Antoine Walker has received mixed reviews at best from Heat fans this season, but the veteran forward has put together a steady string of games lately.
The latest one, a season-high-tying 26-point effort Wednesday in Orlando, could even open the possibility of Walker returning to the starting lineup as a small forward alongside Udonis Haslem and Shaquille O'Neal on the front line.
''I don't know,'' Heat coach Pat Riley said after the Heat's 110-100 win in Orlando. ``We were winning with James [Posey] in there, and the winning percentage is about the same, so we'll just have to see. But [Walker] does bring some more versatility; there's no doubt about it.''
Walker has started the past two games for Posey, who sat out with the flu and has started all but one game he has played in this season. But in the two games before sitting out, Posey went scoreless. Walker, meanwhile, has continued a trend of efficiency.
The most common complaint about Walker has been his shot selection, which has stayed with him his entire career. But in his past 20 games, this season, Walker, a career 41.5 percent shooter, is shooting 49.5 percent from the field.
As a career starter, Walker seems to be able to find better scoring opportunities with the starting unit. In his eight games as a starter this season, Walker is averaging 16.3 points, shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from three-point range (both percentages would be better than any year in his career).
Posey is averaging a career low in points and has struggled to find consistent scoring opportunities.