How Spoelstra’s tough love created Nikola Jovic’s Heat playoff moment

MIAMI — With Nikola Jovic, the ongoing question remains whether there is a statute of limitations on intriguing.

Because that is what the Serbian big man has been since he was selected by the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft and that, to the consternation of some, is what he remains three seasons later.

Wednesday night, as the Heat fell to a 2-0 deficit to the Cleveland Cavaliers in this best-of-seven opening-round Eastern Conference playoff series that continues Saturday at Kaseya Center, the intrigue again was on display.

The length. The ballhandling. The rebounding. All of it helping to fuel a fourth-quarter rally.

But also the ill-timed shots. The turnovers. The defensive miscues. All of that eventually stalling that same rally.

At his best, the 22 year year-old forward sets up as both a rotation component and quality chip to potentially be tangled on the offseason trade market.

At less than his best, just another role player without a true NBA foothold.

He wants more. The Heat want more.

“Offensively,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, “we just look different when he’s on the floor. He creates some stress with his skill.”

To the degree that the Cavaliers took notice, in their harder-than-expected 121-112 Game 2 victory at Rocket Arena.

“He’s big. He gave them another big wing,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “He came in rebounding and making plays.”

The boost was unexpected, with Wednesday’s action the first in the rotation for Jovic since he broke his right hand in the Feb. 23 road loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. In his 24:38 in Game 2, Jovic closed with 11 points, eight rebounds and two assists, but also 1 of 8 on 3-pointers and with two turnovers.

“I’m pleased that he was able to play those 25 minutes,” Spoelstra said. “It’s a credit to him putting in all that time conditioning the last month or so.”

The relationship between Jovic and Spoelstra over these last three years has been one of both emerging trust and unrealized expectations.

“When I first came in, I really needed time to develop,” Jovic said during an Inside the Heat interview airing on FanDuel Sports Network. “I really needed some time to develop.”

Tough love followed.

“Spo was pretty hard on me,” Jovic said, “and I appreciate it now. You really understand why he does the stuff he did.”

Jovic’s comments came in a conversation with former Heat guard and Slovenian standout Goran Dragic, with the two also discussing their Balkan roots.

The tough love from Spoelstra, Dragic told Jovic, is a sign of respect.

“Because,” Dragic said, “he sees something in you. That’s why.”

By nature, Jovic is a pleaser.

“I’m really grateful,” Jovic said of his relationship with Spoelstra. “Coach Spo this year was really real with me.”

Jovic felt he did not do nearly enough to please in Game 2.

“I wasn’t smart enough,” he said. “I got to be better.

“The stuff I did at the end was really unacceptable. I really did cost us the game. I just got to be better. This is my third year; I’m not a rookie anymore.”

For months, Spoelstra and the Heat have searched for a versatile bench component to augment the starters, cycling through Jaime Jaquez Jr., Terry Rozier, Pelle Larsson and others.

During the play-in round, they finally found that in Davion Mitchell. Then Mitchell was elevated to the starting lineup on Wednesday night.

That’s when Jovic found the ball back in his court, no time to consider if the conditioning was up to the challenge after such a lengthy layoff.

“We got guys who are really smart and it’s easy to play with ’em,” he said. “I feel like they find me when I’m open; I can find them when they’re open.”

After a 21-point blowout loss in Game 1, the injection of Jovic into the late mix in Game 2 had the Heat within two late, now with a degree of confidence moving into Saturday’s 1 p.m. Game 3 at Kaseya Center.

“We missed Niko,” said guard Tyler Herro, who has been carrying the scoring load for the Heat. “Obviously his size, his versatility on both sides of the ball, he’s a really dynamic player and just happy to see him back out there, honestly.”

No, not a new series, not with an 0-2 deficit, assured of nothing beyond Monday night’s Game 4 at Kaseya Center, but now with a new outlook with the Jovic factor entering the equation.

“It’s just a different threat, different look,” the Heat’s Mitchell said, “a taller guy who can put the ball on the ground, who can make really good decisions, who can shoot the ball. He can do everything for us.

“He’s going to be a key part to this series. They got to guard him, you know what I’m saying? And they got to put a good defender on him. He just makes the right play every time, he puts people in rotations, and he’s going to be good for us during the series.”

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How Spoelstra’s tough love created Nikola Jovic’s Heat playoff moment

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