Q: Ira, I know it was the Wizards, but Pelle Larsson looked good, and looked better than Jaime Jaquez Jr. has looked in most games. How about Pelle ahead of Jaime now, or ahead of Terry Rozier? – Danny.
A: Well, Erik Spoelstra often challenges players to make him notice them and then to make him think twice about going elsewhere. Pelle Larsson certainly had one of those nights on Monday. But it also was against the Wizards, so the level of competition certainly has to be factored in, as well. All of that said, when the rotation is fully healthy, with Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Nikola Jovic back in, it’s not as if there necessarily would be room for Jaime Jaquez Jr. or Terry Rozier, anyway. But Pelle has always been about the future, and that made Monday gratifying in its own way, even without an impact on the rotation.
Q: Ira, this is why we need our G League team closer to Miami. We could have had three more players against the Wizards. – Sandy.
A: But even if that was the case, who’s to say that the Sioux Falls (S.D.) wouldn’t have been on the road anyway? As it is, they are scheduled for a Tuesday game in Texas, so it’s not as if there could have been a call-up in time for Monday night’s game. In addition, Isaiah Stevens is working back from an ankle injury, anyway, just now returning and on a minutes restriction. And Dru Smith, who is on a two-way, is out for the season with his Achilles tear. So the question becomes whether Josh Christopher would have played ahead of any of the nine available Monday night for Erik Spoelstra.
Q: A common theme in many of your “Ask Ira” responses and articles, the Heat need more talent. So is that an indictment of Pat Riley and Heat management? Were the contracts too rich for some of the Heat players? Did Jimmy Butler get enough help? After the Heat beat Boston in the Eastern Conference finals, a lot of teams in the East went to work to figure out how to get better. The Heat regressed. Economics or not identifying talent? – Stuart, Miami.
A: Could be as simple as opportunity, such as being blocked in dealing for Damian Lillard and such as the Nets waiting and instead dealing Kevin Durant to the Suns, as well as Kyrie Irving being politically toxic when he was dealt. Another reality is that Kyle Lowry came with an expiration date and Terry Rozier has had only fleeting moments of success. Sometimes it can be as much about getting the wrong players as not getting the players you want.
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