Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra doesn’t think Justise Winslow intentionally stepping on the popped-out lens of Joel Embiid’s face mask in Game 3 was a fineable offense. However, the NBA fined the Heat reserve $15,000 on Friday. “But we get it,” Spoelstra said. “It adds to the side stories to what’s really going on. It’s a good series going on.”
Erik Spoelstra Rumors
Barry Jackson: Spoelstra said Winslow will pay his $15,000 fine for stepping on Embiid mask. Team spoke to him about it
Manny Navarro: Spoelstra said #Heat talked to Winslow about his fine. Does he think it was warranted? No. “But we accept it.”
Heat center Hassan Whiteside suggested a change in Miami’s offensive approach has affected his production in the playoffs. “It’s just different, man. I feel like our offense is a lot different. I’m not as involved in as many dribble handoffs as I was and post-ups as I was in the regular season,” Whiteside said after scoring five points in 13 minutes in Miami’s Game 3 loss to Philadelphia. “That’s what coach [Erik Spoelstra] wants. Coach wants me to just be in the corner and set picks. That’s what he wants. I’ve just got to trust it.”
“I want to get more rebounds out there. I want to get more minutes out there. I’m just going to keep trusting coach’s decision-making,” Whiteside said. “Even with the fouls, I still could have been out there. I wouldn’t have fouled out. I am going to keep trusting coach’s decision-making.”
Ira Winderman: Spoelstra on Embiid, “You have to deal with whatever’s in front of you. We anticipated he would be part of this series.”
Shandel Richardson: Spo on Embiid possibly playing tonight in Game 3: “We’re not trying to duck competition.”
