Draft pick holds court
Heat’s Winslow impresses.
ORLANDO — The attraction was the versatility. It all was on display Saturday with Miami Heat first-round NBA draft choice Justise Winslow.
In addition to the expected turns on the wing, there also was time at power forward, and even an opportunity to advance the ball and run the offense in the Heat’s summerleague opener.
No, final scores hardly matter in NBA summer league, including this 92-76 victory over the Indiana Pacers on the practice court at the Amway Center, home of the Orlando Magic.
But when a player in his first taste of NBA competition closes at plus-28 in his pro debut, it still counts for plenty.
“He was just very solid out there,” said assistant coach Dan Craig, who is coaching the Heat during summer league. “Defensively, offensively, on both sides of the floor he was locked in. I thought he did a great job communicating with his teammates.
“For a guy coming into his first game, he was communicating out there. He didn’t look like there was any indecision on his part. And in the timeouts, he was very confident, he was focused. I just thought it was a great all-around game for him.”
Winslow closed with 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting, with three assists and no rebounds or turnovers in his debut.
“I didn’t have jitters,” the forward out of Duke said. “I’ve been playing basketball for a long time. I’m sure, maybe, the first real game might be nervous, something like
that. To me, just getting used to playing with these guys, everything felt natural. I was really ready for today. I wasn’t nervous. I woke up excited, ready to play. I’ve been playing the game so long, don’t make it something bigger than it is.”
Craig said Winslow’s diversified skill set create the opportunity to cast his lottery pick in multiple roles.
“We didn’t go into the game saying we were going to put him in all these different situations,” Craig said. “But that’s who he is. He’s a guy that can bring you all of those things. So, throughout the course of the game, we were able to see that. Some of it was scripted, some of it wasn’t. It’s just what he was able to bring and I think we’ll see more of that as summer league continues.”
While Winslow lamented his inability to grab a rebound, he was pleased with the first impression he was able to offer, following up on the blueprint offered by coach Erik Spoelstra.
“I just tried to do everything,” he said. “I tried to distribute and make plays for my teammates and myself. However that comes, whatever position I’m doing that at doesn’t matter to me, kind of play positionless basketball, like coach Spo said and make it work.”
Craig said he tried to maximize the possibilities during Winslow ’s 27-minute debut.
“One in particular, he came down, we cleared the side out for him and he was able to go one-on-one with a clear side on the left,” he said. “There were some other situations where we put him in cuts, tried to get him into the post. Some of that was scripted. Other actions that he was in, we kind of just were playing the game and that happened by itself.
“But, again, that’s what he’s able to bring.”
Johnson at point
The Heat opened with Tyler Johnson at point guard, but it was Johnson’s athleticism that again stood out, including a dunk over Pacers shot-blocking firstround pick Myles Turner, whose pro debut featured 20 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. ... Heat forward James Ennis again was uneven with his ballhandling, but was able to get to the rim on the way to 13 points. ... Journeyman power forward Willie Reed started at center for the Heat and had his moments, including three blocked shots. He could be a roster option if the Heat sell off higher-priced power players as they consider the luxury tax. ...
Heat second-round pick Josh Richardson was particularly active, shooting 9 of 9 from the line and closing with 14 points to lead all reserves. ... Shabazz Napier was inactive for the Heat as he recovers from lateseason hernia surgery. ... Forward Henry Walker, a rare veteran in summer league, sat out for the Heat with a sprained right ankle. ...
Referees wore microphones and headsets, able to communicate with each other during the course of the game, including amid live-ball situations. As with the referee headsets, replay has been added for NBA summer leagues, utilized several times during Saturday’s Heat-Pacers game. ... The Heat next play Sunday at 5 p.m. against the Brooklyn Nets (NBA TV).
“He didn’t look like there was any indecision on his part. ... I just thought it was a great all-around game for him.”
Dan Craig, Heat assistant coach on Justise Winslow