The Erik Spoelstra seal of approval by no means got here through the playoffs, with Omer Yurtsven restricted to 38 minutes through the Miami Heat’s six-week playoff run, all in mop-up obligation.
But within the wake of the Heat being eradicated in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals by the Boston Celtics — one in all 9 playoff video games that Yurtseven didn’t play — the 7-foot rookie obtained the next-best factor.
Udonis Haslem believes Yurtseven can play, sees a future for the expert huge man whose play helped preserve the Heat afloat at midseason as Bam Adebayo sat out because of thumb surgical procedure.
Beyond providing his seal of approval, Haslem additionally believes Yurtseven is able to feats of nice power.
“I love O, man,” Haslem stated because the Heat closed the books on 2021-22. “O took some steps. O is strong as hell. O might be the strongest player we got.”
By season’s finish, the Heat had been right down to using one middle, with even veteran Dewayne Dedmon held out for the collection’ remaining three video games.
Now the query is whether or not Spoelstra plans to remain small, solely with Adebayo going ahead, or whether or not there may very well be consideration for one thing significantly larger.
“For me,” Haslem stated of Yurtseven, “it’s simply getting a chance to play. O simply has to get the chance to play and go on the market and contribute.
“We had a lot of guys that didn’t get a chance to go out there and play. But the one thing we did have was the guys when they got their opportunity, their number was called, they stepped up and they contributed and I think that’s what O did time and time again. He proved that he’s reliable, he’s capable and if he gets consistent minutes that he can be a consistent basketball player for us.”
With Dedmon, 32, an impending free agent, and with Yurtseven, 23, beneath group possibility for a minimal wage subsequent season, a gap may emerge.
Haslem stated the potential is there.
“I think he’s only going to get better,” he stated. “I don’t think we’ve even seen the scratching of the surface of his skill level. We used him as a roll-to-the-basket big, but he can also step away, stretch the floor and shoot the three a little bit and do things like that.”
Short once more
Spoelstra stated after decompression will come reflection about the place it went south towards the Celtics after taking a 2-1 lead within the best-of-seven collection.
“I think some of the most fruitful and most important improvements that I’ve experienced as a head coach, fortunately and unfortunately, have come off of really disappointing ends to a season,” he stated. “And we’ll get together as a staff and really try to learn from this and see where we can improve again.”
Last yr, the Heat had been smothered defensively by the Bucks’ measurement, in being swept 4-0 within the first spherical. Spoelstra stated the problem from the Celtics was totally different.
“I wouldn’t view Boston and Milwaukee as similar,” he stated. “Where you view them as related is that they each have championship-quality defenses.
“They do it in different ways. The size factor I felt less of that against Boston. It was more their versatility, switchability, guys that could guard multiple different positions, even though they weren’t always in that switch scheme. Milwaukee is much more protective of the rim. So it’s just different things.”
Quick research
While the Heat thrived with their 3-point taking pictures through the common season, Spoelstra stated a lesson from the league’s playoff-worst 3-point proportion was a timing factor.
“Our shooters will continue to work on their ability to make shots under duress, with shorter windows,” he stated.
But he additionally stated the Heat knew it needed to be about greater than 3-point taking pictures.
“Defenses are just too good,” he stated. “You can’t just rely on one thing.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com