Winderman’s view: Spoelstra calls Herro ‘a value add’ as guard returns in Heat loss

5 days ago 2

MINNEAPOLIS — Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 122-94 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves:

– Now the work begins for Erik Spoelstra.

– The rotation work with Tyler Herro back.

– Because much had changed since Herro last played on Dec. 9.

– “He’s a value add. It’s as simple as that,” Spoelstra said pregame. “We need him back, and it’s good to have him healthy and feeling good about his health.”

– And they do.

– Because the halfcourt offense needs a boost.

– With Herro a booster.

– When the Heat aren’t forcing turnovers, the easy points go away.

– With this one an example.

– Against a quality defense.

– As for mapping out minutes going forward with the rest of the rotation with Herro back, Spoelstra said, “Depends on the context, depends on the player, depends on whatever the injury is coming back.”

– In this case, the toe contusion that had Herro out 13 games.

– An injury that now does not appear to be limiting.

– With a return to the starting lineup assuredly looming.

– The question with Herro back and Jaime Jaquez Jr. close (out for a second consecutive game with an ankle sprain) is whether it could be back to the G League for first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis.

– Said Spoelstra of that possibility, “All of it’s on the table. We’ll just have to see when we get everybody back, what the rotation will look like.”

– So, for now, Herro as a reserve.

– But for how long?

– Because all sorts of body language indicated that Herro expects otherwise.

– And arguably deserves such.

– Even with Herro back, the Heat again opened with a lineup of Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Bam Adebayo, Kel’el Ware and Davion Mitchell.

– The previous time Herro played and did not start was April 4, 2024 in a victory in Indiana. That instance was the second consecutive game off the bench after returning from nearly two months off with a hyperextended knee.

– With all three Heat two-way players now back on the Heat roster, Vlad Goldin and Jahmir Young were inactive.

– Leaving Myron Gardner as the lone active two-way player.

– Herro entered in the Heat’s first substitution, along with Nikola Jovic.

– Pelle Larsson followed shortly thereafter.

– With Dru Smith making it nine deep for the Heat.

– That shuffled first-round pick Jakucionis out of the mix.

– As well as Simone Fontecchio.

– Keshad Johnson was back available for the Heat after extended playing time in the G League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

– “He’s getting a lot of development here and great mentorship from the vets,” Spoelstra said. “But his continued development on the court is important as well. He played well there and just continues to grow and improve in a lot of different aspects.”

– Powell said going in that the challenge of the Timberwolves was clear, having lost on Saturday to Minnesota in Miami.

– “They do a great job of controlling the paint defensively and offensively, attacking, getting downhill,” he said. “So having the mindset that it’s going to be a physical game, you know, that we’ve got to be ready. They punch first and control the tempo in the paint. And I think that’s one of the biggest adjustments. And whenever we do that, we’re going to be able to get out now and transition and get our offense going.”

– Of which little of that happened.

– It was back in the time machine for the Heat, back on NBC, which carried the NBA during the Heat’s formative years.

– “I have great memories from the NBC games growing up,” Spoelstra said.

– Adebayo’s first basket moved him past Glen Rice (3,604) for the third-most in franchise history.

– Ware extended his career-best run of games with multiple offensive rebounds to 18.

– Ware and Adebayo entered averaging a combined 20.1 rebounds per game. The franchise record for combined rebounds by two players is 20.2 by Rony Seikaly and Grant Long in 1991-92. They upped that average Tuesday night.

– The Heat have now lost 13 of their last 16 to the Timberwolves.

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