■ Winslow displays versatility at point guard for Heat,
The evolution of ORLANDO — Justise Winslow continues.
The 6-foot-7 Winslow is gaining more confidence in his newfound role as the backup point guard, look
ing comfortable at that spot during Wednesday’s season-opening 116-109 loss in Orlando.
The embattled three-year veteran played 23 minutes, the most of any reserve, and scored 10 points with four rebounds and two assists. He was aggressive with the ball, taking it to the rim, and is settling into a position we
did not see him play until late in the preseason. “Each game he’s looked a
little bit more like himself, just in terms of his activity and his defense and making some of those intangible plays, being aggressive,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “You can see that he’s not thinking about holding back at all and I think that will get better each game.”
Winslow entered the game for Goran Dragic about nine minutes in and within three minutes took it to the basket twice, scoring both times, and had a free throw.
Then, early in the second quarter, he knocked down his first 3-point shot of the season, something he struggled with throughout his career.
Winslow, who also played several second-half minutes at power forward, replacing James Johnson who was in foul trouble, fits into the Heat’s drive-and-kick game.
“Our mentality is you want to go from a good shot to a great shot and if you can finish around the basket, try to finish,” Winslow said. “(If ) you don’t want to finish or try to do too much, that is when you (pass) it. When the guys collapse and you have an open man. It is just find-
ing that balance.” Winslow’s role as a facilita- tor could become even more important if Dion Waiters’ troublesome ankle becomes even more of an issue. ‘Real recognize real:’ James Johnson traveled to Orlando on Tuesday wearing a special Heat “Court Culture” T-shirt of Udonis Haslem. And Johnson was still wearing that shirt after a shootaround at Amway Center on Wednesday.
“That’s my brother, why not wear it?” Johnson
answered when asked why he chose to wear the Haslem shirt.
There are other “Court Culture” T-shirts Johnson could have worn, like the
one featuring Dion Waiters or Pat Riley. But Johnson is a big fan of Haslem, who is now in his 15th season with
the Heat and has spent each of the past 10 seasons as a team captain.
“That’s somebody I look up to and I follow on how to really lead a team and really be a professional leader on and off the court,” Johnson said of Haslem. “That’s somebody that I really admire and look up to. So why not? It’s the same as a kid wearing a (Michael) Jordan T-shirt, I feel.”
The feeling is mutual. Haslem, 37, wore a “Court Culture” shirt featuring Johnson to travel to Orlando on Tuesday.
“U know what they say??,” Haslem posted on Instagram in a caption of himself and Johnson on the team plane, wearing their T-shirts. “Real recognize real. My brotha ( James Johnson) is as real as they come.”