Winderman’s view: Dominant big man? Check. Heat depth in middle? Still time

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 150-129 victory over the Washington Wizards:

– Before Bam went bonkers.

– Before Adebayo was activated.

– Before everyone forgot whether the Heat even had another center . . .

– . . . this was one that created pause.

– No, not because of the Wizards.

– But because of the state of the Heat’s situation at center.

– With Kel’el Ware out, it was Bam or bust.

– With all due respect to Vlad Goldin or even Keshad Johnson.

– On this night, Adebayo made it all moot.

– Sublime.

– But also 41:46 of wear.

– So it raised the question of what if this was a play-in or playoff game?

– Which brings it to the reality that the Heat still are in position to add another player, by waiving Terry Rozier.

– Yes, it could be used on a developmental player, just as the Heat added Kendrick Nunn at the end of the 2018-19 season as a bridge to the future.

– But what Tuesday night showed is that depth at center should be the priority.

– With Johnson the backup center out of necessity.

– Say what you want about the remaining available pool of big men.

– But what if another game with Kel’el Ware out and then Adebayo, unlike in this one, in foul trouble?

– Not saying Charles Bassey or Chris Boucher are answers (Orlando Robinson?).

– But in a pinch, it could provide needed depth on a Heat roster that otherwise is robust with depth on the wing.

– So, yes, still time for a decision.

– But Tuesday night, with Ware out, at least should have opened eyes.

– For something big.

– Even as Bam was bombastic.

– With Tyler Herro (quad), Norman Powell (groin), Andrew Wiggins (toe) and Ware (shoulder) out, Heat against Trae Young-less Wizards opened with Adebayo, Pelle Larsson, Davion Mitchell, Myron Gardner and Kasparas Jakucionis.

– The Wizards opened with a lineup of Bilal Coulibaly,  Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington Tre Johnson and Will Riley.

– Jaime Jaquez Jr. was first off the Heat bench.

– Followed by Dru Smith.

– And then Simone Fontecchio, who was back from his groin strain.

– With Johnson spelling Adebayo as undersized backup center.

– Going in, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra offered ample praise for the contributions of Mitchell.

– “He’s been one of our most important guys that’s kind of been under the radar,” Spoelstra said. “There have been a lot of big factors to us winning versus losing, but the games that he’s missed has definitely changed the look of how we play.”

– Spoelstra added, “I just think he’s an elite on-ball defender, and he’s fully embracing everything in our system. It’s giving him an opportunity to be seen in this league as a competitor.”

– Spoelstra said, like all his players, Mitchell has to be part of something bigger.

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– “We just have to continue to win,” he said. “Our defense has to continue to show what we’ve been doing, and then I think he could potentially be recognized for that on-ball uniqueness.

To have that point-of-attack defender allows us now to do other aggressive things defensively.”

– Spoelstra added, “That’s not even talking about his offense. He’s, in many ways, the engine of when we run and we’re at our best and our pace. Oftentimes, it’s him that’s igniting it and pitching the ball ahead.”

– How young are the Wizards?

– Washington leads the NBA with the most players 22 and under with nine. In fact, the team’s starting lineup of Carrington, Johnson, Kyshawn George, Riley and Sarr (average age 20.64) on  Jan. 24 at Charlotte was the youngest in NBA history since the league began tracking starters in 1970-71.

– For his part, Wizards coach Brian Keefe is saying all the right things about his tanking team.

– “We focus on the things, the day-to-day, the process, things we can control. We’ve always been about that, that’s never going to change for us,” he said pregame.

– He added, “Obviously we have a younger roster. Guys are getting some opportunities this time of year. But continuing to grow the brand of basketball we want, our guys have been great with that. So it’s not really a concern, it’s focused on the task at hand,”

– While finished with season series against many teams, the Heat still have two remaining games against the Wizards, at home on April 4 and then at Washington on April 10, in their final road game of the regular season.