Haslem prepared to go solo as Heat captain
With Wade, Bosh absent, choice was ‘obvious’ for coach.
MIAMI — Udonis Haslem is proud to be the Heat’s captain.
Even though coach Erik Spoelstra called it an “obvio u s ” d e c i s i o n t o n a m e Haslem as Miami’s only captain, the 13-year veteran takes the role seriously.
“It means a lot,” Haslem said this week. “I don’t take it lightly. I put just as much responsibility and pressure on myself as a coach or anybody else could to make sure I handle that position and honor that correctly and also bring guys along with me.”
The 36-year-old Haslem has served as a Heat captain since 2007-08. Part of Haslem’s time as a captain was spent with Dwyane Wade as co-captains (2008-2015) and with Wade and Chris Bosh as tri-captains (2015-16).
“He’s the most experienced guy on this team,” guard Goran Dragic said. “He’s won three championships. He knows what it takes to be at that high level and to compete. I feel like you can just learn from him because he has so much knowledge.”
When asked to describe his leadership style, Haslem d i d n’ t h e s i t a t e wi t h h i s answer.
“I don’t just talk it. I walk it, I exemplify it,” Haslem said. “You see it, you feel it, you know it’s pure when you’re around me. Everything that I say to these guys, they know I’ve either done or I’m willing to do myself.”
Excited like schoolkids: Heat practice had an air of excitement with the NBA season openers Tuesday night and Miami’s first game tonight at Orlando.
“Everybody’s excited,” S p o e l s t r a s a i d T u e s d ay. “Today it felt like a gym full of seventh-graders trying to keep their attention. Everybody just wants the game to be here. It was good, positive anxious energy in the gym. I think a lot of the guys kind of wish we were playing tonight.”
With seven new players, three new starters and Wade and Bosh absent, the Heat have undergone a major overhaul.
S p o e l s t r a s a i d t h e unknown with this group “makes it fun. Every year you don’t know what to expect. But all things considered, a lot of change this summer. We do feel good about the foundational pieces we have here. We feel good about the group we were able to add. We think they fit our personality. Also in the last month, we like the way our group has come together.”
Spoelstra said he would not reveal his starting lineup until today. But this much is sure: Dragic, forward Justise Winslow and center Hassan Whiteside will be among the first five. Either Derrick Williams or Luke Babbitt likely will start at power forward, and Dion Waiters appears to be the starter at shooting guard.
As for the rotation, Spoel- stra said he probably will play nine. He will have just 11 healthy players with Josh Ri c ha rd s o n ( k ne e ) , Jo s h McRoberts (foot) and Wayne Ellington (thigh) out. “It is fluid,” Spoelstra said. S p o e l s t r a t o u c h e d o n the minutes he expects his two anchors, Whiteside and Dragic, to play. He’s looking to increase the 27-year-old Whiteside’s time to 34 to 36 minutes from 29 a year ago, and to keep Dragic, 30, in the low 30s.