Q: Well, well, well, Kel’el Ware was on the floor and Bam Adebayo was on the bench when the Heat won. What does that tell you, Ira? It tells us that’s when a coach should do it again. – Larry.
A: Look, this is where I could drop in the reality that it was against the Nets, who also were their own worst enemies at the close on Thursday night. But, no, not going to do that, because Kel’el Ware not only played well late in Brooklyn, he also played well early. So, yes, the Heat have to find a way for more Kel’el minutes. Kel’el played 30 Thursday night, which seems reasonable. So it might just come down to having to start him alongside Bam Adebayo. But that leads to the other question of when Tyler Herro returns and who sits. Considering Davion Mitchell sat late in Brooklyn, perhaps that’s your answer.
Q: Now that the rest of the league has figured out the Heat’s new fast-paced offense, do you see Erik Spoelstra reverting back to the old “grind it out, win in the mud” style of play. – Greg, Jacksonville.
A: Yes. Once the Heat, always the Heat. (Unless the Heat can find enough 3-point shooting to make the “wheel” offense work.) In fact, you already are starting to see the shift in this direction. But just as the Heat have shown a lack of 3-point shooting to sustain their early-season offensive pace, the question is whether the defensive chops are ample enough on this roster to go in a defensive direction. This very much feels like a crossroads.
Q: Ira, I’m wondering what the point is of bouncing the G League players up and down and then not playing them. Wouldn’t it be better to leave them in the G League and let them play? Call them up when really needed. They can only play in so many games with the Heat. Better that they are playing, learning and ready.– Jeff, Rochester, N.Y.
A: Which is fine, until injuries get in the way, such as when Davion Mitchell, Dru Smith and Tyler Herro all were on the injury report at the same time last week, and now Tyler Herro, Pelle Larsson and Nikola Jovic this week. But, yes, an extended run would be highly beneficial for the Heat’s prospects. But the injury situation has dictated otherwise.