Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Cole finding groove from 3-point line against Bulls
CHICAGO — Norris Cole made sure he was prepared just in case the moment ever happened.
When it finally came, he was ready. More than ready. With a Back to the Future-style vest from the 1980s and a pair of spotted frame glasses, he fit right in with the outrageous sense of fashion seen at the podium of post-game interviews during the NBA Playoffs. Cole made his debut Friday after scoring a postseason-high 18 points in the Miami Heat’s 104-94 victory against the Chicago Bulls inGame2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“I stay prepared,” Cole said of his attire.
When asked to explain it, he said, “it speaks for itself.”
Just as Cole’s play has throughout the postseason.
He is averaging 9.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and1.6 assists in 22.3 minutes. Only his assists numbers are below his regular-season averaging. Cole is shooting 64 percent from the field, including making all eight of his 3-point attempts against the Bulls in the series.
Cole is shooting 76 percent (10 of 13) from 3-point range in the playoffs.
“Right now, I’m feeling pretty comfortable out there on the court,” Cole said. “That comes from the film sessions, working with the coaches. That comes from the habits being built up throughout the season. We still have a long way to go. I’m pleased with my progress so far.”
Cole, in his second year, is producing against the team that originally drafted him in 2011. The Bulls selected him with the 28th pick in the first round before trading him to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who then shipped him to the Heat.
The Bulls have seen plenty of what they missed out on the past two games. Cole was part of the turning point in Game 2 in Miami when he knocked down consecutive 3-pointers to give the Heat a 14-point lead before halftime.
He was 3 of 3 from the arc in Game 3 while also continuing his solid defense on Bulls guard Nate Robinson. After scoring 27 points in Game1, Robinson has averaged 14 points and shot just 8 of 23 from field the past two games.
“Most people notice the three and the drive down the lane, but when you’re tough and you’re pure, you find a way to make an impact,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Norris had an opportunity [Friday] and he made some big plays for us.”
LeBron James said Cole and Chris Bosh were the two biggest factors in the Heat grabbing a 2-1 lead in the series. Bosh finished with 20 points and 19 rebounds in Game 3.
“For Norris to come off the bench and play theway he did against Nate, and also contribute offensively with big-time drives in the fourth and a big-time three as well, those two guys are the reason,” James said.
Defense was expected of Cole when he entered the league out of Cleveland State. Offense was the area that needed improving. The ability to score consistently, especially from the perimeter, was the knock on him coming out of college.
That changed once he started working with assistant coach Dan Craig last season. Cole has also been working more with shooting coach Sedric Toney, a former NBA player.
“I think it just the reps, the constant reps,” Cole said. “I work a lot with coach Dan Craig before practice. Every night, I have my shooting coach with me down in Miami. We go and get shots up every night.”