Heat’s Jaquez dealing with all-or-nothing reality, ready for more with Jovic out

ATLANTA For as uneven as his sophomore NBA season has been, Jaime Jaquez Jr.

did not expect it to be an all-or-nothing proposition.

Yet that is where the Miami Heats 2023 first-round pick has found himself since the All-Star break.A fixture in Erik Spoelstras rotation for most of his two seasons, a run that resulted in him being selected first-team All-Rookie last season and to the Rising Stars competition two weeks ago during All-Star Weekend, Jaquez went into Monday nights game against the Atlanta Hawks having been held out in consecutive games.I mean, its a struggle.

Its a struggle, Jaquez said ahead of Monday nights game at State Farm Arena.

But like I said, its a part of the game.

Ive just tried to stay positive, understand that Coach, hes got a difficult job.Its frustrating as a player.

You obviously want to get in, help your team.

But theres other ways you can help your team.

Just got to continue to stay positive, give advice on what youre seeing, still staying engaged.Because there then could be moments such as during Sunday nights loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, when third-year forward Nikola Jovic was sidelined with a broken hand.

That had Spoelstra mentioning Jaquez as a potential rotation replacement.I mean, you know, its the name of the game, Jaquez said.

You know, I never want to see anybody go down, especially a guy like Niko, probably the closest of the guys to me.

But thats just the name of the game, you know, one guy goes down, someones got to step up.Related ArticlesMiami Heat | Nikola Jovics broken hand means Erik Spoelstra again must piece together Heats rotationMiami Heat | ASK IRA: Time for Heat to start thinking about Cooper Flagg?Miami Heat | Windermans view: Jovic injury a rotation changer for Heat (if not a game changer)Miami Heat | Tyler Herros 40 again not enough as Heat fall 120-113 to Bucks; Jovic injuredMiami Heat | Elevated expectations for Heats Kelel Ware turning into respect that has to be earnedAmong the ongoing concerns with Jaquez has been plummeting shooting percentages across the board, particularly the lack of the expected uptick with his 3-point shooting percentage, which, entering Monday, had dipped from last seasons mediocre .322 to this seasons .293.

In addition, Jaquez entered the week at an overall .437 from the field, after shooting.489 as a rookie.

The telling element there was a two-point percentage that dipped from .558 to .488.Tightened gripWhile Heat guard Tyler Herro went for 40 points in Sundays loss in Milwaukee, the Bucks limited Herro to just one shot in the final 3:19, a missed 3-pointer, and none in the final 2:20.Bucks coach Doc Rivers said it was a matter of placing a singular focus on a singular scorer.I thought we gave him too much space, Rivers said.

We talked about it at halftime.

You got to get in his air space and make him uncomfortable.

You remember in the first half, I dont think you can remember one time him bringing the ball up and anyone turning him.

He just kind of brought it up free.

He had a free game until mid-third.The Heat fell to 0-3 this season when Herro scores 40, with Bucks guard Damian Lillard empathizing with the effort required by Herro just to keep his team close.I think over time it wears on you, Lillard said.

Its hard to have that from start to finish, especially at the end of games where the intensity is rising, guys are really locking in.Mourning at commemorationAs part of the teams ongoing commemoration of Black History Month, students and mentors of the Miami Heat School-to-Work program on Tuesday will take a field trip to Black Archives-Historic Lyric Theater for a guided tour and a screening of the documentary Crossing Overtown.

The film depicts the history of Miamis Overtown community.Following the screening there will be a Q&A discussion with the films director, Scott Barnett, along with former Heat center and current team executive Alonzo Mourning, museum director Terrance Cribbs-Lorrant and Miramar Chief of Police Delrish Moss.The Heats School-to-Work program pairs Heat front-office employees with students for preparation for college and employment..

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