ASK IRA: Are Heat lacking the required urgency?
Q: The Heat’s recent collapse is stunning. What’s perhaps most telling that this is not merely a transient lull but rather that the team has regressed to its talent mean is Erik Spoelstra’s approach from the sideline. Back when there were more wins than losses, the coach would be irate at every defensive lapse. Spoelstra’s emotive timeout calls as he stormed onto the court cursing the gods was a delightful feature of every game. That is gone. There are no angry timeout calls. Postgame interviews are full of platitudes about rallying together and fighting through it. No accountability call-outs or reprimands. Has the Miami Heat’s coaching staff and front office resigned to the reality of the limitations of this roster? – Alejandro, New York.
A: First, I’m not sure there is any more dramatic move than trading away a leading presence in the locker room. So if the Kyle Lowry trade wasn’t enough to capture attention, I’m not sure what would be. And there have been firm directives to players about what needs to change, including Tyler Herro’s preference for two-point pull-up shots. Even the rotation changed, with Josh Richardson moved out of the mix until Duncan Robinson took ill Monday night. So messages have been sent. It will be interesting, though, to see the approach at Tuesday’s practice, the first for the Heat since Terry Rozier has been acquired. Expect to hear the words “Hunger Games.”
Q: Jimmy Butler has infested this franchise with apathy towards the regular season. His outside interests and laissez-faire attitude have run their course here in my opinion. – David,
A: Hard to disagree with the first part, the way Jimmy Butler is such a dramatically different player between regular season and the playoffs. But I’m not buying the second part. Plenty of NBA stars have endorsements and varied outside interests and still persevere through the regular season, with LeBron James and Stephen Curry among examples. As it is, Jimmy clearly was the most driven Heat player these past two games. He did his part.
Q: You mentioned in an article that Erik Spoelstra alluded to that maybe the Heat players have to adjust to Terry Rozier’s style of running up the court. Does that mean another trade(s) are coming? – Stuart.
A: No, it means it would be nice if the players actually ran, rather than slowing it down, then being forced into less-than-ideal shots against a set defense. Speed can’t be singular in the NBA.