Q: Why is everyone acting like the Heat are locked into the play-in. They\u2019re two games behind Philadelphia, three behind Toronto? \u2013 Hanson.<\/p>\n
A: Trends? Even now, simply looking at the standings, every team in the top six in the East has a winning record in their last 10, while the Heat are 5-5. The Heat have won consecutive games only once since Jan. 1. There simply has been no indication \u2013 even with Erik Spoelstra\u2019s comments to the contrary<\/a> \u2013 of a team poised to make a move. With Cleveland on the upswing, the top four of Detroit, Boston, New York and Cleveland appear beyond the Heat\u2019s reach, with Toronto and Philadelphia showing more to this stage than the Heat. At this point, it almost feels as if the Heat are battling the Magic for homecourt in the first round of the play-in (with Orlando already having clinched that tiebreaker).<\/p>\n Q: Prior to this season (his first six seasons in the league) Tyler Herro has averaged playing in 60 games per year (more or less Jimmy Butler territory). Why is he being ripped by the fans while Butler received a free pass? For additional perspective, Giannis Antetokounmpo has averaged just over 65 games per year in that same time span. Give the guy a break. \u2013 Ray, Deerfield Beach.<\/p>\n A: First, Jimmy Butler hardly got a free pass for his well-chronicled time missed. As for Tyler Herro, anyone believing he has milked these absences couldn\u2019t be further from the truth. Tyler needed these games in his search for an extension, needed to show that it could work with Norman Powell, who is eligible for an extension of his own. Yes, these absences have hurt the Heat, but they\u2019ve also hurt Tyler.<\/p>\n