Miami Heat center Thomas Bryant is having trouble finding minutes on the floor. Center Thomas Bryant is falling out of the Miami Heat’s frontcourt rotation.
Despite strong performances to start the year, Bryant has been a healthy scratch in multiple games in recent weeks. He was expected to act as the backup for All-Star Bam Adebayo, but that role appears to belong to Orlando Robinson.
It’s important to note that even in games where Adebayo is sidelined, Bryant’s minutes do not change.
In Saturday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers, Robinson played 29 minutes. He recorded 16 points and five rebounds on 63.6 percent shooting, while Bryant didn’t see the floor. However, solid play from Robinson is not the reason for his lack of playing time.
Bryant is a high-energy player who provides solid interior defense. His weaknesses linger on the offensive side of the floor. He lacks the ability to stretch the floor, with little showcase of knocking down mid-range or three-point shots.
Oddly enough, Bryant’s first healthy scratch occurred the first game after an injury to guard Tyler Herro. He is arguably Miami’s top scoring threat, which could explain why Bryant is seeing less playing time. Herro is expected to return in December, paving the way for Bryant to carve out a spot in the lineup.
Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Inside the Heat.
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