All you’re really looking for from rookies this time of year is flashes.
Even the draft picks that go on to have Hall of Fame careers aren’t even in the same universe of the player they’ll eventually become as they ramp up to their first professional circuit. There are hints along the way, if you pay close attention. You just can’t always count them.
While Justise Winslow’s 12 points, 10 boards, three assists and two blocks in 35 minutes as Miami’s by-default starting power forward in Orlando on Tuesday is a reasonably-shiny, do-it-all box-score line, it’s not the line that’s so encouraging.