Heat notes: Smith, Bryant, Love, Rozier

Heat notes: Smith, Bryant, Love, Rozier

Dru Smith was still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury when the heat signed him to a two-way contract in July, and the third-year shooting guard is rewarding his faith in him, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Smith had played nine games last season when he injured his knee falling off the sideline in Cleveland. He was left off the roster so the Heat could add experienced help, but he remained in the team’s future plans.

Smith scored 11 points in the fourth quarter Sunday as Miami topped the East-leading Cavaliers. He admitted there was some satisfaction in having a big night against the team he was competing against when his season ended so abruptly.

“I think things have definitely come full circle.” he said. “I think, despite everything, it was just nice to have those moments. I have no reservations about the team or the organization.”

Winderman notes that Smith still wears a brace on his right knee and a sleeve to protect his leg, but otherwise there is no evidence of the serious injury he suffered just over a year ago. He has become an integral part of the Heat’s rotation of late, playing 25:38 on Sunday after posting a career-high 29:19 on Saturday and playing the entire fourth quarter in both games.

“The ball finds energy” he said, “So just keep trying to play hard and just make the right play and eventually it’ll work out.”

There’s more from Miami:

  • Thomas Bryant discussed several topics in an interview with HoopsHype’s Cyro Asseo de Choch, including the possibility of being traded with the Heat after re-signing to a one-year, minimum-salary contract. “This is what you deal with throughout the NBA, man.” Bryant said. “So it’s a business. You can’t take anything personal. And I personally have never seen a team that makes me want to be traded from here, in this or that case. No, I look at it as the person I’m with. These are the guys I want to build with, build chemistry with and win games with. That’s why I never go into the season with that mindset.”
  • Bryant played up front Kevin Love According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, he was the Heat’s primary backup center in the second half of Sunday’s game. trainer Erik Spoelstra explained that it was a situational decision after Cleveland outscored Miami by 11 points in Love’s 4:50 on the court. “The way they shifted us and pushed us around is not an indictment of K-Love at all.” Spoelstra said. “It’s just what they do on this particular night to kind of throw us off. So we went a different route and TB gave us the spark. We were able to stabilize ourselves.”
  • Terry Rozier Chiang added that he was looking more aggressively for his opportunities in his new role on the bench. Rozier took nine shots in the first half Sunday and five more after halftime. “All my coaches and all my teammates always remind me to be who I am and tell me to attack and be myself.” he said. “I just have to do this every night.”

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