Heat drawing on leadership, experience from Haslem and Iguodala. And LeBron reflects
As the Boston Celtics made their run in the second half of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals Friday to extend the series, Miami Heat captain Udonis Haslem led the team huddle during one of the timeouts.
“They were playing harder than we were, which we all knew,” wing Jimmy Butler said of Haslem’s message. “We’ve just got to correct that. That’s where it starts for us. Any time anybody is playing harder than we are, we are not playing our best basketball. I think a lot of it for us comes from how hard we play, how together we play, and we’ve got to get back to doing that.”
The Heat entered Sunday’s Game 6 against the Celtics just one victory away from clinching a spot in the NBA Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James await the East champion.
Only two players on Miami’s roster have played in the NBA Finals before: Haslem and Andre Iguodala. It’s that experience Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is leaning on in these moments to help lead a roster that also includes eight players who are in the middle of their first postseason.
“Look, I can’t even imagine being in a locker room or in a game without UD,” Spoelstra said. “It’s hard enough adjusting this year not having Dwyane [Wade] in here. I’m so used to UD and his leadership and his voice. It does matter. He does move the needle from where he is. It didn’t [in Game 5], but it just brings this head coach great comfort when he’s leading the huddle.”
Haslem, 40, was also on the Heat’s roster for each of the franchise’s first five Finals appearances. Iguodala, 36, has played in each of the past five Finals series as a member of the Golden State Warriors.
Combined, Haslem (three NBA championships) and Iguodala (three NBA championships) have won six titles.
“I’ve seen it at all levels, high levels, and no matter if I’m the main guy, franchise player, or I’m one of the guys coming off the bench,” Iguodala said when asked about his leadership role. “Just being a veteran player, being a role player, it’s a different way of being all in. It may not just be production, but it may be in terms of being a leader and being a good veteran, being a good teacher, helping the guys through the tough times, helping them improve, giving them that confidence at the same time, giving them encouragement.”
One of the common threads Iguodala sees between the Warriors teams that played in the Finals and this season’s Heat team is the off-court and on-court chemistry between the players.
“That’s important for all championship teams, you know, having that chemistry, especially on the court,” Iguodala said. “Probably the only good thing about being in a bubble is getting a little bit of closer ties to the guys. ... Spending more and more time with each other on the court, off the court.
“You really kind of get a good read on your teammates, whether they’re having a good game or they’re having a bad game, knowing how to respond to them, knowing how to pump them up. All these little things are part of that chemistry that don’t show up in the stats sheet, don’t show up in analytics. But it really helps you interact with one another as the game is going on.”
LEBRON REFLECTS
As James sat on the court while confetti fell on him during the Western Conference championship ceremony Saturday night, he was asked what he was thinking about in that moment.
Among the thoughts that ran through his head? The Heat.
“I started thinking about the next opponent,” James said after clinching his 10th appearance in the NBA Finals. “Boston had a few moments in my head. Miami had a few moments in my head, as well. How challenging that’s going to be, whoever wins that next series.”
James won two NBA championships in four seasons with the Heat from 2010-14. Only four wins separate James from winning his fourth title and joining Robert Horry and John Salley as the only players in NBA history to win a championship with three different franchises.
“I’ve played with some great teammates and some great coaching staffs, from [Ty Lue] and his coaching staff to Erik Spoelstra and his coaching staff, and now this coaching staff with Frank Vogel,” James said. “I’m blessed. I’m truly blessed. They have all allowed me to be me. They’ve allowed me to go out and do the things that I do on the floor. Use my mind, my play and be able to command my teammates the way I do.”
