Q: Ira, Erik Spoelstra said that the play-in “is our reality and we must embrace that.” It may be our reality, but I ain’t gonna embrace it. – Bill, Palm Beach Gardens
A: The beauty is that it doesn’t matter if Bill from Palm Beach Gardens embraces it (no offense, and keeps those cards and letters coming). It matters if the Heat choose to seize on the opportunity. Remember, if you don’t advance out of the play-in tournament, then you become a lottery team. To some fans, that might seem like a good thing, even with the scant opportunity to move up in the draft order. But few players want to exit a season saying they were on a lottery team. That said, it takes more than pride to take a win-and-in game. It takes skill. So now we again see if the Heat are up to the challenge of the Hawks and Trae Young. To a degree, that matchup also will show whether the Heat are up to the challenge of showing that they are at least in the same discussion as last season’s Heat. So, yes, they will “embrace.” But can they win?
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Q: I feel like Duncan Robinson has the potential to win us some games in the postseason. When he’s locked in he’s that good. – K.J.
A: First, never overstate games such as Sunday’s. when there is no context, rotation players barely are playing, and structure goes out the window. (Not to mention that even when scoring a season-high 20 points, Duncan Robinson still shot 3 of 11 on 3-pointers). That said, there certainly is something to be said about a shooter showing that he has his stroke back. For now, expect Max Strus to continue to be the rotation player of choice over Duncan. But Sunday did add a comfort level that if 3-point shooting is needed, Robinson is in a better place than he has been for most of the season.
Q: I’ve watched and recorded tons of Heat games over a 28-year period as a fan. I will definitely keep and watch this one again because of Udonis Haslem and his performance. What a way to go out at home in the final regular-season game. Fun to watch. – Douglas.
A: I’m not sure it could have played out any better. But I do wonder how it would have played out if it was a game with meaning. Now the question is whether that is it, whether Udonis Haslem might make his first playoff appearance since 2016 or whether he would agree to garbage-time minutes in the postseason after such a fitting Sunday sendoff.
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