Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Whiteside’s absence opened team’s eyes to power rotation.
Spoelstra: Whiteside’s absence opened eyes to team’s power rotation
MIAMI – This was never the plan, to go five games without Hassan Whiteside during a six-game homestand. But because the Miami Heat had to do just that, you try to make the best of it.
Coach Erik Spoelstra said he felt his team did just that, with Whiteside back for Wednesday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena.
With Whiteside out, it created the opportunity to experiment with Bam Adebayo and Jordan Mickey, as well as explore the versatility of Kelly Olynyk. Their efforts came after Whiteside went for 26 points and 22 rebounds in the opening-night road loss to the Orlando Magic, sidelined after that game with a bone bruise on his left knee.
“That’s been one of the highlight points of our season so far, has been our bigs, our centers have played well,” Spoelstra said. “Obviously Hassan in the first game, but Jordan gave us some good minutes in his short stints. Bam, he’s just getting better each game. Kelly has been very good.
“So all those guys had a little bit more opportunity while Hassan was out. That is always good for your team, when somebody comes back, to get as many guys playing well and at a high level as you can.”
Adebayo, last June’s first-round pick out of Kentucky, said Whiteside’s mentorship was particularly helpful, after he went for three rebounds against the Boston Celtics in the second of his three fill-in starts, followed by a 13-rebound effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.
“Hassan was like, ‘You’re already in the paint, might as well go grab a couple of rebounds,’ ” Adebayo said in an on-point Whiteside impression.
“So it was just being active on the glass, turning to the ball the way it hits off the rim and just go and get it.”
Adebayo said getting to start so early in his career was particularly meaningful.
“I couldn’t ask for nothing better, just getting the experience, getting the feeling of what it’s like going out there first,” he said. “I feel like the game is slowing down a little bit. Because the first game, I was, ‘I got to do this, I got to do that.’ By the third game, I was able to pace myself.”
Quick flush
Unlike Whiteside’s rim-rattling dunks, Adebayo has been a quick study in quick flushes. He said he sees no reason to loiter. “Instead of hanging on the rim, I thought about it as, ‘I got to get back on defense,’ ” he said. “So a quick flush and then sprint back, and I’m back on defense. So that’s how I look at it. Just throw it in and just keep it moving.”
Adebayo said he got a kick out of Kentucky coach John Calipari noting on Twitter that Adebayo’s first double-double, Monday against the Timberwolves, came against another former Wildcats center, Karl-Anthony Towns.
“Love it!” Calipari posted. “And it was on @KarlTowns. Figures. LOL!”
Said Adebayo with a smile, “I guess it’s something with him and Karl.”
Retro look
Wednesday’s game featured the season’s unveiling of the Heat’s throwback jerseys, going back to the franchise’s inception in 1988-89.
“I just think about that the guys that came before me and all the guys I had an opportunity to watch and put that jersey on and play this game,” said forward Udonis Haslem, who was raised in South Florida and has played for the team for 15 of its 30 seasons. “The list can go on and on from
[Alonzo Mourning] and other guys I looked up to and never thought I’d have the opportunity to play side by side with these guys. It’s just an honor to me to wear the Miami Heat jersey, but even more to wear the jerseys of those guys.”