking before the game, Spoelstra gave no indications to the media that a change was in order. Ilgauskas had been inked into the starting lineup for the Heat’s previous 47 games, beginning with the team’s Nov. 13 win over the Toronto Raptors. Dampier wasn’t even on the Heat roster then.

In his debut as the Heat's starting center, Dampier finished with five rebounds, two steals and a block in 24 minutes of action. Dampier did not take a shot from the field, marking only the second time in his 14-year career that he’s played that many minutes without an attempt from the floor.

But this is one of those times when the box score doesn’t tell the story. Despite the underwhelming stat line, Dampier did his job Tuesday night -- stopping Kings rookie DeMarcus Cousins. According to game tracking by ESPN Stats & Information, Cousins missed all eleven of his shot attempts when he was guarded by Dampier. On the night, the talented rookie scored just seven points on 2-for-13 shooting after averaging 18.3 points over his previous 10 games.

Possession after possession, Dampier met Cousins outside the paint to deter the 20-year-old from settling in under the basket. Dampier was in high school when Cousins was born, but the former Mavericks center used his seniority and his size to his advantage.

“He’s a young, young guy,” Dampier said of Cousins. “I have more experience than he has. I know all the little tricks to the game. I just tried to go out there, meet him early and not let him get in his comfort zone out on the floor. He has tremendous upside in this league if he continues to work, but I think I just had his number tonight.”

Cousins isn’t the first high-scoring center Dampier has shut down recently. On Feb. 3, he got the assignment to stop Dwight Howard after the Orlando center scored a quick eight points in the first quarter. Dampier subbed in for Ilgauskas, then started the second half. Not coincidentally, Howard didn’t score a field goal after Spoelstra made the halftime adjustment.

“[Dampier] gives us a big body and a presence in the paint on both ends of the court,” Spoelstra said. “If you look at his stat line, it doesn’t look too revealing one way or another. He takes up a lot of space defensively and changes shots.”

How do you quantify a player like Dampier outside the box score? One way is to check the Heat’s numbers with him on the court. Entering Tuesday’s game, the Heat allowed just 100 points every 100 possessions with Dampier on the floor -- the team’s best mark for any single individual on the roster, according to basketballvalue.com. Opponents score 2.4 points more per 100 possessions with Dampier on the bench.

Oddly enough, taking up space might be one of Dampier’s best assets as a basketball player. Oftentimes on offense, he becomes Dwyane Wade and LeBron James’ best friend as he uses his 265-pound frame to paste defenders with his screens. And when the shots go up, he gets wide and uses his center of gravity to keep others grounded.

“He is a very good rebounder,” Spoelstra said. “And even when he doesn’t get it, he takes up a lot of space and occupies [opposing players] so other guys can go and get the rebound. He gets people open, gets his head under the rim for dishes, and also for second opportunities and tip-backs.”

The tip-back rebound is one of Dampier's signature moves. He got the rare offensive rebound-assist early in the third quarter Tuesday after Chris Bosh’s midrange jumper rimmed out. Knowing he couldn’t secure the rebound with both hands, Dampier tapped the ball out to the top of the key, where Wade was waiting. After collecting Dampier’s volleyball tap, Wade promptly nailed a 24-footer to stretch the Heat lead to 29 points.

Dampier got the start Tuesday, but things can change quickly depending on the matchup. On Tuesday, the Heat were pitted against one of the largest players in the NBA in Cousins. Against more mobile big men such as Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah and New York Knicks big man Amare Stoudemire, Spoelstra might elect to go with sparkplug Joel Anthony. Since the Heat employ three specialized centers, the starter tag might be nothing more than a temporary label.

“At the end of the day,” Spoelstra said, "we’re still going to be a three-center team.”
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