Q: Is it worth disturbing the chemistry of the team, that has won many games without Victory Oladipo to get Oladipo in the lineup? I see fewer minutes for Max Strus and Gabe Vincent because of this, and they were instrumental in the wins this season. —Yamil, Orlando.
A: As has been a theme with several responses in this space this week, the NBA, arguably more than any other sport, save, perhaps, for a quarterback in football, is a league about stars and elite players. Those are the ones who drive the championship dreams. So for as much as Max Strus and Gabe Vincent have delivered, if the Heat believe they can get Victor Oladipo close to All-Star form, then they have an obligation to work toward that end. And the value with players such as Strus and Vincent is they already have shown an ability to perform when needed, regardless if the gap between playing time has been minutes, games or even weeks. At some point, the Heat may have to abandon hope with Victor. But Saturday’s game against the Nets, after being rested Friday, might stand as the ultimate litmus test. If not then, against that level of playoff competition, then, yes, it might be time to recalibrate. So, to that end, we very much might have reached a crossroads. For Victor, it could be argued that the playoffs begin Saturday. Victor Oladipo, meet Kyrie Irving. And if ever the Heat needed a boost, that moment is at hand.
Q: Why do Heat continue to sign guards/wings to 10-day and two-way contracts when they need to be looking at bigs for the future. The league is getting more athletic and younger, and other than Bam Adebayo and Omer Yurtseven, the Heat bigs are all older than 32 years old. — Michael, Boca Raton.
A: I, too, wondered, even when the two two-way contacts were held by Kyle Guy and Javonte Smart, let alone now with Smart and Mychal Mulder, about devoting both two-way slots to guards, particularly when there already is the backcourt youth in place, offering depth with Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, and especially considering there still appears to be an eye on Marcus Garrett, who handled his rehab at the Heat’s facilities. But perhaps the thought is load up on enough at one position and you’ll find another breakthrough player out of the bunch. Of course, the Heat’s wing rotation is not exactly young, either, when counting Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler.
Q: Is there a chance the Heat have been tanking a bit to “pick rivals” in the first round? — Rik.
A: It would be one thing if the potential opponents at the bottom of the playoff race were locked in, but that’s not how it works with the play-in tournament. Finish first or second and you still wind up taking whoever results from the play-in games. And even at No. 3, the race for No. 6 is far from clear (as is No. 5 for that matter). So while you can maneuver, it might not be clear what you’re steering toward.
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