Q: We need to stop referring to Heat losses as bad or humbling losses. When you lose to teams that are taller, more athletic, quicker, and better shooters, as seems to be the case most nights, it is not bad or humbling. To win such games is a good win, an upset, great hustle, etc. To lose such games should be expected. – Andrew, Coral Gables.
A: Which is why I did not put the loss to the Bucks in the category of a bad loss, even with Giannis Antetokounmpo limited to only six minutes due to injury. With Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez, the Bucks had more talent. Such arguably will be the case next when the Knicks, Hawks and Cavaliers visit to close out this homestand. Such is the problem when Kyle Lowry failed to meet expectations in terms of productivity, availability and contract value. Look, the Heat knew they needed someone of Lowry’s All-Star ability to get them where they needed to go. Instead, the pressure has gone up for Jimmy Butler, the shot attempts have been force fed to Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro arguably is being asked to play above his pedigree. Although limited in stature, Kyle Lowry from his arrival was supposed to have an oversized impact on this roster. That did not happen.
Q: The flaw of the Heat is the same this year as it was last year. They are the only team trying to win where two out of their three stars do not shoot the three. That puts a lot of pressure on a 23-year-old Tyler Herro to make 3s, when other teams’ top-three players are making more 3s per game than the Heat. – Dave, Placenta, Calif.
A: But the plan was not to have two of the top three stars unable to shoot threes. The plan was to have Kyle Lowry, who is 13th all-time in 3-pointers converted, ahead of even the likes of Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant, be one of the leading men, ready and able to launch from deep. The plan also was to have either Duncan Robinson or Max Strus always alongside to provide further depth of shooting. Then Kyle disappeared and Max and Duncan regressed. All too often that has become overlooked . . . the Miami Heat have played 19 of their 63 games without the NBA’s all-time No. 13 3-point shooter.
Q: We hear about how Miami hasn’t gotten the return on investment that they expected when signing Kyle Lowry. But what did they expect when signing a 36-year-old point guard? And were their expectations even remotely realistic? Perhaps the Lowry signing was a case of Miami trying to appease Jimmy Butler, even if it meant going against better judgment? And side note: Was there really so much competition to sign Lowry that Miami had to include that third season? – Aram, Greenville, N.C.
A: There was competition, which is why there was an NBA tampering investigation and penalty for the Heat making early contact. Now, whether another team was willing to go to $85 million over three years fully guaranteed is another story. There still is time for Kyle Lowry to salvage his Heat tenure, but the clock certainly is ticking.
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