To respect Haywood Highsmith’s capability to come back out of the deep freeze and instantly contribute to the Miami Heat these previous two weeks is to understand how he joined the group within the first place.
That was late final December, when COVID and accidents so ravaged their roster that the decision was put out to basically anybody who may make it to Texas in time and be in adequate form to play NBA basketball straight away.
For Highsmith – test, test. He signed with the Heat on Dec. 30, transformed three 3-pointers in 14 minutes off the bench in a Dec. 31 highway victory over the Houston Rockets, and saved going from there.
The hustle (past simply attending to Texas) and contribution finally led to a three-year partially assured contract in March.
“I’ve always been ready,” he mentioned, with the Heat dealing with the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday at State Farm Arena.
Now flash ahead to only over every week in the past in Washington. Held out of eight of the earlier 10 video games by coach’s resolution, and utilized for under eight minutes of mop-up obligation since Oct. 26, Haywood was thrust into 42 minutes of motion within the extra time highway loss to the Wizards. At least 20 minutes adopted in every of the following 4 video games, together with 34 on Friday night time in opposition to Washington.
While the Heat’s “be ready so you don’t have to get ready” mantra would possibly come off as trite, it additionally has outlined this newest Highsmith alternative.
“I mean, it’s obviously a good opportunity for me to get some reps and show everybody what I can do and I can bring to the team, and an opportunity for me just to build up my confidence, as well,” mentioned the 25-year-old ahead who went undrafted out of Division II Wheeling University in 2018, with simply 5 earlier video games of NBA expertise with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019 earlier than becoming a member of the Heat.
“But I’ve always been ready. I’ve been in the gym a lot while I wasn’t playing, getting reps in the pre-practice, so I’m ready. So now it’s all about me just putting it on the floor and showing people what I can do.”
While Highsmith has impressed along with his rebounding, together with 14 in that extra time loss in Washington, the taking pictures has been decidedly off, despite the fact that that was among the many preliminary sights for the Heat. There have, nevertheless, been well timed 3-point conversions over this newest revival.
“If I see an open shot, I’m going to take it,” he mentioned. “I put in an excessive amount of work to sit down there and cross up open pictures. That’s simply me, maintain taking pictures. Open pictures, I’m going to take ‘em, knock ‘em down.
“I’m going to keep taking ‘em, because I feel like I’m a very good shooter. People might not think I am, but I feel I’m a very good shooter at the end of the day. Just because I’m not making my first couple doesn’t mean I’m going to stop shooting.”
As the Heat transfer nearer to entire, with Tyler Herro again and Jimmy Butler apparently on the best way, the alternatives seemingly will diminish or evaporate. But his coach already has taken discover for the following time a low physique rely may imply extra Highsmith.
“H is just super solid,” coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned. “He is a very good defensive player and he’s an exceptional rebounder for his size, exceptional. If there’s a crowd and the ball’s going up, he finds a way to come down with it.”
In some methods, that might make him this season’s Caleb Martin. At least that’s the best way Martin, who got here virtually out of nowhere final season with the group, sees it.
“I mean you love those types of stories, with guys like that,” Martin mentioned. “Now everybody gets to see how much work he puts in, and he’s here all the time.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com