WASHINGTON — The move last season came with seven games to go in the regular season. This time around, it came with five left. But here Max Strus is again, poised to open the postseason as a Miami Heat starter.
“A little similar. Yeah, I guess a little similar,” Strus said, with the Heat concluding their regular-season road schedule Friday against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena before closing out the season Sunday at home against the Orlando Magic.
Strus then paused, before noting, “but not really. It’s definitely different. It’s a little later.”
The move is typical of the approach of coach Erik Spoelstra ahead of the postseason. Investigate what works, then find something to coalesce before the season’s biggest games.
“It’s a lineup that hasn’t played a lot of minutes during the course of the year, but in the minutes they’ve played together, they’ve been very productive,” Spoelstra said, with the lineup helping produce Thursday night’s 129-101 road victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. “Everything is on the table.”
Spoelstra initially attempted to downplay the shift, stressing the move initially was made last Saturday against the Mavericks because center Bam Adebayo was out. But there was Strus again with the starters on Tuesday in Detroit. And then again Thursday in Philadelphia, when he closed with 14 points, including 4 of 8 on 3-pointers, despite jamming a finger early in the game.
Strus said he was unaware of the ascension to the first team until just hours before the Mavericks game.
“I found out at shootaround. I had no clue,” he said. “But I’m not going to complain about that, because that’s what I want to do. I want to play as much as possible and help our team win.”
Spoelstra said it is testament to Strus to be able to play as starter or reserve, going into Friday’s game against the Wizards having started 31 of his 78 appearances this season.
“His versatility is to be able to be effective in both units, whether he’s starting or not,” Spoelstra said. “And I’ve mentioned to him many times, you can look at it as a negative that you’re playing different roles, or you look at it as a positive, that you get to be fully in the rotation and complement both lineups and continue to grow as a basketball player in learning how to win and impact in a bunch of different ways.”
In an uneven season with his shooting, Strus said he is appreciative of the trust.
“It’s been tough,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot this year on and off the court. It’s been a hell of a year. But I think just being consistent with my mentality, everything staying consistent with that has been a huge thing for me.
“I’ve really grown up and matured a lot throughout this whole season. I think that’s what I’m most proud of and what I’ve learned the most.”
Having started at power forward, small forward and shooting guard, and having also played in those roles off the bench, it has led to constant adjustment.
“I have to,” he said. “I kind of have to be robotic and just know that this is your job and whatever is being asked of you that night, you got to go out and do your best. So whatever the job is, just get it done. Whatever they ask of you for that night or the next day, just do at that time and then who knows what tomorrow brings. But just be ready for it.”
With little option but to embrace the moments.
“I’ve played with a lot of lineups,” he said, part of 13 different Heat starting units this season. “I’ve played with a lot of guys. I think it’s made me a better basketball player and honestly a better person overall.
“It’s just been a whirlwind. Every day has been something different and just try not to overreact to anything and just be consistent with my approach and be the same person every day. Whatever basketball brings me that day, just do my best at whatever job they’re asking of me.”
For now, it’s starting, just as it was at the end of last season.
“I think it works for our team,” Strus said.
