Failed jersey swap showcases the NBA’s new hug police
Bam Adebayo and Kyrie Irving both learned how serious the NBA’s hug police are taking their new jobs.
Moments after Adebayo dropped a career-high 41 points in the Heat’s 128-124 loss to the Brooklyn Nets Saturday night at the Barclays Center, the Heat big man and Nets guard looked to commemorate Adebayo’s achievement how most usually players do: with a jersey exchange.
That was until David Holcombe, the Heat’s vice president of team security, had to enforce one of the latest rules added to his list of responsibilities and stop the exchange from happening.
According to The Athletic, NBA teams’ security are stationed at halfcourt to make sure everyone complies with the league’s new rules preventing members of opposing teams from hugging, shaking hands or getting too close to one another before and after games.
Essentially making Holcombe the Heat’s interaction police in accordance with the NBA’s rules to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“I just want to follow NBA protocols,” said a laughing Irving, who lost nearly $800,000 because of a combination of a $50,000 fine for violating the league’s health and safety protocols earlier in the month and forfeiting two game checks.
Adebayo, who Irving said he’s known since the Heat big man was 15 or 16-years-old, said the Nets guard’s father helped pay for his AAU team as a teenager.
“Just watching him grow since high school, be able to take over at this point for an undermanned Miami team was good to see,” Irving said. “I’m nothing but a supporter of Bam.”
So Adebayo’s planning to make sure Irving gets the jersey, albeit in a way that abides by the league’s rules, with the Heat set for a rematch against the Nets on Monday.
“He definitely wants it,” the fourth-year Heat big man said. “I’ll send him one on my own time.”
But according to Irving, the crafty swap already took place.
“I have the jersey,” he said, “by the way.”
Nunn keeps rolling
Kendrick Nunn continued his resurgence with 18 points in the loss against the Nets for his fourth consecutive double-digit scoring outing.
He’s averaging 21.5 points on 56.1 percent shooting from the field and making 44.4 percent of his 3-pointers over the Heat’s past four games. The last time Nunn scored at least 10 points in four consecutive games came at the end of February through the beginning of March last year, scoring 24, 16, 21 and 13 in consecutive games.
“He’s given us good minutes and it’s been welcomed by all of us,” said Spoelstra, with Nunn playing 35 minutes per game in the Heat’s past four games after averaging 14.6 in his first six games of the season.
“He’s kept himself ready. It’s a credit to his character and work ethic behind the scenes. And also
his conditioning, to be able to handle these minutes. He understands seasons are long, and even though it started out a little bit different for him that his opportunities would come and he’s making the most of it.”
Spoelstra credited Nunn for rounding out his game, with the second-year guard average 5 ½ assists, four rebounds and almost two steals over the past four games.
“It’s not just about his scoring,” he said. “Over the last year-anda-half, he’s really developed as a defender and has really helped us be able to guard these smaller players in the league.”
Turnover watch
The Heat, who enter their rematch against the Nets on Monday as the most turnover-prone team in the league,
committed a season-low eight turnovers against the Nets on Saturday.
It marked the second time all season the Heat finished a game with less than double-digit turnovers, with their eight giveaways in their loss to the Boston Celtics on Jan. 6 the only other time they turned the ball over less than 14 times in a game this season.
“We’re making some progress,” Spoelstra said. “It’s just unfortunate you’re not able to see it in the win column.”
Injury update
The Heat’s injury report ahead of Monday’s game against the Nets had new additions.
Forward Moe Harkless was listed as out for the rematch due to a left-thigh contusion he sustained in the second quarter of the Heat’s Saturday loss to the Nets that forced him to leave the game.
Harkless started alongside Adebayo, Goran Dragic, Kelly Olynyk and Duncan Robinson on Saturday for the Heat’s 11th different starting lineup through 15 games. KZ Okpala started in Harkless’ place in the second half Saturday.
Avery Bradley (health and safety protocols), Jimmy Butler (health and safety protocols), Tyler Herro (neck spasms) and Meyers Leonard (left shoulder strain) remain out and away from the team.
Chris Silva (left hip flexor strain) is also out for Monday, while Okpala (left knee sprain) is listed as questionable, meaning the Heat could have 11 or 10 players available against the Nets on Monday depending on Okpala’s status when the game starts.
Dragic (right foot contusion) and Gabe Vincent (right knee soreness) were listed as probable.