Q: So Nikola Jovic is done? – Michael.
A: Well, that certainly is dramatic, considering Nikola Jovic has been held out of one game this entire season due to coach’s decision, that being Wednesday night against the Bucks. But, yes, he likely will face a diminished role with so many others now available to Erik Spoelstra. It could come down to an either/or decision with slumping Simone Fontecchio. Or it could come down to games when either Bam Adebayo or Kel’el Ware are injured or in foul trouble. For now, he looks like a 10th or 11th man, behind, not necessarily in any particular order, Adebayo, Ware, Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Dru Smith and Pelle Larsson. And if the Heat truly are a meritocracy, then based on Nikola’s play to this stage, that sounds about right.
Q: Ira, for several years, I’ve been thinking that the Heat over-switch Bam Adebayo out onto a smaller guy and then we wind up with the ball going into Bam’s man closer to the rim, who overpowers the shorter guy now guarding him. Or else if a shot was missed by the guy Bam switched to, the other team’s big man easily gets the rebound and puts it back in. Is it necessary to switch so much? After watching the game with the Bucks, it was evident they were sometimes baiting Bam to get the mismatch down low. I don’t get it. Bam switches out frequently to a guy we should be much less concerned about shooting than his normal cover down low. Especially when Davion Mitchell is the other defender, he is good at getting through picks and is short and has a hard time covering Bam’s guy. What do you think? – Rich, Plantation.
A: Agree. Except . . . you mention Davion Mitchell, who certainly is adept at handling his own cover. But with the Heat now starting Tyler Herro and Norman Powell, defensive help on the perimeter likely will become a prerequisite in the Heat defensive scheme. But, yes, Myles Turner feasted on the mismatches Wednesday night, and not sure why the Bucks did not go to that more often. But as Erik Spoelstra said, this notion of actually having the entire rotation available remains a work in progress. And let’s face it, if Giannis Antetokounmpo was available Wednesday, there is a good chance the Heat would have opened with both Bam and Kel’el Ware in the lineup.
Q: Why are you flooding my timeline with so much NBA Cup? – Santos.
A: Because as the NBA recognized, these are the dog days of the season, with it still too early to make much out of the actual standings. So if they’re willing to design specific courts for as few as two Cup home games, then a few explainers along the way seem warranted. As it is, it gives Heat fans reason to watch the NBA on Friday night without the Heat in action.