Unexpected shift in starting 5 exposes Heat's paper-thin backcourt depth

Oct 8, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Dru Smith (12) drives up the court as San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) defends in the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn ImagesThe Miami Heat lost again on Wednesday night, falling to the San Antonio Spurs 112-107 to drop to 0-3 in the preseason. Unlike Miami's first two preseason games, where the starters gave the Heat the lead before the reserves coughed it up, it was the starting five that had a rough night, with four of the starters having a +/- of at least minus 15.

But it's the 5th starter Erik Spoelstra employed on Wednesday that raised some eyebrows, as it exposes just…