After a successful rookie season, Jaquez regressed in his second year, shifting focus back to his strengths in being a downhill playmaker rather than a knockdown three-point shooter. With Miami running at a fast pace, it’s given Jaquez a crucial role in the offense off the bench, and it has worked dividends, scoring 17 points in back-to-back games with head coach Erik Spoelstra giving the star his flowers.

“I think anything that gets him downhill and gets him aggressive fits him. We just had to really clean up our spacing and the decision-making to simplify things for him. And now just let him loose. He’s playing great basketball right now, playing super confident. I want him just to enjoy this right now, he’s making the right plays, and he’s keeping it pretty simple,” Spoelstra said.

“You know, even if he’s downhill, he’s keeping it simple,” Spoelstra continued. “They don’t cut him off on one or two spins. He’s scoring; if not, he’s making the appropriate play at the kick out. And that’s a credit to him. With a lot of work on that that the play making and the film study, and he’s been a tremendous boost for that second unit.”

Erik Spoelstra on the versatility that Jaime Jaquez Jr. brought and how he is “playing great basketball, super confident.” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/CQk0zXfUQA

https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1982629395480338899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1982629395480338899%7Ctwgr%5E6d8fe39964ebcf88d4fb62c8a200be436ef18e1c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fnba%2Fmiami-heat%2Fheat-news-jaime-jaquez-jr-resurgence-heat-tremendous-boost-start-season

Jaquez spoke before about the use of a mental coach in the offseason, giving him a clear mind, as Bam Adebayo pointed out after the game.

Bam Adebayo said that Jaime Jaquez Jr. is in a “great mental health space,” says that is a lot of them on the team: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/B9g1TsBz1J

https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1982634180329840833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1982634180329840833%7Ctwgr%5E6d8fe39964ebcf88d4fb62c8a200be436ef18e1c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fnba%2Fmiami-heat%2Fheat-news-jaime-jaquez-jr-resurgence-heat-tremendous-boost-start-season

Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. on potential Sixth Man of the Year consideration

While others are thriving with the up-tempo offense, like Heat newcomer Norman Powell transitioning seamlessly into the system, Jaquez has arguably been the greatest benefactor. He’s back to playing to his strengths in getting downhill and having the choice of using his physicality to get an advantage at the basket, or passing out for a potential open shot.

Jaquez has even been seen taking the ball up the court, with Spoelstra using him in a myriad of roles as the 24-year-old said to ClutchPoints after Miami’s win that the new offense is creating a lot of space for him to make a play.

Asked Jaime Jaquez Jr. about if the success so far this season is from the faster style of pace, plus if he’s satisfied, despite small sample size, with how fast they’re playing: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/b67M6ZDsVT

https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1982633241267126326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1982633241267126326%7Ctwgr%5E6d8fe39964ebcf88d4fb62c8a200be436ef18e1c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fnba%2Fmiami-heat%2Fheat-news-jaime-jaquez-jr-resurgence-heat-tremendous-boost-start-season

Besides the point totals, he’s also racked up 15 rebounds and 11 assists in the past two games, having a wide impact. As the first person off the bench so far this season, Jaquez would even be asked about the potential of being the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, but he believes it’s “too early” for that talk.

“That was quick,” Jaquez said. “That’s something I haven’t even thought about. We’re too early in the season for all that. We’re just here having fun as a team. In the second unit, I just try to be that guy, be that leader. I’ve been here for my third year. So just trying to lead these guys in the second unit and bring it every time. I always tell them, we’re either going to be the spark or we’re going to be the gas on the fire of the team. So we got to get it sparked up.”

Jaime Jaquez Jr. on if the campaign for sixth man of the year is incoming:

“That’s something I haven’t even thought about, we’re too early in the season…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/c2oTYMj3ms

https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1982632596518662557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1982632596518662557%7Ctwgr%5E6d8fe39964ebcf88d4fb62c8a200be436ef18e1c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fnba%2Fmiami-heat%2Fheat-news-jaime-jaquez-jr-resurgence-heat-tremendous-boost-start-season

Subsequently, Jaquez’s role has been deemed as “super important,” as Powell expressed, with the forward looking to continue it into Tuesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.