Dragic thriving as playoffs approach

Oladipo, Herro remain out of the lineup

Last season, Goran Dragic lifted his game in the playoffs to another level, arguably his best level in his 6 ½ seasons with the Miami Heat. But that also was after a fourmonth break for the pandemic shutdown.

Over the past week, there have been a pair of 18-point performances, including during Sunday night’s road victory over the Charlotte Hornets, creating hope of similar rejuvenation for the veteran point guard, who turns 35 Thursday.

“I’m getting there, I’m getting there,” he said, with the Heat turning their attention to Tuesday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks at AmericanAirlines Arena. “You know, still working on my confidence and everything. But the last few games, I feel awesome, my legs were there, I was running the ball more.

“And that’s what it’s all about. When we, guys back, in Victor [Oladipo] and Tyler [Herro], that’s going to make my job easier. Yeah, so far, so good.”

With Kendrick Nunn thriving over the past month as a starter, it is likely Dragic will remain in reserve during the postseason, provided the Heat either make it directly there or through the play-in round.

That has created a dynamic with backup center Dewayne Dedmon that Dragic said he wants to further explore.

“He is great,” Dragic said. “He’s setting good screens. He’s hustling. And he gets us a lot of secondchance points or second-chance offense, with his hustle, the offensive rebounds.

“We still need to get on the same page, how to set the pick-and-roll, but each day it’s getting better and better.”

Herro, Oladipo out

Herro and Oladipo again were listed as out on Monday’s NBA injury report for Tuesday’s game.

For Oladipo, it will make it 14 consecutive games missed with what the team is listing as right-knee soreness. He was injured on a dunk attempt in the second half of the April 8 home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, yet to play since. His Heat resume remains limited to four appearances since being acquired from the Houston Rockets at the March 25 NBA trading deadline.

For Herro, it will be the sixth consecutive game and seventh in the last nine he has missed with what the team is listing as right-foot soreness. He last played on April 23 in the road loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Also, forward Andre Iguodala is listed as questionable for Tuesday, due to the sore left hip that took him out of the second half of Sunday’s victory in Charlotte.

No longer on the Heat injury report is two-way guard Gabe Vincent, who had been receiving treatment for knee soreness.

For the Mavericks, Dallas is listing forward Kristaps Porzingis as doubtful, with right-knee soreness. Also, forward Maxi Kleber is questionable with right-Achilles soreness. In addition, Tyrell Terry is listed as away from the Mavericks due go personal reasons.

Subtle statement

Yes, that was Bam Adebayo flashing the letter of D-P-O-Y in victory, the Heat center’s own subtle statement about the race for NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

But more than his gestures, Adebayo is hopeful that voters will watch him in action, rather than merely gleaning statistics.

“I feel it is one of those things where you’ve got to watch us play to figure it,” he said, after, at times, taking his defense to the perimeter Sunday night to guard LaMelo Ball. “I fly under the radar because I’m not a big name in this NBA. But show my work, somebody will look at me and be, ‘OK, he’s the Defensive Player of the Year,’ and here’s the reasons why.

“And that’s the bottom line. I feel like I am.”