The rotation focus with the Miami Heat at this stage of the NBA playoffs mostly has been the shrinking role of former starting guard Duncan Robinson.
But also cut down to size have been the minutes of backup center Dewayne Dedmon.
As the Heat turned their attention to Friday night’s Game 3 against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series, Dedmon had played only 21 minutes the previous four games, four or fewer in three of those four.
While foul trouble has had an impact, the primary determinant has been the opposition going smaller, particularly with the 76ers opening this series in the absence of ailing center Joel Embiid.
“We’ve got crazy versatility on this team,” Dedmon said. “So being able to go small and match up with whatever lineup the other team might throw at us, that’s our talent.”
Dedmon said the staff has been candid with the approach, including assistant coach Malik Allen telling him his minutes likely would be down in what turned into the series-clinching fifth game against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
“Malik kind of told me before the game that we were kind of going to go small,” Dedmon said. “We had done it the game before, so it was kind of seeing it coming.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, though, said he has no issue going with his 6-foot-11 veteran big man against downsized opponents, as he has done against the 76ers.
“It’s not like he hasn’t seen it before,” Spoelstra said. “We’ve seen that over the course of the season.
“Dewayne is very versatile. But he also gives us that size, so they have to deal with him on the other side. And then we also have some smaller lineups that we can go to, as well.”
When it comes to defending agile hybrid big men, Dedmon, 32, simply points to Heat practices.
“Yeah, it’s definitely in my wheelhouse,” he said with a smile. “I don’t have a problem moving around, guarding four men. I lock Bam [Adebayo] up all the time.”
And that’s not even getting to the agility required at home.
“Chasing the kids definitely helps, it definitely does,” he said, smile widening. “That’s when there’s a lot of running around.”
Speed thrills
While much of the focus on Philadelphia has been on Embiid’s injuries and James Harden’s inability to replicate his former self, the Heat have stood duly impressed with second-year 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey.
“You have a lot of tendencies and gameplan stuff,” Spoelstra said, “but speed is unique. It’s one thing to watch on film and then go through it, and then experience it is different. And he’s just gained a lot of confidence.
“So his ability to get into the paint, break your defense down, it’s something we have to contain.”
Level headed
Through all the acclaim, including this week being named winner of the 2022 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, Spoelstra said one of the most impressive aspects of Heat guard Tyler Herro has been his ability to maintain perspective.
“I think Tyler is about the right things,” Spoelstra said. “He has such an incredible work ethic. He’s ambitious. He is one of the young stars in the league. And he has been able to quiet all the noise and just sacrifice and do what we felt was best for the group, and it really translated to success and winning.
“That’s what it’s all about. That’s what Tyler is all about.”
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