The Heat‘s starting lineup of Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic and Bam Adebayo is being outscored by 16.6 points per 100 possessions through seven games this season. With the team struggling in third quarters, coach Erik Spoelstra made the decision to sub in Haywood Highsmith for Jovic to open the second half against Phoenix on Wednesday, as noted by Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
“[Highsmith] had given us good minutes in that first half, and we were looking to do something just to change the energy of these third quarters. It had nothing to do with Niko,” Spoelstra said of the change.
Highsmith went on to score 19 points off the bench while Jovic only played five minutes for the game. Despite this, Spoelstra didn’t comment on whether it would be a permanent change moving forward, instead noting the fluidity of the lineup from game to game.
“I wouldn’t say I was surprised,” Jovic said of the change. “Lately, the first unit has been struggling a little bit and I guess coach was trying to find the right matchups. [Highsmith] did a good job against KD in the first half. Coach told me before we went out that he’s going to play him and just stay ready.”
Jovic started all seven of the Heat’s games to begin the year. He’s averaged 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 19.3 minutes. Highsmith, on the other hand, is averaging 6.4 minutes but has received two coach’s decision DNPs thus far. Highsmith re-signed with the Heat on a two-year, $10.8MM deal this summer despite drawing interest from other teams.
“I’m, in a sense, used to this,” Highsmith said. “Some games, I might not be in the rotation or I might be in the rotation. I’m always going to be ready no matter what.”
The Heat next play on Friday night against Denver. The starting four position will be something to monitor for Miami moving forward.
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- The starting four spot wasn’t the only Heat lineup change, as rookie center Kel’el Ware earned rotation minutes over Thomas Bryant for the first time this season, Ira Winderman of South Florida’s Sun Sentinel observes. He played over 13 minutes and recorded seven points, three rebounds, two steals and a block. Bryant had played every game for the Heat before Wednesday’s outing, averaging 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds.
- Hawks No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher had his best career game through nine games on Wednesday, recording career highs of 33 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks, as noted by ESPN. Risacher’s big game puts him right back into consideration for Rookie of the Year in the early weeks of the season, as he maintained the confidence to keep shooting despite entering the game making just 32.9% of his field goal attempts thus far. That confidence paid off with a 61.1% shooting night on Wednesday. “[Head coach Quin Snyder] basically tells me to shoot the f—ing ball,” Risacher said. “That’s not just from him. That’s from everybody on the coaching staff and my teammates. It helps with my confidence.“
- Atlanta’s G League affiliate College Park Skyhawks announced their opening night roster, Lauren L. Williams of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets. Former NBA players Tony Bradley and Kevon Harris help make up the roster, while two-way players Dominick Barlow, Seth Lundy and Keaton Wallace will likely spend time there. No. 43 overall pick Nikola Djurisic, who suffered a foot injury and is rehabbing, is on the roster and will continue to develop and recover.
- Wizards No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr is also off to an impressive start to his career, particularly in the way he blocks shots. Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network writes that Sarr is off to one of the best rookie shot-blocking starts of all time, becoming the first rookie since 1993 to have multiple blocks in each of their first six NBA games. Sarr is averaging 9.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks and he has recorded 11 total blocks in his last three games.