As the Miami Heat move closer to the playoffs, further clarity is coming into focus regarding rotation plans for the postseason.
Tuesday night’s 144-115 victory over the Charlotte Hornets offered further hints, even as injuries factor into the equation.
Among the moving parts:
Victor Oladipo: After stepping up in the absences of Jimmy Butler and Gabe Vincent with a decisive 21-point performance off the bench in Sunday night’s 114-109 road victory over the Toronto Raptors, Oladipo was held out Tuesday.
“It was just the way things were going,” said assistant Chris Quinn, who filled in for a second consecutive game, with coach Erik Spoelstra in NBA health-and-safety protocols. “Obviously, the other night Vic played incredible. You could see what he brings to our team.
“And then [Tuesday] night, with Jimmy back and some other guys back, it was just a decision to do what we were kind of doing before that Toronto game.”
Oladipo and Udonis Haslem were the lone Heat players held out Tuesday night due to “Coach’s Decision.”
Duncan Robinson: Replaced in the starting lineup a week ago by Max Strus at the start of the Heat’s current five-game winning streak, Robinson made a stand with his play against the Hornets, closing with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting on 3-pointers.
“I mean, it’s gonna be different,” Robinson said of now being locked in as a reserve. “That’s kind of what this year’s been, in a lot of senses. The role and involvement and everything has looked different night to night, and that’s what you get when you play on a good team, with a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things.
“So for me, it’s just about wrapping my mind around that. It’s definitely not something that’s easy, per se. But everyone’s going through it. And it’s sacrifice when you’ve got a good team that wants to do something special, that’s what it takes. So just continue to wrap my mind around that and whatever’s required from me on a nightly basis.”
Gabe Vincent: With Kyle Lowry given Tuesday off for rest, it was Vincent who was given the start at point guard over Oladipo.
While he closed 1 of 5 from the field, Vincent’s five assists were second on the Heat to Butler’s eight.
Vincent has played 20 minutes or more three times since the rotation was overhauled five games ago, sitting out one of those games with a toe injury.
Caleb Martin: Held out of Saturday night’s road victory over the Chicago Bulls in his first game back from a two-game absence with a bruised right calf, Martin started Sunday’s victory in Toronto, going 26 minutes.
The versatile forward then played 26 minutes off the bench Tuesday against the Hornets, with a 12-point performance that included 3-of-3 3-point shooting.
Like Vincent, it appears Martin will receive strong consideration for time in the playoff rotation, although with no guarantee.
Markieff Morris: After starting in place of sidelined P.J. Tucker in Sunday’s victory in Toronto and going for 10 points in 26 minutes, Morris was a late scratch Tuesday due to a strained left hip flexor.
A read on where he stands could come into better view with Tucker dealing with a strained right calf that took him for the night in Tuesday’s third quarter. That even could have Morris, if available, back in the starting lineup Friday against the Atlanta Hawks at FTX Arena.
As for Tucker, Quinn said, “All I really know is he strained his calf. He’ll get looked at [Wednesday] by the docs and that’s pretty much what I’ve heard.”
Tyler Herro, Dewayne Dedmon: Of what appear to be four available reserve roles — beyond starters Butler, Lowry, Strus, Tucker and Bam Adebayo — Herro and Dedmon appear locks for postseason playing time in two of those.
Herro is coming off a 35-point performance against the Hornets, which ties his career regular-season high and ties Dwyane Wade for most by a Heat reserve in the regular season.
Dedmon was held out of Tuesday’s game due to a sprained right ankle, with Omer Yurtseven getting his playing time, with seven rebounds in 15:27. Dedmon’s ailment is considered minor, having been a game-time decision Tuesday.
Yurtseven, Haslem and Haywood Highsmith likely will see their postseason time limited to the practice court.
Two-way players Javonte Smart and Mychal Mulder are not eligible for the playoff roster.
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