Looks like the Miami Heat have a lineup
We sort of called this one.
No, it wasn’t expected quite this early, but Tyler Herro joined two other newcomers — Jimmy Butler and Meyers Leonard — in Miami’s starting lineup Monday against Atlanta.
Herro-Adebayo-Leonard-Winslow-Butler
Get used to it.@5ReasonsSports pic.twitter.com/CGGiKFJSjT
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) October 14, 2019
And you shouldn’t expect it to change, after Herro scored 23 in 25 minutes in another rout, this one 120-87.
The lineup gives Miami the spacing it requires around Butler and Justise Winslow. It also allows Erik Spoelstra to reunite Goran Dragic and Dion Waiters (old 7-11 from the 2016-17 run) as what would now be the best backcourt pairing in the league, provided that Waiters gets back on the floor in the right frame of mind. Waiters is back after having gone away for “personal reasons,” coincidentally after he said he didn’t want to come off the bench. (He wasn’t active Monday).
When Kelly Olynyk returns from a knee injury, he can slide in as the versatile backup big, with Derrick Jones Jr. rotating between forward spots, and James Johnson (once in condition), Kendrick Nunn (who looked great again Monday) and Duncan Robinson (who continues to struggle with his shot) getting spot duty.
This is what the starting lineup should be all year
— Tyler Herro Fan Account (@TylerHerrofan) October 14, 2019
THIS SHOULD HE THE PERMANENT LINEUP
— Miami Dolfan (@305dolfan) October 14, 2019
Spoelstra was noncommittal about whether he would keep the lineup together, but it would be unusual for the Heat to elevate Herro so quickly, watch him play so brilliantly and then slide him back to third team.
Not happening.
Not with support like this from Butler.
Why has Tyler Herro adjusted to the NBA so quickly? @JimmyButler: “Because he asks the right questions.”@5ReasonsSports
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) October 15, 2019
So get used to it — fans, media and, of course, Dion.
Check out Greg Sylvander’s column on Tyler Herro, the big bucket of hope.
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