Q: Ira, Kyle Lowry’s lack of shooting and scoring is becoming troublesome. If he doesn’t pick up his offensive game, it spells doom for the Heat come playoff time. — Joel.

A: But he will. Because he has a knack for meeting the moment, doing what is needed, what is required, in the postseason. If the Heat lose in the playoffs, it won’t be because of Kyle Lowry shying from the moment. Kyle does not shy from moments. What he attempts is to lift others to his level, which is why more passing, less shooting at the moment. What you want from elite players is the belief that they can win you a playoff game on their own, if needed. That will be needed in the postseason. It is not necessarily needed during the regular season. Kyle will eat. He will get his. But only when he has to, when he needs to. The Heat signed a 35-year-old point guard to a three-year, $85 million contract based on the belief of playoff payoff. That moment is not yet at hand.

Q: As a season ticket member I see all of Heat games and I don’t get it, which is Duncan Robinson still starting over Max Strus. You’ve said before that Duncan is there because he’s a good floor spacer, but as Tuesday’s game showed, he is starting to shoot a lot of open threes, and still can’t convert. Strus’ shots seem more contested and he’s making them at a better rate. What else needs to happen in order for the better player to get minutes? Duncan is underplaying his contract and I feel like Max Strus makes more winning plays. — Ricky, Miami.

A: And I still believe (perhaps ignorantly so) that this is more of an offseason issue. That is when you also have to take salary into account, as many NFL teams have done this week, as the Florida Panthers have with their dealing. Duncan Robinson is not having a typical Duncan Robinson season. But don’t equate that to having a bad season. He still is converting three 3-pointers per game, eighth in the league in total 3-pointers. And that still requires ample defensive attention. Now if you’re asking whether Duncan Robinson is Heat for life, that’s a different debate.

Q: Max Strus to the rescue. This guy is playing his way into a major contract. How does Pat Riley find them? Now, how will Riley keep him? — Erik, Plantation.

A: The Heat already hold a $1.8 million option on Max Strus for next season, which they obviously will guarantee at that deadline. Then, when Max becomes a Bird Rights free agent in the 2023 offseason, with the Heat having the rights to exceed the cap, that’s when decisions with the rest of those on the books (perhaps Duncan Robinson) will come into related play.

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