This game reminded me of this roster's first incarnation, the year Duncan Robinson made his mark on the association. Then and now, the "Heat" were never the most talented team in the league. To win, they had to have a coach with a sixth sense of who and when. Who would provide what was needed to make a contribution, and when to turn to that person. Back then the "Heat" had so many unique, unknown players to defenses that I didn't know how they could be stopped. They weren't, in short, not until opposing players and coaches and scouts studied film and figured out our new guys--Myers Leonard, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin, and most importantly Duncan Robinson. They thoroughly figured out Duncan; Myers was soon gone, Gabe is limited, but Max has continued to get better and Caleb from his first game was stickum. Tonight, we didn't have contributions from some of those we've had recently in this postseason. Kevin was a starter but played only 15' and had 0 points. He played the fewest minutes of every "Heat" player who played. He had been a spark plug in past games in the 'loffs but not in this one. He was -1. Same with Kyle: timely, timely buckets, huge 3's in the recent past. Tonight a stat line that mirrored Kevin's: 17', 0 points on 0/5, a shocking team worst -21. But, as Erik Spoelstra has always done when he is at his best he found the tools. Tonight it was 7th man Caleb Martin who played 32 minutes and scored 25 points, finishing +7. It was Duncan Robinson, suddenly driving the basket, pulling up for 2's, not settling for 3's. 15 points on 6/9 (3/6), +1. It was Gabe Vincent, 40', only 9 points but a team high +20. And of course it was the Big Two. Jimmy played 41' and had a team high 27 points, 8 rebounds, second on the team, 6 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, +13. Bam: 38', 22 points, 17 rebounds, 1 assist shy of a triple double, +14.
"We have enough," is Coach Spoelstra's mantra and tonight we did. I would give the game ball to team Will and team Hate. Those were the stars of this game.
Good night.