From Heat backup center to out of rotation, Thomas Bryant using ‘a stay ready mind-set’

The Miami Heat added center Thomas Bryant in free agency this past summer to help stabilize the non-Bam Adebayo minutes.

So far, the Heat has found a way to survive the time that its two-time All-Star starting center has been on the bench through the first five weeks of the season. After being outscored by four points per 100 possessions in the non-Adebayo minutes last season, the Heat entered Thursday night’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers outscoring opponents by 7.7 points per 100 possessions with Adebayo off the court this season.

But veteran Kevin Love is responsible for most of that, as he took over as the Heat’s backup center two weeks into the season and has produced very positive minutes in that role. Meanwhile, Bryant has fallen out of the rotation after opening the season as the Heat’s backup center.

“Everything being communicated is just staying ready, going over things that I’ve done before, just keep improving on everything and just stay with it,” Bryant said of the message he has received from Heat coaches after dropping out of the rotation. “‘Your time is coming’ whenever it might be, so it’s always about a stay ready mind-set and just always staying ready no matter what the outcome is.”

Bryant, 26, logged double-digit minutes in each of the first eight games of the season before his playing time began to diminish. In the following 10 games prior to Tuesday’s contest against the Pacers, Bryant has only played double-digit minutes in two games and has received six DNP-CDs (did not play, coach’s decision).

And the two games that Bryant did log extended minutes in during this 10-game stretch came when Adebayo was unavailable because of a hip contusion.

“I think the biggest adjustment is just trying to gain chemistry with these guys that have been together for like three, four years,” said Bryant, who split last season between with the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets. “It’s tough being a new guy still with a team that’s been together for a few years. So I guess it’s just building that team chemistry and it takes time. I try to do a lot of talking, communicating with the guys and see what they feel like and see where I can help out. I think that’s the biggest adjustment right now.”

Bryant, who has a $2.8 million player option in his contract for next season, entered Tuesday averaging 5.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per game in 12 appearances this season. The Heat has been outscored by 7.2 points per 100 possessions in his minutes.

“Part of it has just been the adjustment of learning our system on both ends of the court,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said last week when asked about Bryant. “But I’ve been encouraged by a lot of things. His size, his motor, the efforts are definitely there.”

The Heat’s frontcourt depth behind Adebayo is improved this season, and Bryant has helped add to that depth even if he hasn’t played much lately. Bryant is one of three true backup center options on the roster, along with Love and Orlando Robinson.

“Bam is a great offensive and defensive player, one of the best in the league,” Bryant said. “I feel like K-Love is one of the best, as well, in his role and experience wise. And then me as a young guy coming in with the ability to roll and able to shoot as well. I think that’s a great weapon to use no matter what lineup we have out there or team we might face.”

PASS IT ON

The Heat’s ball movement has again been a strength this season.

After totaling 32 assists to just six turnovers in Tuesday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Heat entered Tuesday with the NBA’s sixth-highest assist percentage (the percentage of a team’s field goals that have been assisted on) this season at 65.1 percent.

“The intentions of our offense are getting better, the assertiveness, but making the right IQ play is getting better and everybody feels like they’re getting involved,” Spoelstra said. “When everybody is involved and you’re playing with a team IQ, it’s much easier to get in a rhythm. If you’re hunting for your own individual rhythm in this league, it tends to not work out for you or more importantly for the team.”

This is nothing new for the Heat since Jimmy Butler joined the team in the 2019 offseason, as Miami has finished three of the previous four seasons with a top-five assist percentage.

“I think that’s how we’ve always been since I’ve been here,” said Heat guard Kyle Lowry, who is in his third season with the team. “I think the organization has always been about making sure that it’s not just one or two, it’s about everybody. We find ways to help each other play at higher levels.”

INJURY REPORT

The Heat ruled out Tyler Herro (right ankle sprain), Dru Smith (season-ending right knee ACL injury) and R.J. Hampton (right knee sprain) for Thursday’s game against the Pacers.

Butler (right ankle sprain), Haywood Highsmith (lower back contusion) Adebayo (left hip contusion) and Duncan Robinson (right thumb sprain) are available to play for the Heat against the Pacers.