Winderman’s view: Heat learn that sometimes we-have-enough isn’t enough
MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 113-92 loss to the Golden State Warriors:
– Basically this simple: The Warriors had weapons, the Heat didn’t.
– Or at least not enough available.
– It’s not that the Heat don’t, just that they weren’t in uniform.
– Which kind of matters.
– Not only again without Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and Kevin Love.
– But this time without Jimmy Butler, as well, due to illness.
– Not exactly how you want to go into it against Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and the rest of the Warriors who showed up.
– Patty Mills, Thomas Bryant and Delon Wright only get you so far.
– Particularly against an opponent in a desperate scramble for playoff position.
– What the Heat fielded Tuesday night arguably is not a playoff team.
– More of having to do this, and the Heat as whole might not be, either.
– With Butler out, the Heat this time opened with Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jovic, Terry Rozier, Mills and Jaime Jaquez Jr., giving them their 35th lineup of the season. The previous franchise record had been 31 in 2014-15.
– Apparently Love was not as close to a return as his upgrade in status to questionable meant.
– With Love again out with his heel bruise, coach Erik Spoelstra said pregame of Love’s designation on the NBA injury report, “I don’t follow that. We just have to give those classifications for the league so they don’t come down on us and fine us. But I never thought he was going to play tonight.”
– One would have thought doubtful would have been closer to the requisite designation.
– Also again out for the Heat were Herro, Robinson and Josh Richardson.
– As for Butler, Spoelstra said, “He’s sick. He doesn’t feel well at all today. So we’ll evaluate him tomorrow, see how he feels.”
– The Heat next play Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
– For his part, even with his Warriors healthy, Golden State coach Steve Kerr did not want to hear about the Heat’s depleted roster.
– “We’re not falling for that trick,” he said. “We’ve fallen for that trick many times in the past.”
– No trick.
– For the Warriors, Thompson returned to their starting lineup, with Golden State opening with Thompson, Curry, Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga and Green.
– The Warriors entered having won 17 of their past 27.
– Spoelstra entered with the requisite respect for the Warriors.
– “They’re in the battle just like so many of the teams are,” he said. “This is what the league has wanted. I think it’s great for the league. I think it’s great for competition. There’s a lot more parity. So it’s bringing out a lot of different emotions league-wide.”
– Spoelstra added, “You can’t hide. These things get decided between the four lines. And reputations don’t matter. What teams have done the previous year, none of that matters. It’s just where you are right now and how you’re managing these games and trying to find wins.”
– Caleb Martin, who had been questionable with an ankle issue, was first off the Heat bench.
– Haywood Highsmith followed.
– And then Wright.
– With Bryant making it nine deep.