Q: Erik Spoelstra doesn’t blame his players, no one blames Spoelstra, Pat Riley is treated like a deity. Not one of the players after the Indiana game blamed themselves. Forget Culture, try accountability. – Bennie.
A: First, I’m not sure Erik Spoelstra doesn’t see plenty to blame, but that simply is not how he operates, with criticism largely handled behind closed doors, which is what made this season’s outburst regarding Kel’el Ware so unexpected (he later apologized). I disagree about the lack of blame for Erik, with ample comments from within regarding the offense lacking actions that maximize some of the roster (especially in key, late-game situations), and with defensive designs that don’t take into account the lack of individual defenders (even Spoelstra has downplayed the over-reliance on the zone). As for Pat Riley, that judgement will come soon enough if the approach is to write off the season because of the injuries and absences. This is a roster of supporting players with no one to support. But even then, there also was no reinforcement at the trade deadline for a team that insisted on a playoff push. When you finish in 10th place, it means that you were the worst of the teams in the East that actually were trying to win. That seemingly is the definition of failure.
Q: Hey Ira, with all the tanking talk making headlines I am surprised there is not more mention of the manipulation of teams to get to the No. 8 seed in the East. I firmly believe that a Detroit first-round playoff matchup (assuming they finish first) is the preferred path in the playoffs rather than facing Boston or New York in the first round. – David, Venice.
A: But while No. 8 might have a higher reward, it also comes with a higher risk, in that it means falling into the all-or-nothing second-round East play-in game, where the winner goes on to face No. 1, but the loser is off to terrible lottery odds. Of course, if the Heat finish at No. 9 or No. 10 in the East, then the lone playoff spot they could compete for would be No. 8 in the playoffs. In the end, it well could be all or nothing for the Heat for a series against the Pistons. After Sunday’s fiasco in Indiana, it’s starting to look that way.
Q: We need to adapt and blow this thing up. – Scott.
A: It certainly is getting close to the definition of insanity, if it hasn’t already gotten there.