ASK IRA: Are Heat too raw at moments of truth?
Q: Ira, it’s really too bad that the Heat do not have a G League team this year. If they did it would probably be the best thing for Precious Achiuwa to develop his game (particularly his offense). — Joel.
A: In retrospect, I believe it was a mistake for the Heat to bypass the G League option. Yes, I can appreciate the quick turnaround between last season’s NBA Finals and this season, as well as the cost of operating a G League team solely in the Disney bubble. For that matter, considering how the Heat got down to the minimum of eight players twice this season, there is something to be said about having all available bodies on hand. But without a summer league or even a traditional training camp, it meant fast track or bust for Precious Achiuwa. Even more so, KZ Okpala certainly has looked like a player in need of additional seasoning in the pro game, again shuffled out of the mix. And with the way Chris Silva’s career seems to have stalled, he, too, might have benefited from the Sioux Falls Skyforce remaining operational this season. Oddly, even though the Heat’s two two-way players, Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, have shown an ability to compete on this level, there are others on the roster who could have benefited by the reps afforded in the G League.
Q: It seems like Gabe Vincent is a better, cheaper version of Avery Bradley. — Jeffrey, Miami.
A: He is not. Many are forgetting how impactful Avery Bradley was last season in the Lakers’ march through the Western Conference during the regular season, before he opted out of the bubble. And many are overlooking the defensive reputation he deservedly has built over his career. For that matter, some are overlooking some of the moments Avery already has had with the Heat this season. In many ways, Avery could turn into the Heat’s playoff Andre Iguodala, just as Andre took it up a level during the 2020 postseason. If healthy, Avery makes the Heat better. Yes, Gabe Vincent has had some encouraging moments on his two-way contract, but that is nothing like having a playoff-tested presence available. I still believe the best is yet to come for Avery with the Heat, and that he will present Erik Spoelstra with rotation questions going forward. In some ways, with a return to health, he could be the equivalent of a trade-deadline acquisition.
Q: Bam Adebayo’s switchability is amazing, and I’d argue he’s one of the league’s top perimeter defenders no matter the position. But when it comes to protecting the paint, which is the most important defensive job for a big, he’s mediocre at best. He only averages one block, but more importantly, teams shoot 58.5 percent within 6 feet of the rim when Bam is the defender. That pales in comparison to some of the other elite defensive bigs and puts him in the company of guys like Kelly Olynyk and Davis Bertans. Do you see Bam improving at this aspect? — Sal, Miami.
A: It all comes down to what you are asking of Bam Adebayo. For the Heat, they are asking Bam to switch on most pick-and-rolls and to actively defend on the perimeter. So he simply is not going to be anchored in the paint, in drop coverage, like other big men. And again, don’t get caught up in Bam being a center. The reality is that Kelly Olynyk has been playing as the Heat center, with Bam more as the power forward. So it comes down to whether you want a traditional big man clogging the middle, which leaves you with more of a lumbering presence. The Heat have played the rim-protector game with Hassan Whiteside, an approach that did not particularly lead to winning basketball.
