Leonard helping Heat from sideline
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. » Meyers Leonard was bent forward at the waist, standing a few feet away from Miami coach Erik Spoelstra on the Heat sideline, screaming with every bit of the volume that his deep and booming voice can generate.
This is his role right now for the Heat. His only role.
Leonard is in a tough spot these days; a full- time starter during the regular season, he is now out of the rotation as the Heat have made their run to the Eastern Conference finals. It is a bitter pill for him to swallow — yet to his credit, he hasn’t acted the least bit bitter about his current reality.
“My team knows this, and our coaching staff knows this,” Leonard told The Associated Press. “I would do anything to be out there. ”
So for now, the 7- foot, 260- pound, chiseled center is the tallest, strongest and best- paid assistant coach in these playoffs. He calls out what he’s seeing on every possession, pulls aside teammates for quick one- on- one chats when necessary, and on off days he’s getting his on- court work in just in case he’s needed to play.
Leonard has started 49 of his 51 appearances with the Heat this season, more starts than he made in his seven seasons with Portland combined. But in the playoffs, he’s logged a total of nine minutes, all in one appearance.
He badly sprained his left ankle in early February. And then when team facilities shut down as a precaution, Leonard’s rehab process had to be amended as well.
That was the first issue. The second was Miami became a different team a few days after he got hurt, pulling off a trade to bring Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill to the Heat.
Leonard saw the Heat change, and his role change with it. He didn’t sulk, lash out or complain.
Leonard also sees the reason why he should be helping the Heat however he can right now. He’s never been this close to an NBA championship; the Heat lead the Celtics 2- 1 in the East finals, with Game 4 on Wednesday night.