Stats are not what Leonard’s focus is on

MIAMI — Meyers Leonard doesn’t care.

It is a among the reasons Miami Heat teammates care so much for the affable 7-foot center.

“I could care less how many points rebounds, blocks,” he said, as the Heat turned their attention to Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers at AmericanAirlines Arena. “I don’t care, as long as we win.”

That what made Saturday night’s victory over the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center practically a celebration in the locker room.

For the rare night, the numbers were on Leonard’s side.

And it wasn’t just the 18 points and season-high 14 rebounds. It was also the 14 shot attempts, including the nine 3-point launches.

“Everybody in the locker room wants Meyers to be aggressive,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He really worked at it the last couple days in practice, letting it fly almost past his comfort zone. I’m not talking about range, I’m just talking about shooting it every time he touched it.

“That’s what everybody wants. It changes the complexion of our spacing.”

For one night, reluctance was replaced with fervor.

“As I said when I first got here,”’ Leonard said, “I am simply here to do my best to impact winning, bring character and work ethic every day when I walk through those doors.”

But it is a thinking-man’s approach that has created a selflessness.

With the Heat a rare team still utilizing dual big men in the starting lineup, Leonard said it is a matter of opponents implementing a scheme against himself and Bam Adebayo, and then adjusting accordingly.

“You know, number one, I understand the scouting reports to a T, and what we’re looking to do,” he said. “Now, have there been moments throughout the season where maybe I could have taken a few more shots? Sure. But teams have now started to occasionally put the five on me, rather than the five on Bam, which is going to put me in the trigger more often throughout the game.

“So, to be completely honest with you, when I first came in during training camp, and when we were starting to work in the preseason, I was in some of the triggers, but also I was spacing some. I’m an unselfish player.”

Saturday, with the Magic going big against him, Leonard’s trigger finger was particularly itchy.

“Teams really just got to kind of pick their poison,” he said. “Put a five on Bam? Good luck. He’s a playmaker. He’s getting behind the defense. He’s making passes and getting other guys involved and scoring the ball. Put the five on me? Good luck.”

He said the approach is similar with his rebounding totals.

Sometimes, he said, it is better to leave the statistics for others.

“Some of that’s also right place, right time,” he said. “Once again, if you watch the film, a lot of times when we’re playing someone like [Andre] Drummond, Tristan Thompson, really elite offensive rebounders, I don’t care about getting the rebound. I care about the Miami Heat getting the rebound.

“So if you watch, I just give up my body, go box out and we get it. That’s what’s important to me, winning games.”

Come Monday, the dynamic likely will be altered again.

It is why, Jimmy Butler said, you seize on the Leonard moments when presented.

“When he’s making shots, you’ve got to step out to him,” Butler said. “Then he can put the ball on the floor and go around you. Now he’s getting everybody else involved.

“We’ve got so many guys who can do different things. You’ve got to pick your poison. Any given night, it’s going to be somebody.”

So defer it might be again come Monday.

With an appreciation that that will be just fine with Leonard.

“Meyers understands it,” Spoelstra said. “His heart is in the right place. He wants to set screens and set up his teammates. He doesn’t want to be the focal point offensively.”