Q: Why not Bam Adebayo for Giannis Antetokounmpo? Though Adebayo is a very good player, isn’t Giannis better? Maybe Bam, Jaime Jacquez Jr. and a couple of picks can get it done. – Luis, Boca Raton.
A: Because, as cited: same agent, friends and Bam Adebayo being the reason Giannis Antetokounmpo might be enticed to widen his wish list to the Heat. That said, except for the factors that talent finds a way and that Erik Spoelstra finds a way, it’s not to say that Giannis and Bam would necessarily be the most complementary of couplings, with neither considered a spacer, even with the ability to drain the occasional 3-pointer. But, again, mere speculation at the moment. To your point, it is doubtful there would be a player who would pique the Bucks’ interest more than Bam, if he were available.
Q: What’s with Andrew Wiggins? He was great against the Clippers and then couldn’t do a thing in Dallas. Man, he could be something special with consistency. – Andrew.
A: Yes, he could, which is why while Andrew Wiggins long has been considered a quality complementary component, he rarely, since his Minnesota days, if even then, has been viewed as a leading man. He is what he is, a nice No. 4 contributor. When the Heat are whole, he can be that. But rarely do you go into a game saying it could or should be a 30-point game from Andrew.
Q: Considering the Heat play so much zone, shouldn’t they be familiar with playing against zone? – Gino.
A: You would think. But even when the Heat play zone in practice, it’s not like the leading players are playing against themselves. so it’s sort of the Heat’s A-team on offense against the B-team on defense. But by now it has become clear that opponents will settle into zones after scores almost as a default defense against the Heat’s high-paced approach. And you can talk all you want about moving the ball to shift the zone, but you still have to hit shots. It is why Nikola Jovic was getting so much early run, for his 3-point shooting, and why the Heat need mid-season Simone Fontecchio to get back to being early-season Simone Fontecchio.