Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Dragic expected back for opener.
Sore knee kept guard out of season finale
MIAMI — Heat guard Goran Dragic has every intention of playing in Saturday’s playoff opener against the Philadelphia 76ers.
After missing Wednesday’s season finale versus the Toronto Raptors because of knee soreness, Dragic is expected to be in the starting lineup for Game 1 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
“It feels way better now than it was two days ago,” Dragic said. “But I’m doing everything that I can. Probably, I’m going to feel it a little bit. But it’s not going to bother me. That’s the only thing that I’m about, I can play through the pain. But as long as it’s not bothering me, I’m OK.”
Dragic, who leads the team with 17.3 points and 4.8 assists a game, will practice today. The Heat were given Thursday off, but did hold a team film session at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Dragic said he doesn’t expect the soreness to limit him against the young Sixers backcourt.
“I’m going to feel it, but it’s not going to slow me down or anything,” Dragic said. “Even when you play through the games, it’s a lot of adrenaline and basically you don’t feel it.”
The adrenaline will be especially beneficial with the Heat in the postseason after missing it last year.
“It’s way different, especially the arenas are more loud, the fans are crazier and of course the games mean more,” Dragic said. “Even if you lose one game, it means something. So it’s a lot more pressure, but at the same time it’s a lot more fun because of that.”
A familiar matchup
When the Heat face Sixers guard Ben Simmons ,it will have a familiar feel.
Coach Erik Spoelstra compared it to when the Heat faced the Rajon Rondo-led Boston Celtics in the earlier portion of the decade. The Heat and Celtics met twice in the playoffs from 2010-2012.
The Sixers use the dynamic Simmons at point guard in the same fashion as Boston did Rondo. Neither player is a great outside shooter, but do solid jobs of getting others involved. As they did with Rondo, opponents tend to give him open looks on the perimeter, but Simmons has been just as effective.
The 6-foot-10-inch Simmons, who was the No. 1 pick in 2016, is averaging 15.8 points, 8.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds. After missing last season because of an injury, he is considered the favorite to win Rookie of the Year.
“It’s a very similar concept to the old Boston Celtics teams with Rondo, but you’re seeing somebody 6-10 doing the same things,” Spoelstra said. “So if you go soft or you go under, he’s turning it into a foot race, but he’s 6-10 with a 7-foot wingspan. One dribble and he’s at the rim. You’re not catching him in that race. So you have to impact and meet the ball at some point and that’s what we’ll have to figure out where that line of demarcation is for us in the next couple of days.”
No concerns
Spoelstra said he isn’t worried about center Hassan Whiteside getting too emotional during the series, despite facing Sixers center Joel Embiid. The two have feuded on and off the court since last preseason. Whiteside’s emotions have gotten the best of him throughout his career, but Spoelstra said things have tamed.
“Nah, he’s gotten much better,” Spoelstra said.