Winderman’s view: Duncan Robinson perhaps offers Heat hope in loss
Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 101-92 loss to the New York Knicks:
– It took foul trouble by Max Strus to deliver a glimmer of hope for the Heat.
– Or perhaps it was trending this way, anyway, with Duncan Robinson getting minutes at the start of the fourth quarter Tuesday night in Toronto.
– But for a team looking for a spark, Strus’ three quick fouls left Heat coach Erik Spoelstra with limited options.
– Enter Robinson.
– Who proceeded to make his first four 3-point attempts.
– Yes, working Robinson’s defense into a mix that already includes Kevin Love and Tyler Herro could be precarious.
– But 3-point shooting matters.
– And Robinson certainly has a history in that regard.
– With the pull of his gravity again evident in this one.
– Sometimes all it takes is a moment.
– Robinson got his moment Wednesday night.
– And seized it.
– Playing as the Heat’s first reserve in the second half.
– Perhaps Robinson’s story has yet to be fully written for 2022-23.
– There were some interesting twists regarding Kyle Lowry.
– Tuesday, ahead of the game in Toronto, he said he had not received medical clearance to play both games of back-to-back sets.
– Then, at midday Wednesday, he was upgraded to questionable.
– Then, with just over 10 minutes left on the pregame clock, he was ruled out.
– It likely had to do with the status of Gabe Vincent, who had been listed as questionable with the back spasms that limited him against the Raptors.
– And likely had to do with Jimmy Butler being back, after missing Tuesday night due to neck pain.
– Both Vincent and Butler were cleared 90 minutes before the opening tip.
– Giving the Heat options with playmaking.
– Vincent and Butler were in the starting lineup along with Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Kevin Love.
– Of the twists with Lowry, coach Erik Spoelstra only would offer, “We had a discussion.”
– As for Butler returning from neck pain severe enough to keep him out of that critical game in Toronto, Spoelstra said, “I have a lot of concerns. Jimmy being able to play through something is not one of them.”
– Spoelstra made clear pregame what he thought was required at this stage of the season.
– “Obviously we’re at six games left in the season,” he said. “That old adage, ‘Would you play if this was the playoffs?’ we’re basically at that moment right now. These are playoff games for us.”
– Strus again played as the Heat’s sixth man.
– With Cody Zeller and Caleb Martin then entering together.
– When Strus was called for his third foul 2:33 into his initial stint, Robinson entered.
– With Victor Oladipo, who seemingly only plays when a rotation regular is out, following.
– That eventually had the Heat at the end of the opening period fielding a lineup of Zeller, Martin, Robinson, Oladipo and Herro.
– Adebayo’s second defensive rebound gave him 2,600 for his career.
– Love’s first 3-pointer tied former Heat forward Glen Rice for 39th on the NBA all-time list.
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