Nov 5, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) talks to forward
Chris Andersen(11) as point guard Norris Cole (30) looks on against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Heat beat the Raptors 104-95. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
4th Substitution: Dwyane Wade in for Barbosa OR Granger/Josh McRoberts in for Bosh/Justin Hamilton in for Andersen
Lineup on the floor: Cole or Barbosa/Wade/Granger or Ennis/McRoberts/Hamilton
Notes: This is the closing unit for the first half of play. They lose some athleticism with Bosh’s removal but get some shooting back with McRoberts. Wade fits into his longtime role of bringing the ball, initiating offense and attacking defenses now that he’s been rested for a long stretch. The Barbosa/Wade combo could be very effective at this point in the game. Hamilton gets the nod here over other “big” options like Udonis Haslem.
Possible caveat: Emeka Okafor signs with Miami and is ready to play quality minutes for the first time in years. That changes every dynamic and gives the Heat even more options, possibly too many. Among the many challenges that head coach Erik Spoelstra faces is how to juggle these various pieces, especially as rumors linking quality veterans like Barbosa and Okafor keeps making things more difficult to project.