When Caleb Martin handed him the baseline, the three other Heat players moved aside to make room for him. With a big fake shot, Jaime Jaquez Jr. put Joe Harris in the wind before dribbling with his left hand and finishing with his weak hand.
In this opening match against the Pistons, the Heat rookie had just scored his first basket in the Big League by showing off his qualities in the position. Erik Spoelstra understood that it was in his interest to feed it in such a context.
A few possessions later, the former UCLA player was served again, on the opposite side. Killian Hayes had just switched on defense with Joe Harris when Jaime Jaquez Jr. feinted again to eliminate the Frenchman, before finishing at the circle with a technical “reverse lay-up”.
Again in the last quarter of the match where the rookie managed to gain the upper hand over Joe Harris, visibly targeted in defense, with a new feint and a good support game. Movements each time effective, without dribbling too much, where the “framing” then change of pace does damage.
“ I didn’t expect this, but I’m very happy that he trusts me to put myself in these positions, so that I make the right choice “, appreciate the rookiespeaking of his coach, before adding: “ Many of these positions were very familiar at UCLA. So I felt very comfortable. »
Young people ? “ Either they are going too fast, or they are only looking to score »
The Florida technician would be wrong to deprive himself of it. “ He has this thing, this quality that allows him to make the right choices. He doesn’t necessarily look like a lot of young players. Either they are going too fast or they are only looking to score. He did the right thing. You can see his pressing, his balance and his technical level almost everywhere, on the dribble or the cuts », Details Erik Spoelstra, who refers to the “veteran” profile of his 22-year-old player.
A feeling confirmed by one of the “real” veterans of the team, Kevin Love: “ He almost looked like a veteran on the field. He let the game come to him. He didn’t rush too much and he used his size to his advantage. I know he was limited in terms of minutes. But I’m very impressed with what he did. » Namely 6 points (3/3), 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 interceptions in 13 minutes.
The rookie not like the others », as Bam Adebayo says, will undoubtedly have to wait a little longer before seeing his playing time increase. He missed the Heat’s final four preseason games with a groin injury. “ I feel good. But it’s not me who decides. So I trust the coaches and what they tell me. They will put me in the best possible conditions », concludes the rookie. This first match confirmed it.
