Q: I know the Ask Ira mailbox must have been flooded with angry messages after the trade deadline. Usually Heat Nation is filled with mixed responses. Many show love and support, while others raise concerns. This is the first time I can remember the majority of the fan base being more frustrated than hopeful. The last time it felt this bad was when Dwyane Wade left for Chicago. This situation could have been avoided, but here we are. – Darryl, Fitzgerald, Ga.
A: And then it got even worse with Friday night’s blown 22-point lead in Boston, leaving many to wonder exactly how much actually needs to be done. As for the trade deadline, the situation might have been unavoidable, if the Bucks simply never were going to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo at this stage and if the Heat perceived Ja Morant at this moment too much of a gamble. Similarly, as appears to be the case, if there simply was no first-round pick to be mined for Andrew Wiggins. But that is where a team with arguably the most forward-facing executive in the NBA, if not in all of sports, had to be forward facing, with a media session with the same type of clarity as all those times after landing, for lack of better phrasing, a whale. No, no one is expecting a team to mention what was offered, certainly not with a season in progress. But simply to make it clear that efforts were made, and, presumably would be made again, and that being stuck in the middle is not satisfactory. Pat Riley still can dominate the room. Andy Elisburg handles cap mastery like few, if any, others. Adam Simon is well aware of prospects on the horizon and prospects in the system. There assuredly was logic to the Heat’s approach. If that clearly is communicated, you move forward. And that needn’t come from ownership, unless there were financial considerations that swayed the decisions.
Q: Could you please offer some insight into the direction that this team is going?  – Michael, Southwest Ranches.
A: To play to win every game on every game night, no matter the probability of such an outcome, no matter how many more nights like Friday in Boston. That’s what players do and that’s what a coach does. And that’s what players should do. And that’s what a coach should do. If management or ownership see value in a step back, then you step back with your roster, removing the ability to turn to veterans who still have enough left to impact the win column. Friday night, Erik Spoelstra saw his greatest hope in Simone Fontecchio and Dru Smith, so therefore more of them than Nikola Jovic and Kasparas Jakucionis, who did not see action. A for Jovic, it’s hard to debate that direction considering the Heat were outscored by a game-worst 14 when Jovic was on the floor during his 6:22.
Q: That seems incongruous. A team that is third in scoring and sixth in defense should be better than seventh in the Eastern Conference. – T.O.
A: Yes, it was a bit of apples to oranges when Erik Spoelstra at Friday morning’s shootaround in Boston noted the Heat being third in the NBA in scoring and sixth in defense. Yes, on a points-per game basis, the Heat did stand third in the NBA as Spoelstra spoke, but also 18th in offensive rating. Similarly, the Heat when Spoelstra spoke, did stand sixth in defensive rating, but also 22nd – ninth worst – in points allowed. So, yes, a couple of statistics of convenience. One set accounting for pace, the other not. Or you could just look at Friday night, when all the defense in the world couldn’t save them.