Rod Strickland is passing people by on the all-time NBA assist list, but more significantly, his pinpoint passing to his teammates has fueled a season-high six-game winning streak.
Perhaps just as critical as his playmaking, which accounted for back-to-back outings of 11 and 13 assists in last week's victories over Portland and Indiana, it has been Strickland's ability to knock down mid-range jumpers that has helped loosen the opposition's zones.
"He's taking like 500 shots a day on the ball machine," Heat coach Pat Riley said Wednesday after giving his players a day off. "That sets up his drive, and then he's making the leaners in the paint. Earlier in the season, he wasn't making any of those. Neither was [Anthony Carter]. Nobody was."
Carter, who's recovering from hernia surgery, was shooting 37 percent before being demoted and eventually placed on the injured list Dec. 21.
In Tuesday's win over the Bulls, Strickland hit 8 of 10 shots for a season-high 20 points. His outburst overshadowed a first-quarter assist to Eddie Jones that moved him past Lenny Wilkens' 7,211 assist total and into seventh place all time. He's averaging 8.8 points and 5.6 assists in 27.4 minutes, which averages out to 15.4 and 9.8, respectively over 48 minutes.
"I'm just trying to react to how the team is playing," said Strickland, 35, who shot 36 percent in his first 19 games but 48 percent (60 of 125) over his past 15.
"I know what I'm doing out there. In the beginning I was lost. Now, I'm a lot more comfortable and am just taking advantage of whatever opportunity is out there," he said.
Strickland's ability to penetrate and hit the 15-footer has also created space for Jones and center Alonzo Mourning to operate, another boon to the offense, which has averaged 94 points during the winning streak (up from 83).
"He's been around for 14 years, so of course nothing's going to shake him," Jones said. "Every guy is looking at him, the way he's hustling, diving after loose balls. If he's doing it, we've got to do it, too. Our point guard is our leader."
WHO'S COUNTING?
Riley admitted he lost track of the team's win total, and although he knew how many games the Heat was behind in the loss column for the eighth playoff spot (five), he said he has no time to watch the scoreboard.
"I'm not looking at the standings," Riley said. "We're climbing over some teams that we need to climb over. I think the natural progression will evolve. It will run its course, and if we get closer, it'll become more interesting. Now, it's just about winning and playing good."