MEMPHIS – Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 146-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies:
– This wasn’t as much about a really big thing as it appeared at the outset.
– Yes, Kel’el Ware was in the starting lineup alongside Bam Adebayo.
– And, yes, that had Nikola Jovic playing off the bench.
– But what it did was balance the rotation.
– Davion Mitchell has proven a capable playmaker with the first unit.
– But Dru Smith isn’t that with the second unit.
– This way, Jovic gets to orchestrate, without also having to be deferential to Adebayo.
– Remember, this all will remain a work in progress until Tyler Herro returns from his September ankle surgery.
– But this is what Erik Spoelstra hinted at, that the lineup could remain fluid.
– The Heat still are learning Ware.
– Just as they still are learning Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins, and to a degree even Mitchell.
– So you mix, match, and find something that fits the night.
– This fit this night.
– And perhaps beyond.
– With the challenge of the Knicks up next on
– High octane.
– High energy.
– (Even if briefly in the third quarter, high anxiety.)
– Beyond Ware and Adebayo, the starting lineup again was rounded out by Wiggins, Powell and Mitchell.
– The scoring opened on a goaltend committed by Ware.
– Which also was early evidence of his upgraded intensity.
– Adebayo then opened the Heat scoring by connecting on a 3-pointer in a career-best 14th consecutive game.
– And kept going from there.
– Inactive for the Heat were Herro and Kasparas Jakucionis, who did not make the trip.
– Also inactive was Terry Rozier, again listed as “not with team.”
– In addition, two-way players Vlad Goldin and Myron Gardner were inactive.
– Of the Heat going with their two-big lineup to open, Grizzlies coach Tuomas Lisalo said, “I think the biggest advantage you get with those double bigs is that you get a little bit more rim protection, and you get more rebounding on both ends, and obviously that’s something that you have to take into account on both ends.”
– Jaime Jaquez Jr., coming off his strong effort Wednesday in Orlando, was first off the Heat bench.
– Followed together by Smith and Jovic.
– And then Simone Fontecchio for nine deep.
– With Pelle Larsson out the primary rotation mix a game after being shuffled to the back of the rotation mix.
– Jaquez was good, very good, his energy fueling the second unit.
– Fontecchio hit threes, but also did plenty more.
– Asked pregame about his overall outlook, Spoelstra said, “Right now, we’re at a stage where I’m just open. Everybody has to be open to where this can go. We’re trying to develop our identity, how we want to play and get some consistency with that.”
– He continued, “When I said on the very first day that I’m going to embrace the unknown, that’s not a negative thing, you know? I want there to be some surprises as we move forward in this season.”
– Before the game, Lisalo said the issue of gambling had been raised in the Memphis locker room even before the Rozier arrest on Thursday in Orlando.
– “Already, before that news broke out, we have talked about it within our organization and within the team, also, about this, because it’s obviously a very important subject, the integrity of the game,” he said. “We should hold everybody to the highest possible standard there.”