In the lane

BLUNT TRUTH: Few NBA coaches offer the candor of Steve Clifford. So when the Charlotte Hornets coach was asked about the absence of sidelined Heat guard Dion Waiters, words were not minced. “It’s hurt them,” he said. “I would say he was their second-best player this year. He really had a career year. He was their go-to guy offensively going down the stretch.” Clifford had Hassan Whiteside as the Heat’s best player, Goran Dragic, “a close third.” Of Waiters, who has been out with a severely sprained left ankle, Clifford said, “When you lose somebody that scores that much and you can play through in the fourth quarter, it’s going to hurt your team.”

HOME BASE: So where did Dwyane Wade rehabilitate his elbow injury while away from the Chicago Bulls last weekend? In a setting that only adds to the speculation of relocating (or un-locating?). Yes, back in the Miami gym of personal trainer Dave Alexander. From Alexander’s Instagram, “When most athletes get told that they’re out for the remainder of the season due to a freak injury, well most would just shut it down and do nothing. [Wade] ain’t most athletes, and I’m not the type of trainer that lets one of my guys just tap out. Especially if there’s any chance that we can remedy the problem. We working smart, staying sharp, and keeping him game ready!” Coach Fred Hoiberg said Wade’s isolation game would be embraced in the playoffs. “Dwyane,” he said, “especially when we get into fourth quarters, if we get a little bit stagnant, he’s the guy that we can give the ball to and good things happen.” Made in Miami. And apparently now re-made in Miami.

SCOUTING START: The NBA scouting season formally opens Wednesday with the start of the annual Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational Tournament, largely viewed as an opportunity for NBA scouts to catch up with second-round talent and undrafted collegians who can be lured to summer camps and summer leagues. Among those who stepped forward in Portsmouth last year was former Florida forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who went undrafted but found a place in the Dallas Mavericks’ rotation. Heat guard Tyler Johnson is among alumni of the event. Because of the timing of the event, only college seniors are invited, 64 in all. The Heat do not have a second-round pick, with that selection forwarded to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Heat do hold a first-round in June’s NBA draft, and by rule must exercise it.

STAN’S MAN: The family ties run deep with Patrick Ewing, so former Heat coach Stan Van Gundy says he’s all in with the Hoyas after Georgetown named Ewing head coach. Ewing served as a Van Gundy assistant with the Orlando Magic, after having played for and then coached under Stan’s brother, Jeff Van Gundy. “I’m all in on Patrick Ewing,” Stan Van Gundy told the Detroit News. “I didn’t give a crap about Georgetown one way or another until two days ago. Now, it’s a team I’ll follow every single game.” The Detroit Pistons coach added. “It’s an intense amount of respect and loyalty I feel, because for five years, that guy had my back and for longer than that, he had my brother’s back.”