The Miami Heat has had better overall rosters before. But Heat coach Erik Spoelstra believes the point guard depth on the current roster is as good as it has been for the team in a while.
“We have three really good point guards,” Spoelstra said. “... We feel very fortunate. We haven’t had this kind of point guard play and that depth at that position — I can’t remember. It’s been a while.”
Those three point guards are Kasparas Jakucionis, Davion Mitchell and Dru Smith. Mitchell is the starter, but Jakucionis and Smith have both established themselves as important members of the bench rotation.
“Look, I love our three point guards,” Spoelstra continued before Sunday night’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons at Kaseya Center. “They each bring something different.”
In Friday night’s impressive road win over the Charlotte Hornets, the Heat’s point guard trio of Jakucionis, Mitchell and Smith all played double-digit minutes with rotation regulars Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins among those unavailable on Friday because of injuries.
But when the Heat’s roster is healthier, Jakucionis, Mitchell and Smith don’t always all get a chance to play extended minutes in games. Mitchell’s minutes are consistent as the Heat’s starting point guard, but Spoelstra is then usually left to pick between Jakucionis and Smith to play the backup point guard minutes.
“Our three point guards are all really important to our team,” Spoelstra said. “So if I’m playing two of them and not one, it’s not an indictment.”
Here’s a look at what each one has provided so far this season and where they stand in the Heat’s mix:
Mitchell: There’s clarity with Mitchell’s role, as he entered Sunday’s game against the Pistons with starts in all 53 of his appearances this season. He has also logged double-digit minutes in all 53 of those games. Mitchell’s strength is his on-ball defense, as he’s often tasked with defending the opponent’s top scoring guard. But the 27-year-old Mitchell has also helped on the offensive end with his efficient shot-making (albeit on low volume) and playmaking, entering Sunday averaging 8.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 42.3 percent on 2.9 three-point attempts per game this season. With Mitchell also averaging only 1.6 turnovers per game, his assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.4 ranks fourth-best in the NBA among players who have played in at least 40 games this season.
“D. Mitch brings us that pace,” Spoelstra said. “There’s something about the way he pushes the ball and delivers it. He’s our best pitch-ahead guy. His tempo is great. The ball moves great when he’s in the game. And then defensively, he just gives us that next level point-of-attack defense, where he’s earned that reputation.”
Jakucionis: After playing just 53.7 seconds in the NBA through the Heat’s first 26 games of the season, the 19-year-old rookie has become a consistent part of the bench rotation. Entering Sunday, Jakucionis has played in 36 of the Heat’s last 38 games. He has also logged double-digit minutes in 30 of those 36 appearances. Jakucionis has impressed his coaches and teammates with his energy, defensive pressure, playmaking ability and improved three-point shooting. Jakucionis, who was selected by the Heat with the 20th overall pick in last year’s draft, has averaged 5.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 43.3 percent on 2.9 three-point attempts per game during this 38-game stretch of consistent playing time.
“Kas gives us something different than the other two [point guards],” Spoelstra said. “He really competes. ... It’s really just because of how hard he plays. There’s a purity to that. Offensively, he’s a guy that has a big upside. He can really shoot the ball. But he also, as a playmaker, can make plays.”
Smith: Since the start of the season, Smith has been a fixture in the Heat’s bench rotation. Entering Sunday, he has played in 61 of the 64 games he has been available for this season. The 28-year-old Smith’s shooting has been up and down this season, averaging 5.9 points on 40.8 percent shooting from the field and 30.8 percent shooting on two three-point attempts per game. But Smith’s biggest strength is his playmaking ability on the defensive end, as he’s averaging a team-high 1.5 steals per game this season despite playing just 16.8 minutes per appearance. In fact, Smith is averaging a league-high four steals per 100 possessions among players who have played in at least 40 games this season. Smith excels in both the Heat’s zone and man defenses. Smith’s disruptive defense led to him playing the entire fourth quarter of Friday’s win over the Hornets. He had four steals in the final period.
“He’s really unique,” Spoelstra said of Smith. “He’s the league leader in steals per 36. He has an uncanny ability. First of all, just think about how crazy that statement is. He’s leading this association in steals, but he does it in a much different way than most do it. He just has really good hands. He has great anticipation. He can kind of feel when guys are going to put the ball out there or pass. And when you put him in the zone, that’s when he can be particularly disruptive.”
INJURY REPORT
The Heat remains without Simone Fontecchio (left groin strain), Keshad Johnson (G League), Nikola Jovic (low back injury management), Powell (right groin strain), Terry Rozier (not with team) and Jahmir Young (G League) for Sunday’s matchup against the Pistons at Kaseya Center.
The Heat also listed Wiggins as questionable for Sunday’s game due to left big toe inflammation. Wiggins missed Friday’s win over the Hornets due to what was then listed as knee tendinitis.
The Pistons haven’t yet issued their injury report for Sunday’s game since they are in the middle of a back-to-back set. Detroit, which still holds the top record in the Eastern Conference, blew a 23-point lead in a bad 107-105 home loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night and has now dropped three straight games.