Erik Spoelstra and the Heat again turn to their ‘shapeshifter’ in the absence of Kyle Lowry
For the third time in as many playoff rounds, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra found himself Tuesday addressing Gabe Vincent as an emergency fill-in for his starting lineup.
By now, Spoelstra said ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics, it almost would feel strange not to address the value of Vincent.
“I’ve said it before, our approach to all of this is just to be open-minded,” Spoelstra said of playing for the seventh game this postseason with starting point guard Kyle Lowry sidelined by a hamstring strain. “We have great competitors. Gabe is a great competitor and he’s been able to shapeshift into different roles, which is really important. That is a talent.”
Where there otherwise might be apprehension, Spoelstra said after his team’s morning shootaround at FTX Arena, there simply is quiet confidence in turning to Vincent.
“I think that just speaks to his mental makeup, his competitive character, his mental stability, that he can take on different roles,” Spoelstra said of the third-year guard who went undrafted out of Cal-Santa Barbara in 2018. “And we’ve had enough experience doing it during the regular season, where he’s been a guy that’s really helped our second unit, he’s been able to start in all those games that either Kyle or Jimmy [Butler] missed, and then he also handled things with great class when he was out of the rotation.
“And he’s all about winning. And he’s going to embrace whatever role it is. And you just can’t have enough guys like that. So in terms of expectations, we just wanted to be open-minded to it.”
With Lowry having made just two appearances since April 22, Spoelstra said it no longer feels like an adjustment.
“This was the hand we’ve been dealt,” he said, “and we have great confidence that he can fill in, and do it in a different way than Kyle, but we can function still at a high level and play our game.”
Bench role
With Vincent moved into the starting lineup, it has created a landing spot for veteran Victor Oladipo as the backup point guard in Lowry’s absence, as he works back from last May’s quadriceps surgery.
“That was a big adjustment,” he said. “You know, I’m not used to that, at all. But it’s what this team needs of me. So it’s about sacrifice, especially where you’re trying to do something special. And the guys who start now, they’ve been starting all year.
“So I just come off and try to do my job to the best of my ability and that’s all I can control. Focus on what I can control — my mindset, my approach — and then everything else will take care of itself. I’ve gotten this far and I plan on continuing to go further.”
Dual perspective
Heat center Bam Adebayo and guard Tyler Herro offered contrasting opinions Tuesday about whether emotions from the Heat’s 4-2 defeat of the Celtics in the 2020 East finals at the Disney World quarantine bubble still resonate.
“Nah, I forgot about that series,” Adebayo said. “We know they want get-back, in my opinion. They have one reason, ‘Because they beat us to go to the Finals two years ago.’ And we have to come with that mindset of they have that in their minds.”
Said Herro, “We all know the last time we met was in the conference finals, in the bubble. So, if you don’t remember that or have that on your mind, I don’t think you’re telling the truth.”
Respect paid
Asked about the biggest change in the game of Celtics forward Jayson Tatum over the years, Adebayo said, “In my eyes, he’s become a way better passer. I feel like that was the [missing] wrinkle in his game when he first came into the league. But now he’s actually getting off the ball and it makes him harder to guard, when he can pass.”
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