Is there a better finishing formula for Miami Heat?
Q: Ira, when Jimmy Butler watches the way the Heat play against the Magic and Hawks, do you think it changes the way he plays when he returns? Even in the fourth quarter against the Hawks, the ball never stopped moving. – Atlas.
A: First, Jimmy Butler has no reason to stop the way he has been playing, considering the approach has helped the Heat advance to the Eastern Conference finals in three of his first four seasons with the team. But Jimmy also is a willing passer. The difference, from this perspective, is that teammates sometimes defer too much, are too willing to stand to the side to allow Jimmy to do his work from midrange. So the perfect compromise would be the other four moving as they are now, then knowing as the clock ticks down, there remains the Butler option, as opposed to throwing the ball to Jimmy early in the clock and getting out of the way.
Q: So now we wind up without Jimmy Butler or Joel Embiid on Christmas? I’m watching football. – Ed.
A: I don’t see how you can question whether players have legitimate injuries, Jimmy Butler with his calf strain, Joe Embiid the ankle sprain that left him behind in Philadelphia. And from a common sense perspective, would any team push such players through such injuries before even the midpoint of the season? And the reality is that Ravens-49ers was going to swamp Heat-76ers no matter the availability, even if Jimmy is able to make it to the court. What matters for the Heat is extending the run of five wins in the past seven. That will be Christmas gift enough.
Q: Isn’t Dru Smith out for the season? – Sara.
A: Yes he is, with the knee injury sustained last month in Cleveland that will have him undergoing surgery this week. But he will continue to show up on the Heat injury report for each remaining game listed as being out, because that is how the injury reports are structured.
