When the Miami Heat acquired Terry Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets, he moved from a team that was way out of the playoff picture to one that was right on the verge of it. Rozier appears to be well aware of this, as he took a jab at his previous team while speaking with reporters about how the Heat react to losses.
“It’s the complete opposite. In Charlotte, you become used to losing. It’s in my DNA, which is unfortunate given how competitive I am. However, the situation here is quite different. Nobody likes to lose. Nobody is fine with it,” Rozier told reporters on January 30, according to Locked on Heat’s Wes Goldberg’s X account.
Rozier went on to discuss how the Heat’s emphasis on winning sets them apart from other teams.
“I believe it’s no secret that everyone is aware of the contrasts between different league organizations, how seriously some people take winning, and the culture of the game. But this is the best.”
Rozier helped the Boston Celtics reach the playoffs in his first four NBA seasons. After joining the Hornets, Rozier never made it to the playoffs. That may change, given the Heat’s ambitions. Unfortunately, the Heat haven’t won since Rozier arrived.
Terry Rozier Calls Out Bleacher Report After Comments
Terry Rozier’s comments became viral, and Bleacher Report’s X account compiled them in a January 30 tweet.
Rozier responded to Bleacher Report’s tweet, writing “I’m just talkin the vibes after a lost…yall the worse” with a sobbing laughing emoji.
Terry Rozier says losing in Miami is the "complete opposite" 😅
The Heat are on a 7 game losing streak pic.twitter.com/Kn1aQa6qox
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 30, 2024
I’m just talkin the vibes after a lost…yall the worse 😂
— Terry Rozier (@T_Rozzay3) January 31, 2024
It’s understandable that, as Rozier notes, the moods in Miami differ from those in Charlotte. The Heat have been to three of the last four Eastern Conference Finals. Not only that, but they’ve reached the NBA Finals twice in the same time period.
The Heat still have core players from all three runs, including Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro. Rozier alone has playoff experience, having played for Celtics teams that advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals two years in a row.
Erik Spoelstra’s Thoughts on Terry Rozier’s Adjustment
Terry Rozier’s start with the Heat hasn’t gone as expected. At the same time, integrating a new player requires time. On January 29, Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra emphasized patience with Rozier, thinking he can offer fresh elements to the team.
“He’ll figure it out,” Spoelstra told The Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang. “He’s trying to fit in, and I understand. We are all saying the same thing. We want Terry to remain Terry. He will unlock further features for us. You can see the burst he offers us, as well as the required rim pressure. That is not just what the head coach says; it is also what his teammates say.
Four games into his Heat career, Rozier is averaging 11.8 points on 38.3% shooting from the field and 35.3% from three. However, Rozier is coming off his greatest game in Miami against the Phoenix Suns. Against the Suns, he scored 21 points and made four threes.
The Heat lost nonetheless, but Rozier is beginning to emerge.
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