After the trade, Heat’s Terry Rozier is well aware of his playoff push possibility.
Terry Rozier, a Miami Heat standout, is prepared to play in his first playoff series after four seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, who have yet to make the postseason. According to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel, Rozier stated that playing in games that count beyond the regular season “means a lot” to him.
“It’s great,” Rozier said of getting back in the postseason chase after a long absence. “You know how my last four years have gone. So simply being in this situation, competing, and in such an important spot means a lot.”
This is not the first time Rozier has been frank about his time with the Hornets and their lack of winning basketball, particularly near the conclusion of the season. In late January of this year, he stated that Charlotte is “kind of used to losing” and that it is “kind of in the DNA” of the team, as opposed to Miami, where they strive for championships.
“It’s the complete opposite. Charlotte, you’re used to losing; it’s part of your DNA. And it sucks to say that because of how competitive I am, but over here it is the reverse; no one wants to lose,” Rozier stated on January 30. “I believe the film and our conversations today were quite beneficial. Hopefully, we can turn things around tomorrow. There is no mystery about the differences between organisations in the league, how well some individuals take success, the culture of things, but this is the best.”
The Heat acquired Rozier prior to the NBA trade deadline in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a 2027 protected first-round pick. Miami required an explosive scorer at the point guard position who could also facilitate the ball, which Rozier has provided, but it has undoubtedly been a process since his arrival.
Rozier was likely the Hornets’ main focus, along with LaMelo Ball, averaging more than 20 points per game, despite the fact that three other Heat players, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, and Bam Adebayo, do the same. Rozier has to make sacrifices, as he even stated that he will do whatever it takes to win, and Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra expressed that he is “getting a lot more comfortable.”
“Terry is getting a lot more comfortable,” Spoelstra explained. “He truly is pure; he wants to help, contribute, and make things better and simpler for the group. He’s been really competitive defensively on the ball. That’s greatly aided us in both our man and zone. Then, offensively, it only took a little time.” Rozier going through a difficult transition mid-season following trade to Miami.
Rozier is coming off a spectacular effort in the Heat’s last win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday, when he scored 27 points, four steals, four rebounds and two assists. Spoelstra went on to remark that Rozier had to go through a difficult adjustment but has now become the embodiment of how Miami wants their team to run.
“When you’re thinking of others so much and then you’re hearing it that you also have to be you, that’s easier said than done when you’re coming to a team after mid-season,” Spoelstra told the Sun-Sentinel. “But it’s really been good to see him comfortable and that’s allowed him to be aggressive within the context of how we want to do things.”
In 27 games with the Heat, Rozier averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.4 rebounds. With eight games remaining in the season, Miami is 41-33, good for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Miami will continue to strive to get out of the play-in tournament and into the top six seeds. It starts tonight as they try to protect their home court against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.
