Q: Gotcha, Ira. You list everything about what the Heat have overcome, but you didn’t mention Tyler Herro being out since the first playoff game and Victor Oladipo since the third. What other team could lose two like that and still win? – Andy.
A: (I actually checked the email address to make sure this wasn’t from Heat General Manager Andy Elisburg. It wasn’t.) As for your question, that sort of what this season has been about, the expectation of someone always being missing, from Jimmy Butler early in the season, to Kyle Lowry at midseason, to Tyler Herro since the first half of the first game of the first round. It’s as if the 2022-23 only live in a world of adversity. So, yes, you are correct, that the hurdles to these Eastern Conference finals also have included making it work in the absences of Tyler (in particular) and Victor Oladipo. It’s funny, when Tyler first broke his hand, he spoke of hopefully being ready for the NBA Finals. We all nodded out of courtesy at the time. Now, who knows?
Q: Wow, pretty amazing run so far. – Douglas.
A: Actually, no need to qualify with the “so far” part. At this point, for a No. 8 seed, it’s all house money. With the Warriors’ loss, 25 teams have now been eliminated ahead of the Heat this season. After Sunday’s 76ers-Celtics, it will be 26. Kind of crazy when you think about it.
Q: Jimmy Butler should rest his ankle for a few days. – Noah.
A: And that’s what made winning on Friday so important. With Celtics-76ers going to Sunday’s Game 7, it means the entire Heat roster gets a four-day break. As physical as the series against the Knicks was, they all could use the time off, particularly Jimmy Butler.