Q: The Heat played four guys in the regular rotation who had zero to two years experience to start the season: Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Pelle Larsson and Kasparas. Jakucionis. As they improve, the Heat will be better next year than this one, and again the year after that. Nobody on the roster is aging out, either. There are many fans who lack the ability to see beyond the current record, and therefore cannot project a team’s trajectory from the past into the future. I guess some don’t even want to try. – Morgan, New Orleans.
A: All of which can be true . . . and still not be enough. As often stressed in this space, the NBA is about superstars. Yes, the Heat are developing a nice element of complementary talent. But you need stars to complement. That’s why the question of the future remains. Be it in the draft (Cade Cunningham), theft in a trade (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) or a diamond in the rough about to become a diamond (Jalen Brunson), until such a player is airlifting into the mix, you wind up with complementary without someone to complement. At this point, all the optimism in the world can’t project Jaquez, Ware, Larsson or Jakucionis as leading men.
Q: Fans suggest Erik Spoelstra should be looked at as stale because it’s happened to every other coach in history, even the good ones. The media then lists every possible other thing to look at instead of the coach. Again, that’s not how any other media market operates. – Tom.
A: Or is it? Say what you want about Billy Donovan ending his enduring, lackluster term with the Bulls or even Steve Kerr’s struggles of late with the Warriors, but in both of those cases, it is the coach making the ultimate decision. Erik Spoelstra has made clear that it has to get better. But he also has shown the ability to pivot when necessarily, including the move to the new offense before this past season. So the question is whether it is “stale,” as you posit, or rather a work in progress.
Q: Ira, after the past three years of results, combined with the current roster and cap situation, it seems that we can only blame management. There is no clear bright spot for our organization. Some difficult decisions and dramatic change are needed. Delaying this only demonstrates the organization’s ineffectiveness in today’s NBA. Am I wrong? – Jim, Mooresville, N.C.
A: No. But what you and others basically are preaching is retrenchment and rebuild. Try getting those words out of Pat Riley at Monday’s media session. This is why additional voices could at least moderate the ongoing approach.