Can Miami Heat maneuver Duncan Robinson as fulltime starter?
Q: The Heat win 75% of their games when Duncan Robinson starts. What more do we need to hear? Everyone is afraid to put Tyler Herro back on the bench as the sixth man? – Bob, Davie.
A: First, why Tyler Herro and not Terry Rozier in your lineup math? But even then, it’s not as if Duncan Robinson as starter would be a slam dunk. For example, take Thursday night’s game against the Mavericks. An argument could be made for having Caleb Martin in the starting lineup in place of Duncan Robinson as a means of getting a defender on the floor against Luka Doncic. Yes, Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo could take on such a matchup at the outset, but at the risk of early foul trouble that could land either on the bench. I believe lineups, including the role of Nikola Jovic, will remain fluid until the playoffs.
Q: Spouse said Tyler Herro was injury prone in early February. I disagreed. Told me to mark it because I’ll forget. I came across my note on my iPad yesterday. It was noted February 6. When he was injured recently, all I heard was “see.” – Pipsy.
A: There is little doubt at this stage that Tyler Herro needs to find a way to shake the tag of being injury prone. With Jimmy Butler, by now it is clear the time off is intentional. But Tyler wants nothing more to get on the court. And he has to get there.
Q: I swear the Heat recycle jersey numbers over the last few years, Nos. 4, 11, 5, 15, 8, 2. They must have a bunch made up in storage. – Dave.
A: Part of it is the numbers that have been taken out of circulation, such as Nos. 1 (Chris Bosh), No. 3 (Dwyane Wade), No. 10 (Tim Hardaway), No. 32 (Shaquille O’Neal), No. 33 (Alonzo Mourning) and No. 40 (Udonis Haslem). Plus the team has not reissued No. 6 (in part because of the league-wide honor for Bill Russell, but also for the eventual honoring of LeBron James). Now it will be interesting to see if No. 7 will be reissued in the wake of Kyle Lowry’s departure, in case there eventually is thought of retiring it for Goran Dragic. And you also would figure that Jimmy Butler’s No. 22 eventually will also be taken out of circulation, and perhaps Bam Adebayo’s No. 13, as well. So No. 88 it is for Patty Mills.
