Heat Lean on Youth, Patience, and Process as Injuries Test Depth
The Miami Heat are in the thick of a tough stretch, but head coach Erik Spoelstra isn’t hitting the panic button. Instead, he’s leaning into development, particularly with young forward Nikola Jovic, who’s navigating a season-long shooting slump.
The 22-year-old’s numbers-.370 from the field, .272 from three, and .687 from the line-paint a clear picture of a player still trying to find his rhythm. But Spoelstra’s focus isn’t just on the percentages; it’s on how Jovic carries himself when the shots aren’t falling.
“It’s just something to work on, and he is,” Spoelstra said. “You want to have that strong face throughout the course of competition.” Translation: the Heat want Jovic to stay aggressive, stay confident, and trust the work-whether the results show up in the box score or not.
According to Spoelstra, Jovic has been putting in the hours over the past few weeks. The work behind the scenes is there, and that’s what the coaching staff is choosing to emphasize.
“You can’t always control whether the ball is going to go in or not,” Spoelstra said. “But his process has been solid.”
Jovic, for his part, isn’t shying away from the criticism. He knows he might not always look the part of a confident scorer, but he insists the belief is still there.
“I think I’m just being true to myself,” Jovic said. “Does it look good?
Probably not. But I’m working on it.
I think it’s smart from them, telling me I should maybe look better for the others, to help. So I’m just working on it.
But I don’t think it’s any big issue.”
Jakucionis Making the Most of His Moment
While Jovic works through his struggles, another young Heat player is making a strong case for more minutes. Rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis, just 19 years old, has been one of the bright spots during a stretch where Miami has had to dig deep into its rotation due to backcourt injuries. He recently posted back-to-back games with 22 and 20 points and is shooting a scorching 45.1% from three-point range on the season.
He’s still figuring things out inside the arc-his two-point percentage sits at just 30.4%-but the upside is obvious. And his work ethic? Off the charts.
“I love Kas, man. He’s such a hard worker,” said veteran guard Norman Powell.
“He’s doing two, three workouts before shootarounds and before practice. I think the sky is the limit for him-just his approach, his mentality.
He’s very mature for his age. He’s very focused and very locked in.”
Jakucionis has been thrust into the starting lineup due to injuries, and he’s responded with poise and production. For a team that prides itself on internal development, he’s checking all the right boxes.
Herro Nearing Return, Heat Eyeing Reset
One of those injured guards is Tyler Herro, who’s been sidelined with a rib injury. Spoelstra gave a positive update, saying Herro will “for sure” be back after the All-Star break. The exact timeline is still up in the air, but the team expects him back in the fold soon.
That return could be a catalyst for a much-needed reset. After starting the season 14-7, the Heat have gone 15-20 since.
But Spoelstra isn’t discouraged. He pointed to the team’s defensive metrics-top three or four in the league depending on the stat-and noted that even without key players, the Heat are still fourth in scoring.
“It’s a matter of doing it in those moments of truth when it really matters to push a win,” Spoelstra said. “Offensively, I think when we get our guys back, we’re going to be a really dangerous offensive team.
We can be fourth in the league in scoring with large parts of our roster on the sideline. Just wait until we get our guys back into the fold.”
Kel’el Ware Responding to Coaching, Earning Trust
One of the more intriguing developments has been the recent play of second-year center Kel’el Ware. Spoelstra hasn’t held back in his critiques this season-especially after a December loss to Boston-but the young big man seems to be turning a corner.
In recent weeks, Ware has looked more comfortable, particularly when paired in two-big lineups alongside Bam Adebayo. Spoelstra acknowledged the progress and praised Ware’s response to earlier criticism.
“His process really improved,” Spoelstra said. “You’re going to go through stretches where it’s up and down.
But he just came in every day since then, trying to work on getting better in shootarounds, practices, film sessions. And it’s translating to the court.”
That’s the Heat culture in a nutshell: accountability, development, and a relentless focus on process over results. Whether it’s Jovic working on his composure, Jakucionis seizing his opportunity, or Ware bouncing back from tough love, Miami’s young core is being tested-and growing in the fire.
With Herro nearing a return and Spoelstra confident the team’s best basketball is ahead, the Heat aren’t just trying to survive this stretch. They’re setting the foundation for a second-half surge.