Q: Imagine actual NBA personnel voting Bam Adebayo as an All-star over Jimmy Butler. Laughable. Bam has a lot to learn about what it takes to win. – Marc, Arlington, Texas.
A: Let’s approach this without the denigration. First, when coaches voted for All-Star reserves and selected Bam Adebayo, it was at a stage when Jimmy Butler had missed 13 games due to injury or illness. Second, by that point, Jimmy had made clear that he would rather be elsewhere than Salt Lake City in late February. That elsewhere turned out to be Argentina. So Bam got what he wanted, and Jimmy got what he wanted. Now, when it comes to the media voting for All-NBA, that’s another story. Jimmy’s performance and productivity should make him a lock, with the only question being whether it’s first, second or third team. The Heat’s overall record, fair or otherwise, assuredly will factor into that, as well.
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Q: Bam Adebayo’s new offensive aggressiveness this season with his mid-range game, which remains inconsistent, ended up hurting our offense. No more pick-and-rolls with our 3-point shooters, but instead clogging the lane. Is this fixable? Does it really make sense to center the offense around Bam’s mid range jump shots? – Andrew, Coral Gables.
A: A very good question, particularly when Jimmy Butler otherwise can thrive in that real estate. Erik Spoelstra gave the keys to the offense to Bam Adebayo at the start of the season. And like an impetuous first-time driver, Bam might have overstepped his bounds. I agree that this offense will require serious recalibration this offseason.
Q: They’re selling tickets to the NBA Finals? – Eddie.
A: There are multiple ways to approach playoff sales. But handling on a series-by-series or even game-by-game basis often can lead to unintended consequences of a scramble to efficiently handle inventory. So instead with the Heat, it becomes a speculative gamble. Do remaining Canadian snowbirds get the Raptors as a visitor for the play-in game? Do the Chicago transplants see their Bulls? Or is it head to the secondary market to unload Hawks tickets (is there such a thing as an out-of-market Hawks fan?).
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