What is in Store for the New-Look Miami Heat Rotation
Saturday’s result didn’t favor the Miami Heat, but one good thing came out of it.
The 125-109 loss to the New York Knicks was the first game that featured all of the Heat’s rotational players since adding Terry Rozier to the roster.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kevin Love both returned to action Saturday and came off the bench. Miami utilized the same starting lineup it had in the game on Thursday against the Boston Celtics.
The two starting guards for the Heat moving forward will be Tyler Herro alongside Rozier. Herro has been a high-volume scorer for Miami this year, and he will continue to get plenty of looks from the field.
Rozier will take a lot of the play-making pressure off of the rest of the starting five. His seven assists against New York were the most by a Miami player. Rozier is averaging a career-best 6.4 assists this season. His scoring production will likely decrease from his 22.3 points per game mark on the year. The guard has averaged 8.7 points since arriving in South Beach.
Jimmy Butler will continue to be one of the Heat’s best players. He scored 28 points in Saturday’s loss and led the team with 36 minutes of court time. Things won’t change much for Butler as he gets ready for what could be his fifth-straight postseason appearance with Miami.
Bam Adebayo will also continue in his role as the defensive anchor and big man of this team. The center won’t have to worry as much about playmaking thanks to the addition of Rozier. Adebayo has been one of the Heat’s top passers but he also turns the ball over 2.5 times per game.
Haywood Highsmith has started intermittently for Miami this season. As the team gets healthier, expect him to convert into a solid 3 and D rotation player.
Jaquez came off the bench in his first game back after missing time with a left groin strain. The rookie has been a pleasant surprise for the Heat and should continue to provide when called upon. Expect his role to vary through the remainder of the season based on what the team needs.
Kevin Love, Duncan Robinson, and Caleb Martin have mainly contributed as the secondary unit for Miami. All three players have the ability to impact the game and will serve as plug-in pieces for Eric Spoelstra moving forward.
Miami’s depth players have stepped up when necessary. Jamal Cain and Nikola Jovic have both provided the Heat with unexpected performances on occasion. They will continue to take some weight off of the team’s shoulders when one of Miami’s rotation players can’t suit up.
The shape of the roster may change as players deal with injuries and the trade deadline approaches. Until then, this is what the Heat’s rotation will look like.
Casey Fahrer is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at caseyfahrer716@gmail.com.
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