If there is one vulnerable spot on the Heat it is size — if you ask people from the Bulls and Pacers why they think they can dethrone the champions, it is being able to play bigger and Miami not being able to counter that.
Miami tried to deal with that by giving 6'10" Chris Andersen a chance with a 10-day contract. Then another. It worked out — Andersen has replaced Joel Anthony in the Heat’s bigs rotation and is getting more than 10 minutes a night the last five games.
Friday the Heat made it official and signed Andersen for the rest of the season.
What Andersen brings with the size is hustle — he tries to block and alter shots, he goes hard on the glass, and he brings it every game. Every play of every game. Bigs who bring that kind of energy off the bench have value.
Andersen’s not going to give Miami a lot of points (finishing lobs around the rim and offensive rebound putbacks are it) but they don’t need points. They need some size that will come in handy in the playoffs.
And Andersen is that size, now.
