Q: Ira, I’m not concerned about Patty Mills signing with the Jazz because we knew he wasn’t coming back. (He wasn’t very good when he was here, although loved the accent.) But tell me, who are our point guards? – Len.
A: It’s interesting, because it so often comes back to that in this space, regarding the Heat lacking a true, innate point guard. You could make that case with Terry Rozier, but in recent years he has played as more of a combo guard. Ditto with Tyler Herro. And, from there, you’re either looking at Dru Smith on his two-way deal (if he even keeps that deal), Josh Richardson more on the ball (if he even is in the rotation), or undrafted rookie camp hopefuls such as Isaiah Stevens or Zyon Pullin, neither of whom seem ready. Yes, we can talk ad nauseam about how Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. all can handle. And I don’t disagree. But an innate point guard better tends to get the ball on time, on target, as Kyle Lowry did during the best of his times with the Heat. I’m not saying that bringing back Patty Mills or Delon Wright would have been an answer. But it still appears as if a void remains.
Q: Patty Mills was a Heat killer on and of the team. – Chark.
A: Well put, which means there will be a chance he puts up a 30-burger on the Heat this season when they face the Jazz – just because. I will say that Patty Mills was a pleasure to have around and you cannot but help admire all he has done over the years with the Australian national team. His Heat tenure only was a cameo, but he left an impression.
Q: I think the in-season tournament is stupid, in my opinion. – Pipsy.
A: And you are not alone, especially if it would require a team such as the Heat to fly cross-country for four nights in Las Vegas in the middle of the schedule, while also having to make another pair of western swings during the season. So forget the courts, forget the NBA Cup, and just consider the four pool-play games for what they are, regular-season games that impact the standings. But it is incredible how the NBA hype machine can take over at times.
