Fansided · Nov 5
Erik Spoelstra sends Tim Hardaway Jr. a pointed message with second-half benching
One of Erik Spoelstra's biggest criticisms as a head coach is the idea that he waits too long to make adjustments, or that he's too loyal to certain players. That wasn't an issue for him on Wednesday night when he benched Tim Hardaway Jr. in the second half of the Miami Heat's 117-116 overtime win over the LA Clippers.
In the process of benching Hardaway Jr. after just seven first-half minutes, in which he was ineffective, Spoelstra sent a very direct message. The Heat are desperately trying to get things right defensively, and Spoelstra isn't afraid to bench players (and tinker with the rotation) if that's what it takes.
