Erik Spoelstra opts for Dedwayne Dedmon over Omer Yurtseven – South Florida Sun-Sentinel – South Florida Sun Sentinel

MIAMI — It was a decision both statistically stunning and stability sensible.

With Bam Adebayo back in the Miami Heat mix after seven weeks away due to a thumb injury, coach Erik Spoelstra opted for Dewayne Dedmon as his backup center instead of emerging rookie Omer Yurtseven.

After grabbing double-digit rebounds in 14 consecutive games, the second longest streak in the franchise’s 34 seasons, and after recording double-doubles in eight of the previous 10 games, Yurtseven never got off the bench in Monday night’s 104-99 victory over the Toronto Raptors at FTX Arena.

Instead, it was the veteran Dedmon, who is averaging fewer points, rebounds and assists than Yurtseven, who received the 16 minutes, 19 seconds that Adebayo did not play.

“That’s the role that he has been in,” Spoelstra said of Dedmon serving as backup center. “We’re just trying to get to this as quickly as possible.”

Indeed, until Adebayo went down with the torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his right thumb in the Nov. 29 home loss to the Denver Nuggets, Yurtseven had not played more than eight minutes in a regular-season game as a member of the Heat.

And even after Adebayo was sidelined, Dedmon played significantly more minutes than Yurtseven in the next nine games until Dedmon was sidelined by a knee sprain.

Dedmon closed Monday’s victory with eight points on 4-of-6 shooting, nine rebounds and three blocked shots.

For now, it appears the possibility of big minutes for Yurtseven could be limited to absences by Adebayo or Dedmon, or foul trouble for either.

Still, Spoelstra said it is not as if Yurtseven is out of mind.

“Omer is fully on our minds and there were a couple times in [Monday’s] game where I thought about throwing him in there,” Spoelstra said, with the undrafted 7-footer a starter in 10 consecutive games before Monday’s benching. “He’ll continue to work and prepare, and he’ll be ready for his next opportunity.”

Continuity seemingly has become a Spoelstra priority.

In addition to Dedmon playing over Yurtseven, Spoelstra moved Duncan Robinson back into Monday’s starting lineup, in a bid to jump-start Robinson alongside Adebayo and Butler. Robinson had made his previous five appearances in reserve.

“These are tough decisions,” said Spoelstra, with the Portland Trail Blazers up next for the Heat, on Wednesday night at FTX Arena. “We’ll continue to use our full roster as needed. But we have to make some decisions right now to get everybody comfortable, confident and in rhythm.”

Robinson, limited by foul trouble, played 17:35 Monday, closing with eight points, at 3 of 6 from the field, including 2 of 5 on 3-pointers. He did not play in the fourth quarter.

Max Strus, who had started his previous eight appearances, played 28:59 against the Raptors, with six points and five rebounds, shooting 2 of 8 from the field, including 2 of 6 on 3-point attempts.

The next step will be to also have point guard Kyle Lowry in that starting mix, with Lowry missing Monday night’s game for personal reasons and also to miss Wednesday’s game.

“I want to get back to that lineup whenever we can, when Kyle gets back here, and then just give that a chance,” Spoelstra said of opening with Adebayo, Butler, Robinson, Lowry and P.J. Tucker, with the Heat 9-5 with that first five. No other Heat lineup has started more than five games.

“We’ll build our rotation from there,” Spoelstra said. “Then we have the depth to be able to adjust or manage it as needed.”

In addition to being without Lowry, the Heat on Wednesday also will be without Markieff Morris (return to competition reconditioning), Victor Oladipo (knee), KZ Okpala (wrist) and Chris Silva (ineligible).