Herro’s play has him passing huge names
The irony is that if the Miami Heat weren’t so efficient leading up to these NBA Finals, Tyler Herro already could have more than a few NBA legends in his rearview mirror.
But even with the Heat needing only 15 of the maximum21games to advance to the league’s championship series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Herro went into Sunday eighth on the NBA’s all-time playoff rookie scoring list.
Going intoGame3, Herro already had passed Jerry West, entering the game at Disney’s Wide World of Sports 15 points behind Magic Johnson’s total of 293 in 1980 and 21 points behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 299 in1960.
“I mean I see it, but I don’t really acknowledge it,” Herro said ahead of Sunday’s game. “I think records are meant to be broken. It’s still early inmy career, so at the end of the day it’s just a small steppingstone.”
The No. 13 pick out of Kentucky in the 2019 NBA draft, Herro exited Friday’s Game 2 22 points from becoming the sixth rookie to score at least 300 points in the playoffs, with that list including Kareem Abdul
Jabbar (352, 1970), Jayson Tatum (351, 2018), Alvan Adams (341, 1976), Elgin Baylor (331, 1959) and Jack Sikma (301, 1978).
“We’ve all worked hard for this,” Herro said, “so we’re still embracing the moment right now.”
Herro, forced into the starting lineup in Game 2 after Goran Dragic’s foot injury, previously passed Manu Ginobili’s 226 points in 2003 for the most in the postseason by a rookie reserve.
In addition, he moved past Dwyane Wade’s 234 points in 2004 as the most by a Heat rookie in a postseason, albeit with Wade going out in that year’s second round.
Forward Jae Crowder said Sunday that Herro’s playoff moments are products of countless moments behind the scenes.
“It’s not a surprise that he’s playing at a high level right nowfor us, because he puts the time in when the light are not on,” Crowder said. “So the way he prepares himself, the way he works, theway he dives into film, it’s paying off for him.
“And I think that’s the key for a young player inour league, just to work. And once you’ve figured outhow work and work effectively, good things tend to happen to you. So it’s not a surprise to me to see him shoot up in the rankings of rookies in the playoffs. He puts a lot of work into it behind the scenes. So it’s all paying off for him.”
One direction
In a typical season, Game 3 would have been the first of two games in Miami at AmericanAirlines Arena. Instead, amid the pandemic, all games have been in the quarantine bubble setting at Disney.
“The fact that we don’t have to travel, the fact that we’re not in a city where it’s different or where there’s distractions, it’s a little easier to be locked in and not worry about guys going out,” Lakers guard Danny Green said Sunday. “We know where everybody’s going and what everybody’s doing. There’s not much to do here, which allows us to stay focused.
“I think all in all, it’s easier to stay more focused and be less distracted. And also not having to travel, it’s easier on the body.”
Green twice played in Miami in the Finals while with the SanAntonio Spurs, in 2013 and ’14.
“Iwould never know. I’m fully engaged,” he said with a laugh about whether Miami has a way of reducing focus. “I don’t know anything about Miami and distractions.”