Jae Crowder continues to be “a Miami HEAT guy”

There is one minute left in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and the HEAT is up 107-100 thanks to a big three from Jae Crowder moments ago.

With Milwaukee desperately needing a marker to avoid going 3-0, Khris Middleton grabs a defensive rebound and drives the ball to the ground as Crowder waits for him. After crossing the middle of the court, Middleton finds Eric Bledsoe on the right wing guarded by Tyler Herro.

Bledsoe then dribbles three times to the baseline, but Herro cuts him off and doesn’t concede the angle. When Crowder walks over to help, Bledsoe dribbles between his legs, retreats, and seeks to return him to Middleton. However, Crowder reads the play and applies enough pressure for Bledsoe to release it.

And with his usual exuberance and energy, Crowder runs along the ground with his arm extended to the other end.

A forced rotation and another winning play that has helped Miami reach the Eastern Conference Finals, a stage in which Crowder is no stranger.

“Jae has been to the conference finals. She has been on many winning teams. There are so many different qualities that we’ve labeled him a Miami HEAT guy, and he’s lived up to all of them, if not more, ”said Erik Spoelstra. “I was very surprised [with] his leadership qualities in the locker room that have really helped. And it feels like she’s been with us for years instead of just months. “

Crowder agrees.

“Yes, it clicked that way,” said the vet. “And I think that says a lot about the organization and my teammates, just welcoming me from day one … and I love winning games so I’m doing whatever it takes to prepare and do what the team needs. to do. do to try to help win games. I’m a team player, so I don’t look at individual stats. I just want to try to win at the highest level and honestly, I was able to do it here. And I have been able to play a role on the court and in the dressing room a bit and have a voice. So, I’ve been trying to do my part. “

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Let’s go back to February 6, 2020.

Due to the leadership of Jimmy Butler, the rise of Bam Adebayo and the incredible shot of Duncan Robinson (among others), the HEATs are 34-16 and fourth in the East.

With Miami breaking all outside expectations and limited in what it could do from a business perspective, many experts believe the team will simply stick with what it has in the face of the All-Star Break and subsequent playoff push.

But Pat Riley, who never rests on his laurels, finds a way and pulls the trigger to acquire Crowder, Andre Iguodala and Solomon Hill in exchange for Justise Winslow, James Johnson and Dion Waiters in a three-team deal.

The trade pays dividends almost immediately as Crowder makes a smooth transition and spans the court early on, Iguodala shows active hands on defense and gives Miami another ball handler and smart veteran, while Hill quickly turns in a powerful voice both on and off the court.

All of that helps Miami a lot, but the transaction is ultimately made with the postseason in mind.

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Having been to the Eastern Conference Finals seven times before (including as a video coordinator and assistant coach), Spo knows how difficult it is to get to this point.

“That’s why we brought Jimmy Butler here. That’s why we put this team together with the veterans, adding Andre and Jae, building around Goran and Bam, having the young core, ”Spoelstra said. “[It] it was trying to do something in the playoffs. Therefore, it is not easy to reach the conference finals … and we do not take it for granted, and we are grateful for the opportunity we have had ”.

Since Crowder was named a starter on Aug. 1, he has seized his opportunity and never looked back.

Sure, his shooting has garnered a lot of attention, and we’ll talk about that later, but his defensive versatility has been even more important to the HEAT in the playoffs.

After mainly facing Victor Oladipo and TJ Warren to a lesser extent in the first round, Crowder defended Giannis Antetokounmpo and Middleton a lot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Although it wasn’t an easy feat, Crowder limited those four guys to just 40 of 96 shots (41.7 percent) combined and forced them to commit 12 turnovers. Now that tracking data can be a bit tricky at times given the material, but the fact is, he made it tough for everyone.

“That versatility on defense is important to our team,” Spoelstra said. “This is how we are built and he adds another layer to that.”

Of course Crowder did well in the changes too, he played good defense and showed himself against other guys, like Malcolm Brogdon, Bledsoe and Wes Matthews.

Knowing firsthand how exhausting it is, Adebayo praised Crowder for his ability to live in the moment.

“The 99 is one of those people who lives right now, and that’s what I love about Jae,” Adebayo said, referring to Crowder’s jersey number. “It is in the moment, and it is not too early or too late. You are always in the moment, and whatever you have to do in that moment, you do. No matter what it is, no matter what task we have for him, he finds a way to do it. “

Speaking of doing so, the 30-year-old has also faded from beyond the arc. In fact, Crowder leads the HEAT with 30 3-pointers in the postseason and is tied with Herro for first place at 40 percent from center (minimum of 50 attempts).

Remember the three mentioned above in Game 3?

“We know Jae has no conscience, so when it’s open, he’ll shoot,” Adebayo said. “And we have no doubts about it.”

There is also no doubt that Crowder has been the “BOSSMANN” in the bubble.