MAY 24, 2013
Q: Ira, if Ray Allen is not making his shots, what purpose does he really serve on the floor other than spacing? It's so frustrating watching him on the defensive end. -- J.P., St. Petersburg.
A: Actually, you answered your own question. Ray's career body of work arguably creates spacing like no other player in the NBA. The perfect example was LeBron James' game-winning drive at the end of overtime of Game 1 against the Pacers, when Indiana didn't dare come out of the corner to offer defensive help for Paul George against LeBron. Against any other player (yes, including Mike Miller or Shane Battier) there likely would have been a bit less hesitancy to step away from such an assignment. Yes, Ray shot 1 of 8 against the Pacers, but he still merits the type of defensive attention as if he was 8 of 8. Now if only he could put together a pair of free throws.
Q: Ira, with Mario Chalmers hurting, and with Ray and Shane so cold from outside and a glaring need for rebounding, couldn't the Heat use 10 to 12 minutes of Mike Miller? -- Jason, West Boynton.
A: Just as Erik Spoelstra has shown with his loyalty to Udonis Haslem in the starting lineup, don't expect much to change during this 46-3 run, unless injuries create such a need. While there might be adjustments with minutes, such as with Chris Andersen, injecting a new face into the tight, nine-man rotation seems unlikely at this stage.
Q: Ira, Birdman played the game of his life. Why did he not get more playing time if he was on fire? -- David, Plantation.
A: One of the advantages of seeing the game in person, and being able to see the entire court, is being able to notice how Chris Andersen often plays himself to the point of fatigue. Chris is best in short bursts. Erik Spoelstra knows that. That's why he plays him that way.
MAY 23, 2013
Q: Ira, there was a national columnist (not a fan) who said that Frank Vogel would outcoach Erik Spoelstra in this series. I wonder what he's saying now, with Vogel keeping Roy Hibbert out on LeBron James' winning drive. Vogel said Hibbert is the best vertical defender, or something like that, and then he doesn't have him in for his team's biggest defensive sequence of the season? We're lucky they have Vogel. -- Sam, Miramar.
A: More than anything, the Heat are lucky they have LeBron, who tends to make Erik Spoelstra look pretty good every now and then. To a degree, the final sequence was bigger than Spoelstra, it was Pat Riley putting together a roster where he could space for the floor for exactly such a sequence, with Chris Bosh, Shane Battier, Norris Cole and Ray Allen lifting the entire Pacers defense to the perimeter. We often talk about coaches making other coaches match up to them. Spoelstra did it on that final sequence. Still, no percentage was going to be higher than LeBron to the rim with 2.2 seconds to play, which is plenty of time. In the same situation, you can bet that Hibbert will be in the game next time, which likely will leave it to an all-or-nothing Bosh jumper from the elbow.
Q: Why no double team on James? -- Martin.
A: Another good question. Face it, with Norris Cole on the floor, Battier shooting the way he has been shooting, a little help might have been nice.
Q: Those Pacers scare me. They're huge, relentless and could very well wear our team out. This is going to be a series. -- Shep, D.C.
A: Yup. And they also have a player in Paul George who is proving up to the moment, not as much for that wild 3-pointer at the end of regulation, but more for the way he stepped up and made those three free throws with 2.2 seconds left in overtime, doing something Ray Allen couldn't do at the end of regulation. But it also could be argued that the Heat have taken David West's best shot.
MAY 22, 2013
Q: Do you think the Heat are too good? I know the ultimate test(s) are still to come in the remainder of the playoffs. The Heat are 45-3 in their last 48 games. Does this make for compelling basketball? -- Stuart.
A: So you're saying the Bulls weren't compelling when they had Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen? Even then, there were playoff challenges for Chicago, just as there likely will be for the Heat. The NBA long has been about repeat champions. Winning once barely tends to resonate. With the Heat, we're at the stage where they're only starting to make a name for themselves with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. That alone creates must-see viewing. If they don't back up last season's title and this season's 66-16 record, there will be plenty of compelling discussion that will follow.
