The Miami Heat never played Thursday’s game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center because it was eventually postponed “due to moisture on the floor rendering the court unplayable,” but it was still somewhat of a revelatory night.
The Heat was set to open Thursday’s postponed contest with a starting lineup of Davion Mitchell, Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Bam Adebayo.
The notable change to the Heat’s starting group from previous games was Herro replacing second-year center Kel’el Ware, who started the previous 11 games. Ware was set to play off the bench on Thursday for the first time since playing as a reserve in the Heat’s Dec. 15 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
“I’m not going to comment on that,” Spoelstra said with a laugh following Thursday’s postponed contest when asked about the change to the Heat’s starting unit. “Gosh dang it. Gosh dang it.”
For Herro, he was set to return to the Heat’s starting lineup on Thursday in his second game back from a toe injury. He played as a reserve in his return from injury in Tuesday’s 122-94 road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves after missing 13 of the previous 14 games because of a right big toe contusion.
Thursday’s decision to go away from the Adebayo-Ware frontcourt and reinsert Herro back into the starting lineup was a move that made sense when going by the numbers.
The Heat has been outscored by 7.7 points per 100 possessions in the 266 minutes that Adebayo and Ware have played together this season. Among the Heat’s 34 two-man lineups that have played at least 200 minutes together this season, the Adebayo-Ware pairing has the second-worst net rating.
Meanwhile, the Mitchell-Herro-Powell-Wiggins-Adebayo unit has been one of the Heat’s best lineups this season in the limited time these five players have been on the court together. This combination has outscored opponents by 12.7 points per 100 possessions in 73 minutes together this season.
“We need his talent. We need his edginess. We need his swag,” Spoelstra said prior to Thursday’s postponed game when asked about Herro. “We need all of it right now, and I’m just excited that we have him back in the mix.”
After Thursday’s matchup against the Bulls in Chicago was postponed, the Heat (20-17) continues its trip on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Sun).
SPOELSTRA FEELS FOR MCDANIEL
Prior to Thursday’s postponed game, Spoelstra spoke about the Dolphins’ firing of head coach Mike McDaniel.
“I feel for Mike and his family,” Spoelstra said when asked about the news of the Dolphins firing McDaniel on Thursday. “I’m a fan of his. I really enjoyed our interactions together. Just a really sharp, bright and creative mind. I learned a lot from those interactions. It’s a tough business. So, it’s a tough day for him. But he’s a talent, so he’ll find his way back, somewhere with some organization. And I wish him the best.”
Spoelstra became friends with McDaniel during McDaniel’s four seasons as the Dolphins’ head coach. Spoelstra visited Dolphins practices and McDaniel visited Heat games after McDaniel was hired by the Dolphins in early 2022, and Spoelstra even dressed up as McDaniel for Halloween in 2023.
Since Spoelstra became the Heat’s head coach in April 2008, the Dolphins have already gone through seven different head coaches (including interim head coaches Todd Bowles and Dan Campbell). The head coach that the Dolphins hire to replace McDaniel will mark their eighth different coach since Spoelstra was named the Heat’s head coach.