MIAMI — The trash talk on the court, that’s cool, part of the playoffs, Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro said Friday.
But making it personal on camera, that, Herro said, crosses a line.
In the wake of his Cleveland Cavaliers moving to a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven opening-round Eastern Conference playoff series, Cavaliers guard Darius Garland somewhat flippantly summed up Cleveland’s offense approach as “Pick on Tyler Herro and take care of the ball. Don’t play in tight spaces and pick on their weak defenders.”
At Friday’s practice at Kaseya Center, Herro took Garland’s “pick” and rolled.
“There’s some back and forth between me and Darius on the court,” Herro said, with Game 3 of the series Saturday at 1 p.m. ET at Kaseya Center. “And to go to the media to talk about game plan, and this and that, kind of says a lot about him. I’m not worried about Darius Garland; I’m worried about winning a playoff game and that’s what we came back to Miami to do, is to win two at home.
“And I’m not too (worried) about what Darius Garland had to say about me.”
Each time Herro mentioned Garland’s name he placed an emphasis on each syllable.
“At the end of the day, it’s competitive,” Herro said. “But somebody who doesn’t play defense shouldn’t be talking. He don’t play any defense.
“I have enough fuel in me, in this locker room, around the organization, in the building, I don’t need any fuel from that guy over there.”
Like Herro, Garland is not particularly known for his defense.
By calling up Herro defensively during the game and then calling out Herro afterward, Heat center and team captain Bam Adebayo said it essentially was calling out the entire Heat defense.
“Obviously, he said what he said,” Adebayo said of Garland, “We all take that personal, not only just Tyler, we all take it personal.”
The Heat largely stress team defense, often with ample help for Herro.
“I mean obviously, ultimately to win the game, you have to have team defense,” Adebayo said. “But every once in a while, five seconds or less, it’s one-on-one sometimes. Guard your yard.”
More needed
Having been held out of the fourth quarter of Game 2 as the Heat rallied, forward Andrew Wiggins said he understood the decision of coach Erik Spoelstra, as well as more being needed.
“The team was rolling, they were playing well, he stuck with that group. I respect it. I support it,” Wiggins said. “If a team’s rolling, you let things keep going. But next time I’ve got to do more, give him a reason to keep me out there, just stay assertive, stay aggressive.”
No shirts
While the Heat again are promoting a White Hot playoff theme, the team is requesting fans show up in such a color scheme, with T-shirts not among the scheduled promotions for either Saturday or Monday night’s Game 4.
The giveaway for Saturday will be a cheering-fan noisemaker, with rally towels to be distributed on Monday.
The Cavaliers distributed T-shirts for each of their two home playoff games.
Per the team’s marketing, “The sooner you’re in your seat, the faster we set the tone. Make sure you show up on time and in White for Game 3.”
As for the Heat and Florida Panthers playing home playoff games at the same time on both Saturday and Monday, the Heat noted that such scheduling is out of the control of individual teams.
Per the Heat, “It’s not ideal for Heat and Panthers playoff games to be happening simultaneously, but we are rooting for their success and we know they are rooting for ours.”
No Rozier
Guard Terry Rozier, who sprained his left ankle during a voluntary practice on Monday in Cleveland, was the lone Heat player not to participate in Friday’s practice at Kaseya Center.
Veteran big man Keven Love remains away from the team for personal reasons.
Among those on the practice court, Friday with the team was former captain and current Heat executive Udonis Haslem, during time away from his role as an ESPN studio commentator.
____
MIAMI — The trash talk on the court, that’s cool, part of the playoffs, Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro said Friday.
But making it personal on camera, that, Herro said, crosses a line.
In the wake of his Cleveland Cavaliers moving to a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven opening-round Eastern Conference playoff series, Cavaliers guard Darius Garland somewhat flippantly summed up Cleveland’s offense approach as “Pick on Tyler Herro and take care of the ball. Don’t play in tight spaces and pick on their weak defenders.”
At Friday’s practice at Kaseya Center, Herro took Garland’s “pick” and rolled.
“There’s some back and forth between me and Darius on the court,” Herro said, with Game 3 of the series Saturday at 1 p.m. at Kaseya Center. “And to go to the media to talk about game plan, and this and that, kind of says a lot about him. I’m not worried about Darius Garland; I’m worried about winning a playoff game and that’s what we came back to Miami to do, is to win two at home.
“And I’m not too (worried) about what Darius Garland had to say about me.”
Each time Herro mentioned Garland’s name he placed an emphasis on each syllable.
“At the end of the day, it’s competitive,” Herro said. “But somebody who doesn’t play defense shouldn’t be talking. He don’t play any defense.
“I have enough fuel in me, in this locker room, around the organization, in the building, I don’t need any fuel from that guy over there.”
Like Herro, Garland is not particularly known for his defense.
By calling up Herro defensively during the game and then calling out Herro afterward, Heat center and team captain Bam Adebayo said it essentially was calling out the entire Heat defense.
“Obviously, he said what he said,” Adebayo said of Garland, “We all take that personal, not only just Tyler, we all take it personal.”
The Heat largely stress team defense, often with ample help for Herro.
“I mean obviously, ultimately to win the game, you have to have team defense,” Adebayo said. “But every once in a while, five seconds or less, it’s one-on-one sometimes. Guard your yard.”
More needed
Having been held out of the fourth quarter of Game 2 as the Heat rallied, forward Andrew Wiggins said he understood the decision of coach Erik Spoelstra, as well as more being needed.
“The team was rolling, they were playing well, he stuck with that group. I respect it. I support it,” Wiggins said. “If a team’s rolling, you let things keep going. But next time I’ve got to do more, give him a reason to keep me out there, just stay assertive, stay aggressive.”
No shirts
While the Heat again are promoting a White Hot playoff theme, the team is requesting fans show up in such a color scheme, with T-shirts not among the scheduled promotions for either Saturday or Monday night’s Game 4.
The giveaway for Saturday will be a cheering-fan noisemaker, with rally towels to be distributed on Monday.
The Cavaliers distributed T-shirts for each of their two home playoff games.
Per the team’s marketing, “The sooner you’re in your seat, the faster we set the tone. Make sure you show up on time and in White for Game 3.”
As for the Heat and Florida Panthers playing home playoff games at the same time on both Saturday and Monday, the Heat noted that such scheduling is out of the control of individual teams.
Per the Heat, “It’s not ideal for Heat and Panthers playoff games to be happening simultaneously, but we are rooting for their success and we know they are rooting for ours.”
No Rozier
Guard Terry Rozier, who sprained his left ankle during a voluntary practice on Monday in Cleveland, was the lone Heat player not to participate in Friday’s practice at Kaseya Center.
Veteran big man Keven Love remains away from the team for personal reasons.
Among those on the practice court, Friday with the team was former captain and current Heat executive Udonis Haslem, during time away from his role as an ESPN studio commentator.
More in Miami Heat
