Q: Did you find Bam Adebayo’s explanation on why the defense breaks down at all surprising? Is fatigue an issue for professional athletes in a pivotal game after a couple of days off? I think this roster has only one guy who can bring it when it counts and that is Jimmy Butler. The others get fatigued. – Caer, Sanford.
A: Part of it is expectations and taking the next step. Bam Adebayo not only already has surpassed his career high for minutes in a season, but now is taking a far more active role in the offense. Tyler Herro is only one minute away from his career high for a season, but now is having to do his work against starting-caliber players, as opposed to working largely against reserves as sixth man last season. Max Strus already has played 500 more minutes than any previous season, Gabe Vincent also is at a career high for minutes in a season. Both of those two have been less efficient this season. Part of taking the next step in the NBA is being able to endure the next step. So yes, the fatigue could be real. And dealing with it has been exhausting for the Heat.
Q: Why has Erik Spoelstra not been able to respond to issues better? I definitely knew something was bad in the Nets game when they were shooting almost 70% at halftime and only were ahead by six. Your thoughts? – Brent, Wellington.
A: Because when he turns to his bench for answers, there isn’t much there, be it the dropoff by Victor Oladipo, the uneven seasons from Max Strus and Gabe Vincent, the inability of Duncan Robinson to play his way back into the rotation. Maybe the return of Cody Zeller helps where Omer Yurtseven and Haywood Highsmith couldn’t. But when it comes to the Heat bench this season, there hasn’t been much there there.
Q: Seeing this Jimmy Butler at this moment is special. He raises his game like a lot of the greats that have played the game, and that’s important to note. I would think that means more to Jimmy than any type of MVP talk. – Douglas.
A: And that likely is what Jimmy Butler would say (with an All-NBA spot far more likely than crashing the Giannis Antetokounmpo-Joel Embiid-Nikola Jokic three-man race for MVP). But there also is an element of pride. And, yes, All-NBA remains meaningful to Jimmy. Perhaps not as much as playoff success, but meaningful nonetheless.
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