Q: Tyler Herro again said he will be back soon. Is there a reason not to believe? – Cletus.
A: Because players, by nature, work with a certain confidence about overcoming obstacles, they often are the last to know when it again will be go-time. So Tyler Herro, since media day, has been offered the most optimistic of projections. Then you have the Hawks’ broadcast of the Heat’s Monday exhibition in Atlanta saying that Tyler could be available as soon as opening night. The reality is it will be the Heat’s medical and training staffs, and only those staffs, who will be making the final determination. The last official update was the eight-week projection after his ankle procedure last month. So, for now, that means mid-November unless otherwise confirmed by those charged with making the actual determination. Tyler is optimistic; that’s good. But getting him right to the degree that there won’t be ensuing hiccups is what has to matter most.
Q: Ira, don’t tell me the final preseason game is meaningless, not when Bam Adebayo has yet to start scoring. I say give him the ball and build his confidence? – Andrew.
A: Considering Bam Adebayo left Monday night’s game in Atlanta with a knee contusion and then sat out Wednesday night’s intrasquad public scrimmage, I would doubt he plays in Friday night’s preseason finale against the visiting Grizzlies, More important than any point total in the preseason is being ready for Wednesday night’s season opener. The Heat might be able to survive in the absences of certain players, but Bam is not one of them. Without him, the defense becomes a house of cards.
Q: Will the Olympics take away Erik Spoelstra’s time with the Heat? – Manny.
A: Considering Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr navigated Olympic cycles while also maintaining focus on their day jobs, I would think someone with Erik Spoelstra’s youthful vitality should be able to do so, as well. But it will be interesting to see how it plays out should he wind up coaching a Heat team in a developmental cycle. Then it would be like juggling apples and oranges.