Q: Another season of me screaming at the TV. Year after year. Defensive rebounding isn’t complicated. It’s not analytics. I hear box out, effort, grit, grind, intention, schemes, actions, winning plays, yada yada yada. Do the very smart Heat coaches say it or actually teach it and hold players accountable with playing time? – Sam.
A: Oh, they say it and emphasize it ad nauseam. In fact, that was practically the sole point of emphasis in Monday’s walkthrough in Atlanta after they were pummeled on the glass on Sunday in Orlando. But I do disagree to a degree of your take. In order to rebound you also need size and strength. So the more the Heat go with small lineups, the more difficult it becomes to overcome such a deficit. You can’t expect a team playing five wings to outrebound an opponent committed to size. Small ball comes with a rebounding price tag. But, yes, your eyes are not fooling you. The Heat exited the Monday loss in Atlanta that dropped them to 0-5 this preseason ranked No. 25 in the NBA in overall rebounding percentage, and 28th in defensive rebounding percentage.
Q: The team was soft last year; it is soft this year. I love the Heat, but we are not contenders anymore. – Lucas.
A: Were they contenders before? Since the Jimmy Butler trade – and actually since Jimmy Butler started acting out – this has been about rebuilding. But, yes, there has to be more on the glass, because if the preseason is any indication, particularly the two exhibitions against the Magic, then there could be another bludgeoning on the boards on opening night.
Q: They need an assist-first point guard. Kasparas Jakucionis is still green. Why not Russell Westbrook? – Mayo.
A: Because this developmental team already has enough 30-something veterans on somewhat of their career back ends. Youth should be the focus now and going forward. Plus, it’s not as if the Heat, as currently constructed, would be giving Russell Westbrook a chance at much in the playoffs.