Orlando Robinson’s time has come with the Heat, but that clock also is ticking

TORONTO – For all of the Miami Heat’s questions at center as Bam Adebayo deals with his bruised left hip, there already has been a statement of dominance by one of the team’s other big men this season.

A statement by Orlando Robinson on Nov. 25 of 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, 17 rebounds and seven assists in just under 34 minutes in a victory..

A statement, though, with a caveat – coming with the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, against the competition of the Iowa Wolves.

For Robinson, two years into this Heat experiment after going undrafted in 2022 out of Fresno State, it has been about opportunity from the outset.

Now, with Adebayo also to miss Wednesday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena, there likely will be another opportunity.

In Saturday night’s loss to the Indiana Pacers at Kaseya Center, Robinson received his second career start, closing with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting, five rebounds and three assists. In a vacuum, the numbers would have impressed. But with the Pacers winning 144-129, it was more of a case of everyone scores.

“He did some good things,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He did some other things that he has to continue to get better at. But, yeah, we’re encouraged by that.”

For Robinson, 23, these moments are the exception, when there is the potential for significant minutes with Adebayo out, and with offseason free-agent acquisition Thomas Bryant having struggled to adjust to the Heat system.

Otherwise, it has been a balancing act, with bigger minutes coming in the G League, the requirement more for relief minutes on the NBA level, having been held out by Spoelstra 12 times this season.

“I got used to it last year,” Robinson said of a similar all-or-nothing rookie season. “I got to play pretty freely in Sioux Falls, and then when I came here, I was learning how to play with Jimmy (Butler) and Tyler (Herro)  and Duncan (Robinson). So all those reps last year kind of helped me be able to do that.

“It’s different, but it’s just an understanding of different roles and where I’m at. In Sioux Falls, I can be more dominant. Down here, I’ve just to go play off the ball more and help create for my teammates.”

Soon, there will be a decision for the Heat, with Robinson’s $1.8 million salary for the season only guaranteed for $425,000. That decision will be due by Jan. 10, when all contracts become guaranteed for the season.

With Adebayo sidelined for the second half of Thursday night’s victory over the Pacers and then all of Saturday’s game, it was into the defensive grinder for Robinson, who, at 6 feet 10, 245 pounds, can have his lumbering moments.

“It’s a fast-paced team and we had to adjust to that, seeing as Bam was out,” said Robinson, who will see something far different against the Raptors. “So when I went out there, I was just trying to put pressure on the floor and stay behind the roll. It really tested my pick-and-roll defense.”

Lacking elite speed or athleticism, it largely comes down to execution for Robinson. He has worked tirelessly with Heat big-man coach Malik Allen and other assistants. On the G League and summer-league levels he already has proven elite. But there remains the need to prove it on the highest level.

“I’m getting better, trying to be an elite pick-and-roll defender,” he said. “I don’t want to give up too much there, but also want to protect the basket more. Footwork-wise on the pick-and-roll, I’m just trying to impact the ball.

“I want to be an expert at that. I want to be elite at that.”

Out of Adebayo’s absence has come opportunity, an opportunity that could prove as fleeting as the next flight to Sioux Falls.

“O did some good things,” Spoelstra said of Robinson’s emergency start Saturday. “That’s not an easy situation to get into, but that’s why we respect him, because he has the mental stability to be ready and to play plug minutes and earn more minutes potentially.”