From Lowry’s points to youth developing to Martin, Heat positives emerge. Butler still out
There are generally few, if any, silver linings when a franchise accustomed to winning loses four of five and falls to 12th in the Eastern Conference.
But with the Heat ravaged by injuries, there have been a handful of encouraging revelations during a stretch when Jimmy Butler and others have been sidelined with injuries.
The Heat staff and front office learned that Kyle Lowry, if so inclined, can still score at levels reached when he made six consecutive All Star games.
They learned that Caleb Martin has taken the step to solid NBA starter.
They learned that Haywood Highsmith is an NBA-quality defender.
And they learned that Jamal Cain’s rebounding and energy can be an asset off the bench.
Erik Spoelstra and others offered insight on each, with the Heat set to face Washington at 8 p.m. on Friday at FTX Arena after beating the Wizards, 113-105, on Wednesday:
▪ With Butler sidelined, Lowry has delivered his most prodigious stretch of scoring since joining the Heat 17 months ago.
Lowry has averaged 20.2 points per game and averaged 14 shot attempts per game during this five-game stretch, well above his 13.4 scoring average and 10 shots per game last season, when he mostly focused on setting up teammates.
For perspective, Lowry has averaged 20 points per game only twice before in his career - 2015-16 and the following season. He’s at 15.0 per game now after this recent flurry, including 28 points on Wednesday.
“I’ve taken a step back to see young guys prosper,” Lowry said of his pass-first approach since joining the Heat before last season. But.. “I’ve learned I can still do it if I have to.”
Spoelstra never publicly implored Lowry to shoot more last season.
“We have a lot more firepower in that lineup and the ball has to move,” Spoelstra said Wednesday night of Lowry’s approach when the Heat is at full strength.
“Everybody has to feel involved and somebody has to sacrifice. He probably did that over the top in terms of trying to make everybody feel comfortable… [A] big positive of that [0-4] road trip is Kyle really has emerged as a guy.
“He’s getting stronger, quicker, faster, creating more for us, getting into the paint almost at will. The threes are really important. He can draw fouls. We’ve always struggled to get to the rim, draw fouls, get to the paint without Jimmy. With Kyle, we have another guy capable of doing it.”
Lowry has attempted 18 free throws over the past two games, making 16.
Lowry, 36, has averaged 39 minutes per game during the past six-games, as the Heat has played without multiple rotation players.
“He really prepared this summer; he has the conditioning. He can play forever,” Spoelstra said. “Even when I take him out, he’s barking at us, that he can go the full 48. He has the energy, the burst, the savviness to really help this team.”
▪ After scoring in double figures just once in his first 13 games this season, Martin has done it five times in the past six games, including 24 points (his Heat career high) on Wednesday against Charlotte, when he also added nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.
“It shows you how much Caleb’s game has grown,” Spoelstra said. “He’s going to have a game where he’s going to be flirting with some triple doubles, the way he’s getting dribble handoffs, the way he gets shooters open shots.
“There’s going to be one of those nights that all those will be makes. Look up and he will have eight assists with eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter. I told him the big thing is can he get 10 rebounds. I know he can get the points and assists. He has a knack for the ball, so he’s going to be able to get that as well.”
During the past six games, Martin has shot 14 of 31 on threes, averaged 15 points and 5.3 rebounds, with nine steals.
For the season, he’s now at 10.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and shooting 39 percent on threes.
“He is really developing into a unique winning basketball player,” Spoelstra said. “He does a lot of things you can recognize if he scores 24, but he does a myriad of things… that don’t show up in the box score.
“He’s a great shooter. I see it when he’s working out behind the scenes. He can knock down threes. He has a speed, quickness X-factor that really adds a different element to our offense.”
After starting at power forward for the first three weeks, Martin opened as the starting small forward the past five games, with Nikola Jovic and Bam Adebayo starting at center and power forward. Martin said there’s not much difference at small forward; he defends a mix of players at either position.
“He’s been playing unbelievable the last two, three weeks,” Lowry said. “We needed more from him offensively, and he gave us an offensive lift.”
▪ Though Highsmith is shooting just 30 percent and 4 for 20 on threes, he has earned Spoelstra’s trust primarily because of defense. He played 38 minutes of Wednesday’s game - second-most behind Martin - and had eight rebounds and a steal.
“H is just super solid,” Spoelstra said. “He’s a very good defensive player and an exceptional rebounder for his size, exceptional. If there’s a crowd and the ball is going up, he finds a way to come down with it.”
Players defended by Highsmith are shooting 42.9 percent from the field; those player shoot 46.4 percent overall this season.
▪ Cain, on a two-way contract and limited to 50 games on the active game-day roster this season, has appeared in five games in a row and six overall for the short-handed Heat and twice in the last week has corralled six rebounds in less than 18 minutes against Washington.
“Jamal continues to improve,” Spoelstra said. “He has a great spirit about him. His speed and quickness were really needed and he gave up a big time jolt of energy in that first half” on Wednesday.
BUTLER STILL OUT
Jimmy Butler will be out Friday against Washington; it will be his fifth consecutive game missed game due to a knee injury. Victor Oladipo (knee) and Omer Yurtseven (ankle) remain out.
Duncan Robinson (ankle) and Max Strus (shoulder) are doubtful.
Tyler Herro (ankle), Dwayne Dedmon (foot) and Gabe Vincent (knee) are questionable. Bam Adebayo (knee) and Highsmith (hip) are probable.
This story was originally published November 24, 2022 at 11:30 AM.
