Winderman’s view: Heat put big lineup on hold, with Ware in reserve in loss to Celtics
MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 103-91 loss to the Boston Celtics:
– Erik Spoelstra offered the breadcrumbs during his pregame media session.
–”I think for us, we’re simplifying,” the Heat coach said. “It really does become about us. You say that a lot, and sometimes that’s a cliche in this league. We have to take care of what we’re doing. We have to get to our identity. We have to really try to impact the game on our terms.”
– Identity, as in the known.
– As in experimentation on hold.
– So the big lineup?
– Kel’el Ware back to playing off the bench.
– The newcomers getting their shot?
– Davion Mitchell out of the starting lineup.
– Instead, the familiar.
– So a starting role again for Duncan Robinson.
– And Jaime Jaquez Jr. also with a starting role.
– Exploring possibilities is all well and good when there is time for exploring possibilities.
– This is not that time.
– This is play-in desperation.
– Arguably the NBA’s ultimate desperation.
– So learning curve on hold.
– If they can help, they play.
– But experimentation to be saved for another day.
– “Everything that we’ve gone through right now,” Spoelstra said, “we’re trying to get our house in order.”
– So an opening lineup of Robinson, Jaquez Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wigginsand Tyler Herro.
– It was the 20th Heat lineup of the season.
– A quintet that had yet to play together this season.
– The previous lineup of Ware, Adebayo, Wiggins, Mitchell and Herro had gone 2-6.
– Mitchell played as the Heat’s first reserve.
– Followed by Haywood Highsmith.
– Ware initially went to the scorers’ table to check in with 3:34 left in the opening period but then was pulled back to the bench, before entering two minutes later.
– Ware eventually made it nine deep.
– With Pelle Larsson getting the call over Terry Rozier for nine deep.
– The game opened the 14th of the Heat’s 15 back-to-back sets this season, to conclude with Saturday night’s game in Memphis. The Heat are 7-6 on the second night of such pairings.
– The Heat’s final back-to-back set of the season will feature the same pairing in the same order, with an April 2 game in Boston and an April 3 home game against Memphis.
– The Celtics are now 20-6 in their last 26 games in Miami, when including a 7-2 playoff record.
Related Articles
- Miami Heat | Minutes down for Heat’s Jaquez, but he insists confidence in self, team remains high
- Miami Heat | Pelle Larsson willing to dive right in when it comes to providing a needed Heat spark
- Miami Heat | ASK IRA: Is lack of first-round capital proving to be a major gaffe in Heat’s Jimmy Butler trade?
- Miami Heat | How low is the goal? Heat now talking about proving themselves in the play-in round
- Miami Heat | Heat learning next big thing with Kel’el Ware remains a work in progress
– Through all of his team’s adversity, Spoelstra spoke pregame of the leadership of Adebayo and Herro.
– “With everything that’s been going on,” Spoelstra said, “that part I’ve enjoyed watching, to see them grow into these roles. If you want to lead, these are the times. You have to be able to do it when the seas are a little bit rough, a little and a little bit choppy. Anybody can lead when things are going great. Anybody can be a frontrunner in those type of situations.”
– Spoelstra added, “But these guys, they’re about the right things. They want it so bad. They want everybody to get this breakthrough. It starts with that. And then everybody else filling in as well.”
– He concluded. “I think everybody is just kind of turning to them naturally.”
– Herro extended his streak of games scoring in double figures to 88.
– Robinson converted a 3-pointer in a 16th consecutive game, breaking his previous longest such streak of the season.
– Herro is now five 3-pointers shy of joining Robinson, Wayne Ellington and Damon Jones as the only Heat players to convert at least 225 in a season.
– Herro’s eighth 3-point attempt was the 2,500th of his career.
