The Miami Heat have quite a bit to figure out as they head down the home stretch of the season. With guys returning from injury and other absences, everyone needs to get back accustomed to playing with each other on the floor.
That brings up another interesting scenario too though, one associated with exactly who’s playing and when. A topic that has been all the rage recently, the Miami Heat will need to nail down a rotation as they head into the NBA postseason portion of play.
That’s just it though. Perhaps, they won’t nail anything down at all.
Here’s what that means. When you are talking about a coach with the intellect, kahunas, experience, and overall know-how of Coach Spoelstra, then you are talking about a guy too complex of a mind to make things that simple.
To be specific, Spo’s just too smart to be that cut and paste with the rotations. Let’s look at a few examples that help illustrate the principle or phenomenon at play here.
Miami Heat: Coach Spoelstra No ‘Amateur’ When It Comes To Rotation
Take for example how Max Strus has been used after falling out of the rotation, it seemed, as Victor Oladipo was set to return.
He looked to be one of the odd men out, especially with the emergence of Caleb Martin and the return of Markieff Morris as well, however and as stated, it’s not that simple for Spo. There will be some nights or games that Max gets the call, as he’s too good of a player and offensive weapon to not get it when the Miami Heat might need a jolt.
And that’s exactly what Strus put on display against Detroit. It gets deeper than that though too.
Take for example how he uses Gabe Vincent, sprinkling in a light dose of Vincent and Kyle Lowry lineups recently. Yes, it has come as a result of Jimmy Butler being injured or out but the overall circumstances aren’t the point.
The happening in itself is what matters here, as it displays a willingness and cunningness by Spo to, not only, do what he thinks is best to give his team a chance but to also go to something unorthodox if it means maximizing the skills and tools at his disposal.
While you are there though, if you are talking about a Vincent and Lowry pairing as your lead guards, you might want to play more size at the big man spots with those two smaller guys out front. That’s something to be tabled for down the road though.
As far as the overall thoughts on the rotation, itself, what’s the point of it all though?
Miami Heat: Coach Spo Is Just Too Bright A Coach To Eliminate Good Options
The grand point remains the same though and is this. Based on his recent and overall history, the versatile and multiple weapons the Miami Heat have afforded themselves this season, and the intellect of the coach in question—it’s too simple or naive to believe that Coach Spo will simply be cut and paste with his rotations.
Things might change from series to series but also, perhaps even from game to game. He won’t ever clip his own wings if there’s another wrinkle or guy to go to.
The best way to summarize the way that it’ll all be handled is a quote from the man himself.
Back on March 7th, Victor Oladipo’s first game of the year for the Miami Heat, Coach Spoelstra was asked about the rotation and his decisions following the game.
His answer was a classic, might be one of the next great Spoisms, and ties a bow around this one. When it comes to the tougher decisions on rotational minutes moving forward with this team, Top 15 would respond with a simple—”That’s for amateurs”.
And you just love to see it.