MIAMI \u2014 For years, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has listened as coach Erik Spoelstra has spoken about complementary Miami Heat pieces being ignitable.<\/p>\n
After an uneven second season following his All-Rookie debut in 2023-24, the first-round pick out of UCLA decided to add some fuel to that fire.<\/p>\n
Albeit a small sample size, what Jaquez has displayed during the Heat\u2019s 2-1 start has shown that plenty still burns inside, including his 17 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench in Sunday night\u2019s 115-107 victory over the New York Knicks<\/a> in the home opener at Kaseya Center.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is my third year,\u201d Jaquez said, \u201cso I just try to lead these guys in the second unit and bring it every time. I always tell \u2019em, \u2018We\u2019re either going to be the spark or we\u2019re going to be the gas on the fire for the team. So if we got to get a spark up; we\u2019re going to do that. We\u2019ve got to put gas on the fire that the guys already got; we\u2019re going to do that as well.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s kind of the motto I give to the guys.\u201d<\/p>\n It is a concept as simple as the Heat\u2019s move to an offense that minimizes play calls and maximizes the call to effort and energy.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just trying to bring that fire to this team,\u201d Jaquez said, with the Heat turning their attention to Tuesday night\u2019s visit by the Charlotte Hornets at the close of this two-game homestand. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of guys (who are) really quiet, a quiet group of guys. I\u2019d say I am so myself, but sometimes you\u2019ve got to bring that energy, get the guys going. And I\u2019m taking pride in doing that this year.\u201d<\/p>\n A year ago, Jaquez became somewhat lost in the wilderness as an off-the-ball wing. There is only so much energy one can deliver while being parked in the corner, spotting up for the 3-pointers that never have been his shot of choice.<\/p>\n Now, ball in hand, eyes on the rim, full speed ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cI just give credit to the style of play that we\u2019re playing,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re moving. We\u2019re getting downhill. Everybody\u2019s finding the flow and a rhythm, and it\u2019s really easy for me to get in those gaps and make a play.\u201d<\/p>\n