Miami Heat: 3 things to watch for in Game 3 against Boston Celtics
Will Derrick Jones Jr see more minutes in Game 3 given his defensive efforts?
The Miami Heat have gone through a number of lineup changes this season, primarily since arriving inside the bubble in Orlando, Florida. A number of guys on this team have undergone a roller coaster of role changes, and that couldn’t be any more true for Derrick Jones Jr.
All season long, the 6-6 forward has been one of Miami’s better defenders, and yet, he’s seen little to no playing time in Orlando and the playoffs. He’s appeared in nine of the Heat’s playoff games and is averaging just 1.9 points, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game in that span.
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This is the guy that’s supposed to be coveted among lottery teams come free agents? Yes, it is, and coach Spoelstra has only deployed him onto the floor when Miami desperately needed a stop.
Jones was on the floor defending Jayson Tatum when he bricked a game-winning three in Game 2. He continued to guard the Celtics’ wing in overtime, and played the most minutes he’s seen since Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers, in Thursday’s Game 2 win over Boston.
Going forward, as coach Spoelstra looks to boost his team’s defensive effort over a flourishing Celtics’ offense, look for Derrick Jones Jr to see more time on the floor in Game 3.