ASK IRA: Is the revenge of Kendrick Nunn at hand for the Heat?

Q: Hard to understand why Erik Spoelstra and the rest of the Heat coaches, as well as Pat Riley, don’t see the value of Kendrick Nunn. How can they rate Avery Bradley ahead of him, which was the weak excuse Spoelstra offered when indicating why Nunn will now be able to get some playing time? You might use the argument that the coaches know more than the fans do about a player and the circumstances that dictate why they do or don’t get enough playing time, and of course that’s true. However, the expression that “they can’t see the forest from the trees” may apply here, as sometimes a less informed pair of eyes (and I bet thousands of other fans’ eyes) see something very obvious. I would also bet that had Spoelstra played him on Wednesday against Washington, as well as in the recent losses, they would have won at least one or more of them. I hope they soon realize how foolish it is not to play him and, most of all, even worse, if they decide to trade him. His controlled personality matches his outstanding shooting, driving and defensive (including steals) skills, which makes him a very valuable basketball player even if he does not get better (which at his age he certainly will). I want to make it clear I’m not his agent. So play him and don’t trade him. He along with Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and hopefully if they improve, Precious Achiuwa and KZ Okpala, present a bright future for this team. Right now blending them with Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic and Kelly Olynyk is Spoelstra’s job and the key to getting this team back to the playoffs. — Ted, Miami.

A: Part of it is confirmation bias, the Heat wanting to confirm that the addition of Avery Bradley in free agency made them a better team. The problem is that Avery has not been nearly the player with the Heat as in previous stops, in large part due to injury and illness. The bigger element I had trouble getting past was playing Max Strus ahead of Kendrick. Is Kendrick elite, or even a high-grade NBA starter? Perhaps not. But there has been enough there to try to make it work. There is absolutely no reason not to play him now, and starting him in New York on Sunday, with Goran Dragic out, would seem to make all the sense in the world.

Q: Why are Chris Silva, KZ Okpala, Meyers Leonard and Udonis Haslem on the roster if Erik Spoelstra prefers not to play them? — James, Delray Beach.

A: Again, during a typical season, the 13th, 14th and 15th man on your roster (not counting two-ways) rarely are factors, largely out of sight, out of mind. But this is not a typical season. Still, Udonis Haslem’s influence in the locker room remains significant. It just does. Meyers Leonard remains with the team because his salary could be immensely significant in a trade. And KZ Okpala has another guaranteed season, so he isn’t going anywhere. So, basically, is you are going to sub in someone on the 15-man roster, it likely makes the most sense to sub out Chris Silva, who has only a team option remaining after this season.

Q: Could the Heat’s games against the Knicks be for the play-in playoff tiebreaker? — Charlie.

A: I admit I had to let that one marinate, that there even could be a thing such a play-in playoff tiebreaker. Mind blown. But, OK, I can see where you are going, with the Heat’s next two against the Knicks. And, yes, with the teams meeting only three times this season, sweeping the next two would clinch the head-to-head tiebreaker. And, yes, that could mean something significant at season’s end, particularly should they be tied for the No. 10 seed. So, yes, it might be worth, over these next few days, learning how to say play-in playoff tiebreaker 10 times fast.