Is trust factor wearing thin? Heat rotation grows short as time grows short
MIAMI — At times, such as these, when it’s either pull further together or fall further apart, the trust factor can weigh heavily. To that end, as this 2025–26 Miami Heat season draws to a close , the trust factor appears to be wearing thin. Thin to the degree that in Wednesday night’s blowout loss to the Boston Celtics at Kaseya Center, coach Erik Spoelstra seemingly only had trust in six.
With the Heat, having chosen, as is their wont, to live in the moment, the developmental program seemingly has been placed on hold – at least on game nights. With Nikola Jovic already out of the rotation, the latest to be put on hold is 2025 first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis, who for the second consecutive game on Wednesday night gave way to veteran Dru Smith in the rotation. In addition, limited action continued for 2024 first-round pick Kel’el Ware.
With a loss that almost assuredly locked the Heat into the play-in portion of the postseason schedule, Spoelstra showed a degree of faith limited to his starting lineup and sixth man Jaime Jaquez Jr. The upshot is the team’s core being pushed to its late-season limit. To wit, in Wednesday night’s loss, from a coach who all season stressed a depth of talent, Spoelstra played: — Davion Mitchell 40:23.
— Tyler Herro 40:20. — Bam Adebayo 37:51. — Pelle Larsson 37:51.
— Andrew Wiggins 32:07. — Jaime Jaquez Jr. 29:46.
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