Q: Ira, I think a truer reflection of the Heat is the version that won six games in a row. It takes teams time to gel. Andrew Wiggins being out was and is huge for this team. That’s the reason why we’ve lost the last two games. Wiggins plays in those two and we are talking about eights wins in a row here. This team is dangerous. What say you? – Scott, Miami.
A: I say that if they are what you think they are, then they should be able to get through the play-in round. Provided Andrew Wiggins makes it back, a team of the pedigree you cite should be able to take care of Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans and Washington to close the regular season and then win a pair of play-in games. The reality is that they are closer to Chicago, Orlando and Atlanta than you surmise, meaning it will require the Heat to be at the top of their game to make the playoffs, something closer to that six-game winning streak. Will the real Heat step up? It depends on what the real Heat are.
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Q: I would have liked to have seen Bam Adebayo demand the ball at the end of the regulation minutes and mores in overtime against the Bucks. I don’t think any fan has a problem with your best player on the floor shooting the ball when the offense gets stagnant, plus he was getting to his spots when he did shoot. – Douglas.
A: Agree. As it was, Bam Adebayo scored the Heat’s only four points in the overtime against Milwaukee. The problem was the Heat only got three other shots because of three turnovers and a Bucks offensive rebound. But even in the fourth quarter, Bam took only five of the Heat’s 22 shots.
Q: Let’s see if they can replicate these collapses in the play-in so we can keep the pick. It’s not worth losing a pick only to be ripped apart on the national stage in the first round. Being a hardcore fan is one thing, but being delusional is another. Pragmatism is better than fake hope. – Danny.
A: Or you can create hope. Win six in a row going into a series against Cleveland and that momentum could be more than fake hope. And if you lose along the way, well, you probably wind up keeping a lottery pick, anyway.
