Miami has gone very small against the Spurs — and it worked at first, the Heat won a game and forced the Spurs to adjust to them.
However a consequence of that has been Chris Andersen has slid out of the rotation. The Birdman’s size was key against the large Pacers front line last series, but in a game of small ball he just has a good courtside seat.
Except it’s been pretty obvious the Heat need some of what he brings. Udonis Haslem is giving the Heat little and Miami certainly could have used Andersen’s rim protection as Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have gotten in the lane.
Expect him to get some run in Game 6. Ira Winderman at the Sun Sentinel pointed it out with statements he got from players at shootaround Tuesday.
Erik Spoelstra danced around any lineup questions at shootaround (he says anything is possible), but in a game when the Heat need a bolt of energy, particularly on the defensive end, the Birdman could swoop in with some key minutes. I don’t know that Andersen will start, but he should see time in the rotation again.