Topics
-
Heat humbled to sixth consecutive loss by shorthanded Celtics 103-91
MIAMI – Against an opponent 17 1/2 games ahead in the standings, the Miami Heat gave themselves a chance Friday night. As did the Boston Celtics’ injury report. So against an opponent lacking ...Yahoo Sports - 7h -
Celtics add to Miami's misery, pull away in 4th for a 103-91 win over Heat
Jayson Tatum scored 28 points, Jrue Holiday added 25 and the Boston Celtics pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the freefalling Miami Heat 103-91 on Friday night. Derrick White added 18 for ...Yahoo Sports - 7h -
Celtics add to Miami's misery, pull away in 4th for a 103-91 win over Heat
Jayson Tatum scored 28 points, Jrue Holiday added 25 and the Boston Celtics pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the freefalling Miami Heat 103-91ABC News - 6h -
Celtics vs. Heat odds, line, prediction, time: 2025 NBA picks, March 14 best bets from proven model
SportsLine's model simulated the Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics 10,000 times and revealed its NBA picks for FridayCBS Sports - 12h -
Celtics vs. Heat Predictions: Odds, expert picks, bets, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 14
Boston Celtics at Miami Heat Game PreviewYahoo Sports - 20h -
Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat: Stream, lineups, injury reports, broadcast (3/14)
Boston will need to respect their opponent if they don't want to drop this late-campaign tilt.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Boston Celtics jersey history No. 13 - Kenny Sailors (1950)
During his time suiting up for the Celtics, Sailors wore only jersey No. 13 and put up 1.8 points per game.Yahoo Sports - 20h -
Paul Pierce on his level of concern with the recent play of the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierces weighed in on his level of concern with the defending champs during a recent segment of the "SPEAK" show.Yahoo Sports - 17h -
Boston Celtics at Miami Heat (3/14) Live Recap
To spice things up a bit for a late season contest, we decided to shake up our format with a live recap, so check back often for updates.Yahoo Sports - 9h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
T-Pain hilariously vows to turn New York Giants franchise around
The New York Giants' newly signed OL James Hudson has an uncanny resemblance to T-Pain, who capitalized on their similarities with a hilarious tweet.Yahoo Sports - 20m -
F1 Australian GP LIVE: Qualifying result as Lando Norris snatches pole and Lewis Hamilton falters
Follow reaction from qualifying in Melbourne as Norris claims pole ahead of teammate Oscar PiastriYahoo Sports - 26m -
Rangers consider St Mirren's Olusanya - gossip
Rangers linked with St Mirren forward soon to be out of contract, as Everton are again credited with interest in Ibrox striker...Yahoo Sports - 26m -
Virgil van Dijk on family life, Arne Slot and uncertain Liverpool future
Interview: The Reds’ captain, whose Anfield future is unclear, opens up ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final with NewcastleYahoo Sports - 31m -
NFL insider: 'Zero chance' Cam Ward falls to No. 3 in 2025 NFL draft
One NFL insider says there is "zero chance" QB Cam Ward falls to the New York Giants at No. 3 overall in the 2025 NFL draft.Yahoo Sports - 34m
More in Sports
-
T-Pain hilariously vows to turn New York Giants franchise around
The New York Giants' newly signed OL James Hudson has an uncanny resemblance to T-Pain, who capitalized on their similarities with a hilarious tweet.Yahoo Sports - 20m -
F1 Australian GP LIVE: Qualifying result as Lando Norris snatches pole and Lewis Hamilton falters
Follow reaction from qualifying in Melbourne as Norris claims pole ahead of teammate Oscar PiastriYahoo Sports - 26m -
Rangers consider St Mirren's Olusanya - gossip
Rangers linked with St Mirren forward soon to be out of contract, as Everton are again credited with interest in Ibrox striker...Yahoo Sports - 26m -
Virgil van Dijk on family life, Arne Slot and uncertain Liverpool future
Interview: The Reds’ captain, whose Anfield future is unclear, opens up ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final with NewcastleYahoo Sports - 31m -
NFL insider: 'Zero chance' Cam Ward falls to No. 3 in 2025 NFL draft
One NFL insider says there is "zero chance" QB Cam Ward falls to the New York Giants at No. 3 overall in the 2025 NFL draft.Yahoo Sports - 34m