Q: Ira, you can see from the bench numbers how much they missed Jaime Jaquez Jr. against the Pistons. That’s why Jaime is Sixth Man of the Year. – Anderson.
A: Yes, you can see how much Jaime Jaquez Jr. was missed Saturday night, when there was precious little from the Heat’s reserve wings, nine points from Dru Smith, seven from Pelle Larsson, two from Nikola Jovic, and that was it. Jaime has become the engine of the second unit. Without him, Detroit’s bench dominated. But we also know that groin strains can be tricky. Norman Powell missed a week with his first one, but then only one game with his second. So now it becomes a matter of degree. Without Jaime on Saturday night it was not a good look when it came to the bench offering any type of relief. So, now, we wait.
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Q: Duncan Robinson’s shooting could make it so much easier for the Heat when the other team plays zone. They should have kept him. – Mario.
A: Only it wasn’t that simple, unless you were willing to pay Duncan Robinson $20 million for this season to play as an eight or ninth man, if that. So with the Heat holding a $20 million option for Robinson in June, otherwise required to pay Robinson a $10 million buyout for this season, the team arranged a sign-and-trade deal with the Pistons that allowed Robinson to realize a three-year, $48 million deal with Detroit, with the Heat lowering their payroll load by taking on the $8.3 million Simone Fontecchio is due this season on the final year of his contract. As it is, as soon as mid-December the Heat will have the wherewithal below the luxury tax to add a shooter for their 15th and final standard roster spot, if so desired. But, yes, Saturday was a reminder of the spacing value of Duncan and how much he has grown as an overall player.
Q: Ira, I read your breakdown of the Heat schedule because of the NBA Cup. So if they lose their game in Orlando, they don’t play again for five days? – Sammie.
A: Actually, it could be six days before their next game, in the scenario you cite. And that is the flip side of the NBA Cup and how it compacts the rest of the schedule, often to the detriment of players being held out for rest. Locked in is the Heat. Dec. 9 game in Orlando as an NBA quarterfinal. If the Heat win that game, they play four days later in a Cup semifinal in Las Vegas. However, if they lose in Orlando, they either play Dec. 14 in New York (with four days between games) or Dec. 15 at home against the Raptors (with five days between games). While such a break might be embraced, the flip side is the upcoming schedule of three games in four nights, starting Wednesday in Dallas, then Friday in Orlando and then home Saturday against Sacramento.
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