ASK IRA: Have Heat shown enough to trust them twice?
Q: Have the Heat given you any reason to believe they can win two in a row in Boston? — Art.
A: Not a lot, the current run of four wins in the last five games notwithstanding. The Heat have yet to sweep such a two-game set at the same venue this season (the only time they won consecutive games against the same opponent this season was a win in New York immediately followed by a home win over the Knicks, but in that case there was travel involved in between). They also are in short supply of what can be considered quality wins. Plus, there is the 11-18 record against winning teams. And beyond that, there are the Celtics’ memories of what the Heat did to them in last season’s playoffs. So I would put it this way: If the Heat win both Sunday and Tuesday in Boston, the Celtics’ inconsistency could/will play a large part (which it very well could, as witnessed by the Celtics’ performance Friday in Chicago). On the other hand, given Erik Spoelstra time to game plan against a specific opponent and there typically are juicy twists. So is there enough time for such a changeup? (Or have the Heat secretly been planning for these Celtics games for a while? Hmm.)
Q: Ira, if there is one thing that hurts more than losing to teams like Chicago and Minnesota or losing to Dallas by double digits at home it is seeing New York above you for nearly half the season. New York has only one star (Julius Randle), but Miami has several stars on its team like Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Victor Oladipo. So, what gives? is it in the coaching? I do wonder. — Masoud, Tucson, Ariz.
A: First, you can’t count Victor Oladipo as part of the equation, because he hasn’t been part of the equation. And Tyler Herro at star level, particularly this season, is a bit of a stretch (although Friday rekindled hope). What the Knicks have shown is they are a quality, mid-tier playoff team. I believe the Heat, at their best, are more. But they’re not more with Jimmy Butler missing 18 games. And it’s difficult to make the coaching argument after the Heat went 3-0 against the Knicks. The bottom line is if the Heat win Sunday in Boston and the Knicks lose Sunday to the Clippers, the Heat will pass New York in the standings.
Q: I know this may feel reactionary given the success of last year, but are Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler a good fit as a team’s two best players? The reality is neither has 3-point range, nor are they scorers who can score effortlessly. Today’s NBA makes me think differently. — Brian.
A: They are good fits when there also is a streak scorer in the mix, someone who can take over for a stretch and self-generate offense so Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler don’t have to labor as often getting that done two points at a time. The Heat had that last season with Tyler Herro and Goran Dragic. It is why the play was made for Victor Oladipo at the trade deadline. And why he could have helped so much, if ambulatory. As it is, Friday offered hope that Dragic and Herro might again go streaking this season.
