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Dru Smith Just Fixed Miami’s Guard Rotation Mess
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- Dru Smith Just Fixed Miami’s Guard Rotation Mess
Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Miami Heat are stuck at 0-4, and the bench guard spot was a total disaster until Monday night. Erik Spoelstra finally gave Dru Smith a real shot to run the show, and the result was immediate. Smith isn't a star, but he knows the system and played with a fire the rest of the team lacked against Dallas.
According to All U Can Heat, Smith finished with six points on perfect shooting from deep while the team went plus-4 in his 16 minutes. That efficiency is exactly what the Heat needed when their other guards were turning the ball over or shooting cold. He proved he can set up teammates without forcing bad shots, something the roster has struggled to do all season.
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The Bench Finally Has a Floor General
For weeks, the Heat tried to make Nikola Jovic play guard, and it just did not work at all. Tim Hardaway Jr. can score if he hits his shots, but he offers almost nothing else for the team. Smith fills that gap by handling the ball safely and making smart decisions. Before the Heat's previous setup, the figures were far inferior to his 0.8 turnovers per game and 2.6 assists recorded last year.
Per Yahoo Sports , Davion Mitchell has been great, but the rest of the rotation has been a mess. Smith provides the stability Mitchell needs so he doesn't have to carry the whole load. The Heat have a staggering amount of questions, but Smith's performance against the Mavericks gives them a clear answer for right now.
Growing Pains Are Better Than Losing
The team is struggling to find a rhythm with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and that is causing some early headaches. Antetokounmpo scored just 14 points on 36.4 percent shooting in the recent loss to the Hornets. Mitchell knows this is just part of the process when building around a superstar. "It's good to have growing pains right now," Mitchell said after the game.
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Smith is the type of player who can help the team get through these rough patches without panicking. He isn't looking for the ball; he wants to make sure everyone else gets good looks. "I'm looking forward to when we actually show up, shine, and play our best," Mitchell added about the team's future. Smith's presence on the floor makes that future look a lot brighter.
It would be shocking if Spoelstra does not keep Smith in the rotation for the rest of the week.
