The Miami Heat may not have gotten the result they wanted against the Utah Jazz, but Erik Spoelstra may have just found the perfect sweet spot with his rotation that should appease both the front office and the fans. It consists of a fine mix between giving his veterans big minutes, while also giving the young players an opportunity to prove themselves.
The two biggest differences for Spo over the past two games are that he's playing Jakucionis a lot more, and he finally appears willing to give a frontcourt duo of Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware a fair shot.
Over the past two games, Jakucionis is averaging 29 minutes played, with Ware and Bam playing the most they've played together so far this season. Ware was quietly re-inserted into the starting lineup against the Jazz, too.
Ware only played 14 minutes against the Jazz because of foul trouble, but it was a positive sign to see Spo lean into making it work.
Again, the Heat are 1-1 in their last two games, but this needs to be more of what Spo's rotation looks like the rest of the way. Once Pelle Larsson returns, he should also be getting extended time on the floor, which he generally does anyway.
The true test of this, of course, will be once Norman Powell and Tyler Herro return. But even with those two players back in the rotation, Spo has to continue to find minutes for Bam-Ware lineups and extended time for Jakucionis.
The Heat can lean young while still making a push for the playoffs
Miami needs to see what they have in this young core. Plus, even while playing some of their younger players more, that doesn't mean they're punting on the rest of the season. The Heat, for better or worse, can still make a push to the playoffs with Ware, Jakucionis, and Larsson playing a big role in the team's rotation.
It's not one or the other for the Heat, and that's something that Spo needs to be preaching from here on out.
At full health, the Heat's 10-man rotation should consist of Davion Mitchell, Herro, Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Bam, Larsson, Jakucionis, Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Nikola Jovic.
That's not a hard ask for Spo. But he needs to be completely bought in on this philosophy.
Understandably, his job as a head coach is to win games. But if he can develop the young core in the process, that would be the win-win that the fans truly want to see.
Fans understand that the Heat is never going to tank. No one is denying that, even though Miami may be better off if it did. Nevertheless, no one is expecting it at this point.
At the very least, though, what the fans want to see is continued development of the young core. Or even just the opportunity to see that development.
It appears Spo may finally be coming around to that idea. At this point, that may be more important than wins and losses.