ATLANTA — Observations and other notes of interest from Monday night’s 98-86 loss to the Atlanta Hawks:
– Erik Spoelstra made clear before the game that there are no scapegoats.
– His team’s uneven play, Spoelstra said, was a collective issue.
– Still, something had to be done.
– What was done was pulling Terry Rozier out of the rotation.
– So Alec Burks played, as Rozier sat.
– And Jaime Jaquez Jr. played (briefly), as Rozier sat.
– A year ago, Rozier was added to make things right after the team had soured on Kyle Lowry.
– Now Rozier finds himself in that position.
– Spoelstra was asked pregame about trying to get Rozier going.
– He offered an answer that did not exactly address what followed.
– “We just have to stay with it throughout our rotation,” he said. “We’re just looking for consistency however we have to get to it. I know he wants to do more for the team. He really cares, that’s what I really admire about him. And we just have to stay with it.”
– Spoelstra, instead, expanded his answer to say it is more about the entire rotation.
– “This is a tough stretch right now,” he said. “I feel like we’re making progress, but it’s frustrating when it doesn’t lead to wins, because you’re not in it just for moral victories.”
– He added, “But we do have to recognize when there are tangible improvements and we are seeing some of those. We have to work for our breakthrough.”
– The Heat stayed with their preferred post-trade starting lineup of Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Kel’el Ware, Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell, which entered 1-2.
– The Hawks opened with a lineup of Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Mo Gueye and Onyeka Okongwu.
– Kyle Anderson entered along with Duncan Robinson in the Heat’s first substitution.
– With Anderson taking the rotation role normally held by sidelined Nikola Jovic.
– Jovic remained with the team, with his broken hand to be examined Tuesday in Miami.
– And then came the major rotation shift, with Burks entering in the spot when slumping Rozier typically enters.
– Like Rozier, Burks had struggles of his own.
– Rozier further was shuffled out of the mix when Jaquez entered in the second period, as the Heat’s fourth overall reserve.
– Jaquez, though, was limited to the briefest of stints.
– Neither Burks nor Jaquez provided anything resembling an immediate spark.
– Or a spark at all.
– With the reality perhaps that the Heat don’t have such a player off the bench.
– (Unless, say, Josh Christopher gets the call on his two-way contract?)
– The concern of late, of course, also had been shaky finishes.
– “A lot of these games, some of the games were before the trade, some of the games guys were out,” Spoelstra said. “So it doesn’t really matter. It’s just about doing what’s necessary to get a win. It’s hard to win in this league. I appreciate that. I really appreciate that this season. You have to fight and have a desperate collective energy that’s consistent all the way though and there has to be a collective spirit, which our group has.”
– He added, “That’s the part I think we can build on. There’s a spirit in our locker room. That usually indicates that things are going to start going in your direction. It doesn’t guarantee anything, because it still is decided in between those four lines. But there are some intangibles in this locker room. Guys care about each other, they want to play well for each other. We just have to put it together.”
– The game was the conclusion of a 27-day span for the Heat with just one home game. Next up is a home game then Wednesday against the Hawks.
– The game also concluded the 11th of the Heat’s 15 back-to-back sets, with the Heat entering 6-4 on the second night of such pairings.
– In addition, the game marked the first of consecutive games against the Hawks, the third and final instance this season of consecutive games against the same opponent. The Heat previously split such pairs against the Pacers and Raptors.
– Burks’ first assist was the 1,500th of his career.
– Both teams had a different look than where they last played, with both having made roster alterations at the Feb. 6 NBA trading deadline.
– “I think the most important thing for us is integrating,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. Miami’s going through the same thing.”
– Asked about changes he has seen with the Heat, Snyder said, “One thing you point to is just the way Tyler Herro is playing. And I wouldn’t call that different in the sense that he’s been a hell of a player for a while. But there’s things he’s doing right now that are just unique.”
– Snyder also noted the Heat’s bigger starting lineup, with Adebayo and Ware.
– “The way they’re starting right now is unique,” he said. “That’s obviously impactful.”
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