One of Erik Spoelstra's biggest criticisms as a head coach is the idea that he waits too long to make adjustments, or that he's too loyal to certain players. That wasn't an issue for him on Wednesday night when he benched Tim Hardaway Jr. in the second half of the Miami Heat's 117-116 overtime win over the LA Clippers.
In the process of benching Hardaway Jr. after just seven first-half minutes, in which he was ineffective, Spoelstra sent a very direct message. The Heat are desperately trying to get things right defensively, and Spoelstra isn't afraid to bench players (and tinker with the rotation) if that's what it takes.
Not all was cured for the Heat on the defensive end of the floor, but they did hold the Clippers to just 49 points during the second half (and overtime). They also outscored LA by 16 points to earn the big come-from-behind victory.
On this night, Hardaway Jr. was just on the wrong side of that decision. Whether or not this is a sign of things to come remains to be seen, but it's clear Spoelstra is willing to make significant changes if that's what it takes to get the Heat right.
Tim Hardaway Jr. is struggling at the worst possible time
Hardaway Jr. was one of the Heat's marquee signings during the offseason. He was expected to emerge as a super sixth man off the bench for this team. However, he's struggled with his shot all season long, and consequently, that's made his defensive struggles even more impossible to overlook.
So far this season, Hardaway Jr. is averaging just six points per game on 27 percent shooting from the 3-point range.
In game eight, with the Heat in desperate need of a win, those difficulties came to a head. Spoelstra had no other choice but to shorten his rotation in search of some defensive stability. Hardaway Jr. was on the wrong side of that equation.
Where does Spoelstra go from here? It's tough to predict. However, because the Heat will face the Golden State Warriors Thursday night, on the second night of a back-to-back, it'd be shocking if Hardaway Jr. didn't get another opportunity to prove himself.
I'd fully expect Spoelstra to have a little more leeway with his rotation in this second game, especially after many of his "main guys" played 30-plus minutes after their overtime win in LA.
Regardless, there's no question that Spoelstra sent a clear message to Hardaway Jr. and the rest of the team, for that matter. Is this something that will spark Hardaway Jr.? Is this a wake-up call that he needed? Could this galvanize the veteran?
Time will tell, but as Spoelstra and the Heat continue to search for consistent answers, that's certainly one of the hopes.
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