Q: Ira, don’t know if you watch football, but this weekend several NFL players were sidelined for the season with injuries in exhibitions. Then I saw your piece on the Heat players playing for their countries. Why would the Heat risk injuries in August? – Eddie.
A: Because in the basketball biosphere, international competition is considered part of the process. And it’s basketball, not an orchestrated collision like football. In fact, those who participate in international competition say the controlled atmosphere reduces the chance of injury, versus some of the various semi-organized games in various cities during the offseason. Norman Powell, Nikola Jovic, Pelle Larsson and Simone Fontecchio also have been afforded the protection of quality national training staffs. As we saw a year ago with Jovic injured in a Heat workout in July 2024, injuries can happen anywhere at any time. Now, if any of the Heat’s players wanted to participate in an NFL exhibition, that would be a different story.
Q: I don’t know. I just don’t see it with Nikola Jovic. Maybe I’m missing something. – Pipsy.
A: It’s hard to see anything when Nikola Jovic fancies himself as a wing and Erik Spoelstra needs him in the power rotation. Until there is a singular focus, the assessments will likely continue to be all over the place. Ultimately, instant-energy reserve will be the likely outcome, so it would make it helpful to see him in that role this summer with the Serbian national team.
Q: Simone Fontecchio’s game is better than Duncan Robinson’s. A solid defensive player plus better in transition. – Sensei.
A: Which certainly could be viewed as the case. But the one thing that Duncan Robinson did well, converting 3-pointers in a variety of ways at a high percentage, is something that he has been far better at than Simone Fontecchio. Now, if Simone can consistently convert at a high clip, then you certainly would have an argument with your assessment.