Following the Miami Heat’s blowout loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, shooting guard Dion Waiters went on an expletive-laden rant about his lack of playing time, and according to a recent report, the Heat held a team meeting to discuss his behavior.
Spoelstra spoke to Waiters and there was team meeting to address his comments. Spoelstra made clear his comments – including calling for himself to be reinserted as starter – won't help him achieve that objective.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 17, 2019
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Spoelstra said Waiters came back to different team than when he was injured (deeper) and he's going to have to be patient and adjust
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 17, 2019
Waiters was also fined for the outburst, though the team has not specified the amount.
Waiters has been fined for comments other night
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 17, 2019
Heat not specifying fine for Waiters but called it conduct detrimental to team
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 17, 2019
Waiters’ behavior is one of the potential downsides of having a roster that is loaded with above-average talent, but low on true star power. Waiters has always been an incredibly competitive and confident player.
While there is nothing wrong with him feeling like he should be the starting shooting guard, there is obviously something wrong with the way he has decided to express that belief.
Still, Waiters has since said that he is happy he was able to express himself and remains dedicated to playing with the Heat.
Waiters said he feels better having gotten his feelings off his chest but said he could have said it better. Said he wants to remain with Heat
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 17, 2019
It seems many of Waiters’ teammates spoke with him about how to better utilize his current frustration.
…Multiple teammates, including Haslem, told Waiters he needs to channel that frustration differently. This was conveyed in individual discussions and a team meeting
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 17, 2019
Since Waiters’ return, he has only exceeded 20 minutes of playing time once. He played 25 minutes in the 103-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets and was incredibly valuable coming off the bench, finishing the night with 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Since then, he has played 20 minutes, 10 minutes, and 12 minutes respectively in the Heat’s following three contests.
His lack of high usage is partly because of the incredible depth that the Heat have at the shooting guard position, and also because Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is likely still trying to ease Waiters back into the rotation.
Whatever the reason, it doesn’t seem likely that Waiters’ rant will do much to improve his standing in the rotation, regardless of whether or not he is glad to get those feelings off his chest.
Luckily, the Heat enjoy the kind of veteran leadership necessary to overcome these kinds of distractions.
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