Winderman’s view: Caleb Martin the latest injury concern, plus other Heat-Suns thoughts
Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’ s 111-90 loss to the Phoenix Suns:. —Prior to Wednesday night’ s game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke of his team’ s ability to overcome adversity. —Which is why even with Victor Oladipo back, Spoelstra made sure Martin remained in the primary rotation.
Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 111-90 loss to the Phoenix Suns:
— Perhaps it is as simple as the Heat cannot have good things.
— Prior to Wednesday night’s game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke of his team’s ability to overcome adversity.
— He was talking about Jimmy Butler being out due to sinus congestion.
— Then, in the second quarter, the Heat lost Caleb Martin to a knee injury.
— No, he is not as essential as Butler.
— But his activity makes him plenty essential.
— Which is why even with Victor Oladipo back, Spoelstra made sure Martin remained in the primary rotation.
— Wednesday it was 9:40 and then done.
— With no one else in the Heat mix offering his measure of defense, athleticism and energy.
— Meanwhile, with Butler out, Gabe Vincent went from back end of rotation on Monday against the Rockets to starting Wednesday in place of Butler.
— The opening lineup rounded out with Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, PJ Tucker.
— It was the Heat’s 18th lineup of the season.
— The move to Tucker kept Martin with reserves, with additional time to work with Victor Oladipo.
— As long as that lasted.
— Adebayo’s first block was the 300th of his career.
— With his ninth assist, Lowry moved past Norm Nixon for 30th on the NBA all-time list.
— Spoelstra said discussing anything beyond 15 minutes per game for Oladipo is not even a talking point at this juncture.
— “Nope. Same,” he said. “I’m going to give that same answer for a while.”
— It again was Tyler Herro again as sixth man.
— Followed by Dewayne Dedmon and then Martin.
— With 1:24 left in the opening period, Oladipo then entered.
— Again playing ahead of Max Strus.
— That had the Heat closing the first quarter with a three-guard lineup of Lowry, Herro and Oladipo.
— Haywood Highsmith played the final seconds of the quarter.
— Strus then entered for the first time with 3:16 left in the third period.
— Markieff Morris again shot pregame with Heat assistant coach Caron Butler. Still no change on his status, just “Return to Competition Reconditioning.”
— Of Butler being out, Suns coach Monty Williams said pregame, “They have the ultimate plug-and-play system. They play the same way every night, no matter who is out there. Whoever they play in their rotation, those guys play hard and shoot the ball well.”
— Williams added, “They have it all, and that’s one of the reasons why I watch a ton of their games, because I admire the way that Spo goes about his business.”
— Spoelstra pregame discussed the connection between Suns guard Devin Booker and Herro.
— “I mean that’s that Kentucky Mafia, that fraternity,” Spoelstra said. “I think he’s been a great mentor, a resource for Tyler, going back to his year in college. And I can see the comparisons.”
— Spoelstra also cautioned, “I don’t like to get into the comparisons. Book, he is a world-class player at this point in his career. He’s helped take a team from basically the bottom of the league to NBA Finals last year. He’s an Olympian, a multiple-year All-Star. Tyler is just getting going.”
— Of the Booker-Herro comparisons, Williams said of Herro, “I can see it. He scores on every level. He’s more athletic than you realize. More than anything, you can see the competitive spirit and the heart, the willingness to take big shots. You can tell he has been in the weight room.”
— Spoelstra also discussed pregame the reasoning behind signing Highsmith to a standard contract for the rest of the season and beyond.
— “We really like him as a two-way, offense-defensive player,” Spoelstra said. “He already kind of fits that mold of that 3-and-D guy. He can guard multiple positions. He’s strong. He can guard quicker guys. He can guard bigger guys. And he’s a more than capable 3-point shooter.”
— Spoelstra added, “So we’re really excited about having him in the program. We really liked him when we had him in January, and we were hoping that we’d be able to get something done at the end of the year, and we did. He’s been terrific so far, even just being around the guys and developing. And we’re looking forward to having a great summer with him.”
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