Q: The issue is, as soon as we get continuity with any lineup, a new person is in, a new person out, so we still have no idea of who we are. – Dim.
A: It is difficult to disagree with this. Because if Tyler Herro wasn’t out, would Pelle Larsson have gotten this degree of an opportunity? And if Bam Adebayo wasn’t out, would there have been a door open to Nikola Jovic? Beyond Larsson and Jovic stepping forward, the absences of others has allowed Andrew Wiggins to get a much better foothold in the attack, as well as allowed Jaime Jaquez Jr. to play through his rough patch. Further, because Larsson was out and others, it opened the door for Kasparas Jakucionis, who seized his opportunity. The only rotation player to this point who has been shoved aside has been Simone Fontecchio. But soon, decisions will have to be made.
Q: So with all the dialogue about the offense with and without Tyler Herro, are we going to talk about how much better this team has looked without Bam Adebayo lately? – Addison.
A: Lately. The Heat had lost eight of nine before getting the Hawks and the Pacers. So we’re going to make value judgments against a perennial play-in team (Atlanta) and the team with the NBA’s worst record (Indiana)? Do it against the Nuggets, Pistons or Timberwolves and we can talk. Doing anything against the Hawks or this season’s version of the Pacers hardly is validation.
Q: Is Pelle Larsson unbreakable? – Pete.
A: His face is. The rest of his body can be problematic at times, such as the ankle that had him sidelined.