Q: For Game 6, as much as I can “appreciate it and it was all worth it,” wouldn’t losing three out of four home games in a series be considered unacceptable? – TG, Queens, New York.
A: Not against an opponent of this caliber, an arguably more talented team, an arguably healthier team. Not to make excuses when this happens, just that I wouldn’t go past homecourt in a matchup like this. Both teams have shown the ability to look great regardless of the venue. And both the teams have shown disharmony in looking rotten even at home. Of all the factors at play for Game 7, I’m no longer sure the venue would top that list. More important is which team defends better, which team shoots the 3-pointer better, and which team cuts turnover.
Q: Isn’t it strange that the year the Heat had a great finish, 30-11, Dion Vetters, who was playing brilliantly, got injured and the Heat didn’t make the playoffs. In the last two deep runs in the playoffs, Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic suffered injuries two years ago and now this year Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry have suffered injuries. Strange for the best positioned team. go figure. – Stuart.
A: In a way, you also answered a part of your question, when you mentioned “deep run”. The longer you play, the more likely you are to get injured. And I know many will point to the alleged gruesome practices and extensive training sessions. But that hasn’t been true this season. The Heat barely practiced throughout this season, especially in the second half of the season, especially during the playoffs. He also cut back on game-day shootarounds. Often the only preparation for games was a pregame walkthrough of less than an hour. Sometimes injuries just happen. And sometimes they’re all at the wrong time.
Q: Preparing prospects for the Miami Heat Summer League? what to do with them? Have him on the bench throughout the playoffs like Omar Yurtseven, while like him he could be a tremendous help to a team in a series like the Celtics? this is absurd. – Massoud, Tucson, Ariz.
A: The jump from summer standout to rotation player is rarely a season’s proposition. So in many ways, Omar Yurtseven is at the right time. The thing about the Heat working with young players even in the midst of the playoffs is that youth injection is important with so many older players on the roster. So you can do both: live now and prepare for the future. In many ways, it has made these last six weeks a win-win.
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