![\"Nikola](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-9.29-8.55AM-edited-1024x768.jpg\")
(Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n(Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
At long last, the Miami Heat are at full strength. They played their first 17 games without arguably their best offensive player, while there were also chunks of absence from both. Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo.<\/p>\n
Miami still strung together a 13-6 record through the toughest part of its schedule \u2014 the sixth-hardest<\/a> in the sport over that span. However, one problem it has run into is its rotation with a fully healthy Tyler Herro, Powell and Adebayo.<\/p>\n Similar to last year, the Heat have an influx of guards and wings. One player who\u2019s currently out of Erik Spoelstra\u2019s 10-man rotation is fourth-year wing Nikola Jovic, who recently spoke to reporters about his opportunity \u2014 or lack thereof.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t want to be out (of the rotation),\u201d Jovic recently told reporters, according <\/a>to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. \u201cIt gets a little confusing. But now it\u2019s really become a, I guess, normal thing. The good thing is I have examples like Duncan [Robinson] before, who would be a big piece and then not play at all and a lot of stuff like that. <\/p>\n \u201cI think if I\u2019m the 11th guy on the bench, I think we have a pretty good team.\u201d<\/p>\n Nikola Jovic is currently odd man out of Heat\u2019s rotation:<\/p>\n Jovic is currently fighting with multiple players in the rotation for playing time. Heat have depth. Dru Smith, Pelle Larsson, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Keshad Johnson have all played well, which has pushed the fourth-year forward out of the rotation.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a good problem to have, but one Spoelstra must navigate.<\/p>\n Jovic has played in just 14 of the team\u2019s 19 games. And he\u2019s struggled. He\u2019s averaging 8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Though he\u2019s shooting just 40.2 percent from the floor, 29.4 percent from 3-point range and 74.3 percent from the free-throw line.<\/p>\n Perhaps his biggest struggles have been taking advantage of defenders in space within this new fast-paced, free-flowing offense.<\/p>\n Over time, the rotation will figure itself out and Jovic will get another opportunity. The matter of fact is he just has to play better when that comes. He\u2019s defended well, but he hasn\u2019t been a net positive when he\u2019s been on the court outside of his 29-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist performance against Portland earlier this month.<\/p>\n Now that the Heat is at full strength, Spoelstra must figure out which combinations work, and which don\u2019t. Every game provides a different story.<\/p>\n And when Jovic is called upon, he must take advantage before his spot \u2014 and confidence \u2014 vanishes.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n To check out our other content, click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter\/X\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Check out Hot Hot Hoops on Facebook\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Subscribe to our YouTube channel\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n \t\t\t