Q: Atlanta beats Detroit, Philly has Joel Embiid and Paul George back and the Hornets roasted us last time. It’s going to take more than a win over the Cavaliers for the Heat to prove it to me. – Theo.
A: Yes, the Cavaliers were without Jarrett Allen, Max Strus and Dean Wade among others on Wednesday night, while also playing on the second night of a back-to-back. So there is that. But the Heat also desperately needed the win, so there also is that. Of their nine remaining games, the Heat probably need to win six to move into any type of comfort zone. Otherwise, you’re talking as treacherous of a potential play-in field as the Heat ever have faced, from the surging Hawks and Hornets, to a Magic team 5-0 against the Heat, to a 76ers team that by the postseason could be fully reloaded with Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. For as much of a longshot as it currently appears, it might be easier for the Heat to land a top-six seed and get directly into the playoffs than survive the play-in.
Q: Any truth to the rumors Bam Adebayo wants out? – Bob, Davie.
A: I have not heard that from anyone ever, and certainly not from Bam Adebayo, privately or otherwise. There is a huge, huge difference between outsiders speculating what a player might want and the truth of what a player actually says or wants.
Q: Is this finally the end of the Tyler Herro in Miami? I’ve been a Tyler fan the whole time and didn’t want him traded, but he’s such a roller coaster and him coming back this year jumbled everything up in my opinion. Do we just cut our losses in the offseason? I don’t think you can extend him.. – Sam, Fort Wayne.
A: Actually, the opposite. While a decision likely could come down to Tyler Herro or Norman Powell, it would seem as if that somewhat is decided, with Norm an impending free agent. So if the Heat don’t want to pump more money into what already is in place on this middling roster, then it might be a case of letting Norm walk and letting Tyler play out the final season on his contract. That makes it more likely that Tyler stays (unless, of course, he is included in a trade).