Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
McGruder could get more playing time
MIAMI — As others have stepped aside due to injuries during the preseason, Rodney McGruder has been making a case for himself as more than a Miami Heat afterthought.
For coach Erik Spoelstra, that could change the perimeter calculus.
After providing a fourthquarter spark in Sunday’s exhibition loss in San Antonio and then meshing with the starters in Tuesday’s loss in Charlotte, McGruder has Spoelstra reflecting to the lineup chemistry that produced a 30-11 finish to 2016-17.
As in before McGruder was lost in the 2017 preseason with a leg injury. As in before McGruder never quite made it all the way back from the ensuing surgery, even after returning to the lineup at midseason.
“You have great empathy for athletes that their professional identity is to be out there expressing themselves physically,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat next turning their attention to Friday’s third exhibition, against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. “When players aren’t able to do that, there’s a mental toll to that. Rodney has such a beautiful, positive attitude always, you never sensed it.
“But it’s tough if you miss months of a season. He’s already proven his character in those moments. He’s able to persevere and he’s, as you would say, making it tough. But that’s how we want it to be.”
For now, with Josh Richardson and Wayne Ellington sidelined, with Dion Waiters working back into condition following January ankle surgery, the opportunities have been available.
But in the grand scheme, all three of those veterans figure to slot in ahead of McGruder on the wing, as do Dwyane Wade, Justise Winslow and Goran Dragic. The big question could become whether the Heat would dare slot in McGruder ahead of $19 million Tyler Johnson.
For his part, McGruder said it is the same as it ever was, in his unlikely career climb from undrafted to overseas to the G League to essential starter two seasons ago.
“I just want to go out there and have fun and compete,” he said. “That’s first and foremost. As a competitor, you want to make it hard for your coach, to make him have to play you. You do want to force that on him.”
Spoelstra often discusses how making players uncomfortable can offer a prism into their resolve. At the moment, McGruder is doing his best to make his coach’s rotation decisions uncomfortable.
“I trust Rodney. I trust his ability to make winning plays, to have a real attention to detail on both ends of the court,” Spoelstra said. “He tends to make the other four guys better. That’s a great compliment for a player. He does so many of the little things that you can’t necessary teach. He’s willing and also aware of the little things that make a difference.
“So he’s doing what he needs to do and that’s what I told him before camp. There’s no pressure. He just has to be who he is.”
McGruder said he never felt like himself last season. Now the smile is back, as is the confidence.
“I feel good. I do feel good,” he said. “I’ve been working with our training staff and working with our coaches and stuff like that, to put me in a position to feel good, just taking care of my body and things like that.
“That’s why I really didn’t take any vacation this summer, because I wanted to focus on my body and getting my strength and everything back up to 100 percent.”