"He was a rotation player each of the past two seasons and a starter for stretches in both of them. Coming into this campaign, you could've argued ( as my favorite sports scribe once did) that he meant as much to Miami's roster as anyone. That's part of what ups the frustration factor here. The Heat really needed him to come through, and that would've been true even if they hadn't given him that early extension."
"His shooting touch was supposed to be a primary source of breathing room. His penchant for playmaking eased at least some of the concerns surrounding the lack of a high-end floor general. What really grinds the gears, though, is that Miami's adoption of an up-tempo, free-flowing offense should've been the perfect springboard for Jovic's breakout season. He's a 6'10" ball-handler with creativity, deep shooting range, and the freedom to fire from just about anywhere. All of these open-court opportunities should"
Miami began the season strongly but has lost six of seven games, exposing deeper team issues. Fourth-year forward Nikola Jovic has delivered disappointing performances despite a four-year, $62.4 million extension and now suffers an elbow contusion. The struggles preceded the injury, and expectations were high given his prior rotation and occasional starting roles. Miami relied on his shooting and playmaking to provide spacing and facilitate in the absence of a high-end primary ball-handler. The team's shift to an up-tempo, free-flowing offense should have suited Jovic's 6'10" ball-handling, creativity, and deep shooting range, but the breakout has not materialized.
Read at All U Can Heat
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