PHILADELPHIA — Erik Spoelstra said Coach Kyle might be taking things past the point of comfort for Kyle Lowry. But, yes, the Miami Heat coach said he is particularly comfortable having the veteran point guard alongside while sidelined by a hamstring strain.
Despite being declared out before the Heat took flight for Thursday night’s Game 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series, Lowry remained alongside his teammates during the game in his hometown.
“I don’t know if he would like to be called Coach Kyle,” Spoelstra said with a smile after his team’s morning shootaround. “It’s really leadership more than anything. It’s leadership at all levels. He has just an amazing way of infusing confidence into guys.
“And, yeah, we need that right now. That moves the needle. That might just move it a little bit. It might move it a lot. Who knows? But it’s all hands on deck. He’s here to help, to serve, just to make sure guys are playing comfortable, confident and always keeping that attention to detail.”
It is those details where Lowry has proven particularly supportive.
“Kyle is very, very detailed,” Spoelstra said. “And the details matter to him. And when he doesn’t see the details being executed, he’s the first one to hold guys accountable. And he can do that because he builds genuine relationships with guys.”
Spoelstra said the relationship with third-year Gabe Vincent, who has been starting in place of Lowry, has been particularly beneficial.
“It’s a great dynamic and a really unique relationship,” Spoelstra said, “because a lot of it has been mentoring a guy, without even knowing it, when Kyle’s out. that this guy now can handle more responsibilities. And that’s how unselfish Kyle is.
“It also takes the right kind of mindset from Gabe to be open-minded to that mentorship, and not ever think, even after success, that, ‘Oh, no, I got this.’ "
Amid Lowry’s absence, the 36-year-old former All-Star often can be seen alongside Vincent during timeouts.
“They really feed off each other,” Spoelstra said. “They complement each other well. And those games we’ve had to play without Kyle, Gabe has been able to step up. It’s been invaluable for our team.”
For all the talk of strategy and “chess matches” during series that are extended, Spoelstra took a different perspective as he approached Game 6.
“I mean, that’s part of the series,” he said. “I think in the wins, whoever’s been able to control the big-muscle area, the effort areas, controlling the paint, controlling the transition, rebounding, multiple efforts, that’s really been the deciding factor in the wins for either team.
“But both teams are very good. So that requires some schematic adjustments on both sides as the series goes on.”
Going into Game 6, both teams had been dominant on their home courts.
To Spoelstra, the hope was of learning lessons from the Games 3 and 4 blowout losses at Wells Fargo Center.
“When you’re in this seat, you always think that,” he said. “When you’re probably on their side, they’re probably thinking something other. And that’s what the playoffs are all about. Momentum doesn’t necessarily carry over.
“But we have great habits. This is not just exclusive to this series. It’s been weeks and months of building different habits on figuring out how to win games. And when you have to, win on the road. And this is a great environment.”
With it all heightened with a team facing elimination.
“When you’re a competitor, you love this type of competition,” Spoelstra said, “where you can expect their best effort, best urgency, probably their best game. And you still have a way to find a solution to get that win.”
So after the morning shootaround, on to a closeout game it was.
“Urgency is there,” Spoelstra said. “You have to play well, also. This is what it’s about in the playoffs.”
