ASK IRA: Is it mediocrity, apathy or something different with the Heat?
Q: I’ve gone to bed angry with losses to the Pistons, Wizards and the shorthanded Grizzlies, but the loss to a bad Lakers team, I went to bed hurt, with the realization that this team doesn’t have a passion for the game. Truly unprofessional to approach any game like that. This is just a bad season. – Marc, Arlington, Texas.
A: Worse than even a bad season (remember, the Heat do own their own first-round pick this season) is a mediocre, road-to-nowhere season. That appears to be where the Heat are trapped at the moment. The NBA season is similar to the best NBA offenses, where you want to narrow to two options. With offenses, it’s layups or 3-pointers. With the NBA season, it’s lottery tanking or championship contention. The Heat appear stuck in the middle. That can make for uninspiring moments, and you have to wonder if the players are starting to get the same sense, as well.
Q; Apathy, that’s what this team plays like, and what this fan feels like. – Javier.
A: I’m not sure that is the case. Most, if not all, on this roster are driven to succeed. But with the divergent breakdown of older veterans and younger neophytes, it’s as if there are dueling perspectives. For some, every moment is the most important. For others, it’s about pacing to the finish line. Again, it ultimately leaves the sense of being stuck in some type of middle.
Q: I’m trying to figure out how Tyler Herro can be that bad, like he was against the Lakers. – Dexter.
A: Part of it is the respect that Tyler Herro has earned this season and on this trip. That, in turn, has led to increased defensive attention. Against the Lakers, it appeared as if there was a box-and-one against Tyler, which has to be the ultimate sign of respect. Now the next step for Tyler is to adjust to these latest attempts at deterrence. This is the very intersection of NBA star and NBA All-Star.
()