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WASHINGTON – A curious thing happened for Terry Rozier in Saturday night’s victory in Philadelphia – he played.
For the veteran Miami Heat guard, that was the first time that happened in six games.
Ultimately, it was just 4:08 of action and hardly altered his status of being shuffled to the back of rotation.
Having entered the season with expectations of either being a side-by-side or relief component for Tyler Herro in Erik Spoelstra’s rotation, it has, instead, been the roughest of rides for Rozier over his 10 seasons.
“I think it’s just my style of play hasn’t been the best fit for what we want to do,” Rozier, 31, acknowledged during a private moment prior to Saturday night’s victory over the 76ers that extended the Heat winning streak to four. “So I’m just seeing what works and what Coach likes and what fits best for the team, I’ve kind of been fighting. I kind of know what Coach wants me to do. Just got to do it.”
After brief success as a spot-up shooter earlier this season, Rozier found himself reverting to the off-the-dribble play that had boosted his career during his previous NBA stops with the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets.
Over the last 19 games he has been held out by coach’s decision eight times, appearing for 12 or fewer minutes four other times over that stretch.
“It’s never easy for a competitor, especially me,” he said. “You work so hard and then it just becomes unfortunate with the situation.
“But you just try to stay positive through it all, and give grace and still be thankful that I’m in this position. You try to keep working hard, waiting for my name to be called again.”
But lately it hasn’t been called, with Alec Burks the fill-in wing of choice when ailments have sidelined Duncan Robinson and Andrew Wiggins, and with 2024 second-round pick Pelle Larsson getting the starting call in Saturday’s game.
Based on how Saturday played out, with Rozier missing his two shots and scoreless, with one assist and one rebound, rotation minutes remain unlikely.
While Rozier struggled Saturday, Burks went for a season-high 20 points, shooting 6 of 12 on 3-pointers, with Larsson in his third career start filling the box score with 14 points, six rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocked shots.
Rozier said he appreciates the decisions required of Spoelstra and said he is there to support teammates who are performing.
“We’ve got a great locker room,” Rozier said, with the Heat turning their attention to Monday night’s game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. “We’ve got a lot of guys that mess around with each other. We don’t have guys that are all about themselves. You don’t get that.
“That’s why it’s been kind of easy for me. We’ve been winning. These guys that have been playing, they deserve it. I don’t want to take anything away from anyone. I just know how much I work. That’s why I’m optimistic and feel like this is going to turn.”
When or if such an opportunity comes is uncertain for Rozier, who has one more year left on his contract, at $26.6 million for next season.
“It’s been good because we’ve been winning,” he said. “But, like I said, anybody who’s a competitor wants to be out there and play. But I let Coach make the decisions and live with it.”
All with no excuses.
Rozier said the neck injury that ended his season ahead of last year’s playoffs and had him in the brace in the offseason has not been a factor. And he does not mention being linked to a federal investigation into sports gambling.
“Nah, no outside factor,” he said.
Instead, he acknowledges the only thing that matters is having to be better.
“It hasn’t been easy,” he said. “Just thankful to be in this position and I can still put on the jersey and play. So hopefully I can turn things around.”
Continue reading...
For the veteran Miami Heat guard, that was the first time that happened in six games.
Ultimately, it was just 4:08 of action and hardly altered his status of being shuffled to the back of rotation.
Having entered the season with expectations of either being a side-by-side or relief component for Tyler Herro in Erik Spoelstra’s rotation, it has, instead, been the roughest of rides for Rozier over his 10 seasons.
“I think it’s just my style of play hasn’t been the best fit for what we want to do,” Rozier, 31, acknowledged during a private moment prior to Saturday night’s victory over the 76ers that extended the Heat winning streak to four. “So I’m just seeing what works and what Coach likes and what fits best for the team, I’ve kind of been fighting. I kind of know what Coach wants me to do. Just got to do it.”
After brief success as a spot-up shooter earlier this season, Rozier found himself reverting to the off-the-dribble play that had boosted his career during his previous NBA stops with the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets.
Over the last 19 games he has been held out by coach’s decision eight times, appearing for 12 or fewer minutes four other times over that stretch.
“It’s never easy for a competitor, especially me,” he said. “You work so hard and then it just becomes unfortunate with the situation.
“But you just try to stay positive through it all, and give grace and still be thankful that I’m in this position. You try to keep working hard, waiting for my name to be called again.”
But lately it hasn’t been called, with Alec Burks the fill-in wing of choice when ailments have sidelined Duncan Robinson and Andrew Wiggins, and with 2024 second-round pick Pelle Larsson getting the starting call in Saturday’s game.
Based on how Saturday played out, with Rozier missing his two shots and scoreless, with one assist and one rebound, rotation minutes remain unlikely.
While Rozier struggled Saturday, Burks went for a season-high 20 points, shooting 6 of 12 on 3-pointers, with Larsson in his third career start filling the box score with 14 points, six rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocked shots.
Rozier said he appreciates the decisions required of Spoelstra and said he is there to support teammates who are performing.
“We’ve got a great locker room,” Rozier said, with the Heat turning their attention to Monday night’s game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. “We’ve got a lot of guys that mess around with each other. We don’t have guys that are all about themselves. You don’t get that.
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“That’s why it’s been kind of easy for me. We’ve been winning. These guys that have been playing, they deserve it. I don’t want to take anything away from anyone. I just know how much I work. That’s why I’m optimistic and feel like this is going to turn.”
When or if such an opportunity comes is uncertain for Rozier, who has one more year left on his contract, at $26.6 million for next season.
“It’s been good because we’ve been winning,” he said. “But, like I said, anybody who’s a competitor wants to be out there and play. But I let Coach make the decisions and live with it.”
All with no excuses.
Rozier said the neck injury that ended his season ahead of last year’s playoffs and had him in the brace in the offseason has not been a factor. And he does not mention being linked to a federal investigation into sports gambling.
“Nah, no outside factor,” he said.
Instead, he acknowledges the only thing that matters is having to be better.
“It hasn’t been easy,” he said. “Just thankful to be in this position and I can still put on the jersey and play. So hopefully I can turn things around.”
Continue reading...
