ASK IRA: Has this turned into a joyless ride with Heat?
Q: The Heat play so tight. No joy. – Stuart, Miami.
A: This is what happens when you try to toe the line with things like luxury tax, player development and still push the narrative of being a contender. This is not a roster built for the degree of success of last season. So what happens is opponents can target specific Heat leading men, as was the case Saturday in Charlotte with Bam Adebayo or before the All-Star break in Brooklyn with Jimmy Butler. The supporting cast has not been there, and, frankly, is old. And Erik Spoelstra has not been able to conjure any magic from an offense that is stale, predictable and impotent. No, not an enjoyable product.
Q: As a forever Miami Heat fan, I have been reduced this season to hoping, praying, the Heat can finish the season one game over .500. They are a terrible basketball team on the offensive end. I am very disappointed in several of their players. Victor Oladipo does not have it anymore. Max Strus does not have it anymore. Duncan Robinson does not happen anymore. Coaching at times is questionable. – Roland, Borrego Springs, Calif.
A: Yes, it’s hard to find the positives. This has very much, at the moment, the feeling of a sinking ship.
Q: At some point, this team needs to stop settling for threes and go inside and get quality, high-percentage shots. – Paolo.
A: No, they need to start making 3-point shots, not curtail the number of attempts. This is a 3-point league. You can’t win in the NBA by trading twos for threes. You just can’t. What the Heat have to do in the offseason is bring in a new cast of 3-point shooters. There is absolutely no indication that this group will be turning it around any time soon.
