Q: The Heat’s problem is not their bench, they have more than enough quality role players. The problem is the dramatic dropoff in talent from their third-best player (presumably Andrew Wiggins) to their fourth and fifth best players. Who is their fourth-best player? In any given game, depending on injuries, the Heat are playing at least two starters who don’t possess starter-quality talent. If one of their three best players has an off game they’re probably going to lose. – Ray, Deerfield Beach.
A: At times, the Heat’s fourth-best player can be Kel’el Ware. At other times, it can be Davion Mitchell. And if either Duncan Robinson or Alec Burks are hitting shots, it can be one of those two. But, yes, the drop off is real. But, so, too does the depth lack, with Cleveland’s bench far more potent. This is where the disappearances of Terry Rozier and Jaime Jaquez Jr. particularly hurts. If Terry was back at his Charlotte level, or Jaime at his rookie level, it would be a different story both this season and this series.
Q: Perhaps this would be a good time for Miami media and Heat coaches to do a little work and set the record straight. Tyler Herro has better defensive metrics than Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Austin Reaves and almost all other NBA scoring guards. Not enough energy to carry the scoring and defense. – Tom.
A: Yes, but targeting Tyler Herro defensively also is a matter of a path of least resistance, when the Heat also have Davion Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins, Haywood Highsmith and Bam Adebayo on the court. So consider it not as much the opposition calling out Tyler, as recognizing that it remains far preferable to any Plan B other than instead going at Duncan Robinson. But to your greater point, it does leave Tyler with a full plate on both ends, which is why it makes sense to try to get him off the ball a bit more, as was the case in Game 2. With Tyler’s scoring, you live with the defense, just as with many of the scorers you mentioned.
Q: I am still of the mind that Miami should not have tried to advance to the playoffs just to get embarrassed by Cleveland and in doing so losing our lottery pick. We could’ve had our own lottery pick as well as Golden State’s No. 20 pick. Both of those could’ve been used in a trade for either a player or to move up in the draft. Now what? We are up against the cap and a late first-round pick is all we have to show for our season. – Barry, Deerfield Beach.
A: But it’s not that simple. First (barring low-odds lottery luck, since the Heat would have been the No. 11 lottery seed) the Heat likely would have wound up at No. 11. And in NBA math, No. 20 plus No. 11 rarely accounts for much of a move up in the order. Plus, that would have meant the Heat would have had no lottery protections on first-round picks to Oklahoma City Thunder in 2026 and the Charlotte Hornets in 2028. Yes, this series has been a hard watch at times. But a case could be made of the Heat protecting their draft future, while also witnessing the real-time possibilities of Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins in playoff-level competition, for better or worse.
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