Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 95-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves:
– Part of the equation was Jimmy Butler being out and having to be replaced in the starting lineup.
– But part of it felt like Erik Spoelstra saying enough was enough.
– So Haywood Highsmith started in place of Butler.
– And Kevin Love in place of Nikola Jovic.
– With Jovic very much available. (More on him later.)
– Obviously not all of this will stick, with Butler to get back in that initial mix.
– But either Love or Highsmith might.
– Because Jovic off the bench might just prove preferable, based on how this played out.
– Especially at the end.
– Tying basket.
– Winning free throw.
– As for the lineup change, no, not a panic move by Spoelstra.
– But an acceptance of the reality the Heat carried into the night.
– Something had to change.
– With perhaps more needed.
– Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier remained the Heat’s other starters.
– With so many mix-and-match parts, a bit of mixing and matching only makes sense.
– Particularly with Love and Jaime Jaquez Jr. back in the mix.
– Spoelstra said it was never a matter of being pre-determined to go with the same starting lineup as long as possible from the start of the season.
– “I didn’t go into the season with a Plan B, C, D. You put together the plan that you think is best for that time and then we’ll adjust accordingly,” he said pregame.
– Love made his season debut after attending to a personal matter.
– “The good thing about Kevin is he’s been around long enough, he’s experienced enough,” Spoelstra said of Love jumping back in. “He knows how to fit in. He knows how to complement or do more as necessary. We need it.”
– Of Love being back, Spoelstra said, “I think it will help our rebounding, the offensive IQ that he brings and the spacing certainly will help, as well, and his competitive spirit.”
– Also, Jaquez was back after being sidelined by gastroenteritis, missing the previous three games.
– “I mean I’m confident where my wind is,” Jaquez said. “You know, I was down for a couple of days. As I was slowly getting back I was doing conditioning. I will say it is kind of hard to replicate that, especially missing games. But I feel like I’m good to go. I’m ready. I wouldn’t say I feel too far behind.”
– Of having Jaquez back, Spoelstra said, “What we need more than anything is consistency throughout the game, throughout the rotation. There’s a familiarity with Jaime. The last game that he played in, there were actually a lot of really good things in that game in Mexico City and he played well in his minutes on both ends of the court.”
– Spoelstra said the Heat are monitoring Jaquez’s minutes amid this return.
– Out again for the Heat were Josh Christopher (G League) and Keshad Johnson (G League).
– With Rozier called for two early fouls, Josh Richardson was the Heat’s first reserve.
– Kel’el Ware remained the first big man off the Heat bench.
– Entering with Jaquez in Spoelstra’s second substitutions.
– Duncan Robinson then made it nine deep.
– With Jovic remaining in the rotation, this time as 10th man.
– Jovic was solid in that role, including a pair of 3-pointers.
– Adebayo is now one start from tying Rony Seikaly for fifth on the Heat all-time list.
– Herro extended his run of games scoring in double figures to 39, establishing a new best career streak. He had done it in 38 consecutive games in the 2021-22 season.
– Herro also extended his streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 48, five games off his career high.
– Highsmith’s second steal was the 100th of his career.
– Spoelstra spoke pregame of coaching with Team USA during two cycles that included Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, including as an assistant coach with Team USA’s run to Olympic gold at this summer’s Paris Games.
– “He was sensational in the World Cup,” Spoelstra said of the 2023 event where he also was an assistant coach. “He had a lot of great performances, not only offensively but he was our best defender and really worked that side of the floor. He has such an engaging personality. He’s really a fun team guy and he’s continuing to get better every single year. What he’s doing this year really is impressive.”
Originally Published: November 10, 2024 at 9:52 PM EST
