South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Heat at Knicks
Mix-master Spoelstra likes what Tyler Johnson brings to starting lineup
7:30 p.m. Sunday, FS-SUN
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NEW YORK — The Miami Heat wheel of lineups has remained in motion for most of this season, up to 17 permutations through the season’s first 47 games.
To a degree, that makes Tyler Johnson, with his energetic approach, a perfect fit, inserted into the mix this past week in Erik Spoelstra’s latest attempt to jump-start his team’s starts.
“I just want to be open to it right now,” Spoelstra said of this latest remix that has Johnson in the first five alongside Hassan Whiteside, James Johnson, Josh Richardson and Justise Winslow. “I’m not making any definitive determinations or conclusions on that. Obviously, we need some more consistent play from that first unit.
“But there’s some things that look like [they] could be advantageous for us. He’s got a pretty good chemistry, obviously, with JJ. But I’m open to it. And I want that unit to play better.”
Tyler Johnson returned to the mix as scorer in Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at AmericanAirlines Arena, with 15 points. He then turned playmaker in Friday’s victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena, with six assists.
“It doesn’t feel like I have to adjust too much,” Johnson said, with the Heat turning their attention to Sunday night’s game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. “I love the group because it’s an attacking group. And then with H setting screens the way he did [Friday], it adds a whole other dimension to the team. It’s not too much of an adjustment.”
Winslow said it actually is, like a righty-lefty switch in baseball.
“It’s a little different. He’s left-handed, Rodney’s right-handed,” he said of Johnson stepping in for Rodney McGruder. “They have their own, unique playing styles, so it definitely changes a little bit. But, for the most part, Tyler is going to be aggressive every night and I just try to do a job of getting him to his spots and letting him play and not have to think too much.”
Growth curve: The move to point guard continues to prove transformative for Winslow, whose 27 points in Cleveland were one off the career high he set last month against the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I thought he took it upon himself to be the leader, the leading force in that group, to try to get that first unit going,” guard Dwyane Wade said. “He can do so much. He can put his imprint on the game in so many different ways.
“As I told him, if he’s trying to make that next challenge, he’s going to have nights where he scores 27, but he’s got to defend on the other end, as well. He’s got to be that kind of player.” Challenge accepted, Winslow said. “As I continue to get more com- fortable with this new position, it’s just about reading the game,” he said. ‘If a teammate’s hot, if a teammate has it going, it’s feeding their hand, all while I’m staying aggressive.
“It’s just understanding what this team needs, which is for me to read the game and really be two plays ahead, is what I’m trying to do.”
Jones time: Derrick Jones Jr. took another step forward in his breakout season Friday, this time with 14 points and 10 rebounds in Cleveland, playing his 23 minutes without a turnover.
“And he does it in a lot of intangible ways that aren’t scripted,” Spoelstra said. “And that’s the beauty of his game. We’re not running plays for him.”
The goal remains to upgrade Jones’ performance as a man-to-man defender.
“Defensively, he can be pretty effective when we’re in our zone,” Spoelstra said. “But if you’re in a man, he’s a good team defender because he’s working at it and he’s getting better. He’s learning the league and more importantly learning our system and really diligent with his work behind the scenes.
“And then he has those plays over the top that you can’t teach.”