Q: Is Bam Adebayo getting a bum rap? He needs to be “more aggressive” and “more assertive” are words getting associated with Bam. Are the Heat asking too much of him across the board? Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra talk about how much the Heat rely on Bam, especially for a young player. He covers on defense for players. He gets the Heat in their offense. Riley even said Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro should give Bam half of their salaries (think about that comment for a second). Sometimes we know what happens when you try to do much. Maybe less is more for Bam. Maybe we take another player to do some of Bam’s work. – Stuart.

A: And that’s the thing: How many every-tool players truly are there? How many players excel defensively while guarding one through five? How many thrive with their passing, beyond unselfishness? How many rebound often at a double-double clip, even when their defense takes them to the perimeter? I mean, Wilt could make his free throws. Magic struggled with his outside shot at times. Larry Bird hardly was dominant defensively. No, not in any way comparing Bam Adebayo to those three. Just offering that some players peak at stars, All-Star, but not necessarily all-time great stars. Bam has checked off plenty of boxes. And, yes, you could point to the max contract. But that is supply and demand, more than dollar-for-dollar evaluation. Yes, at 24, there should be room for growth. But also consider the growth made by 24.

Q: Ira, don’t you think that if we had kept last year’s core team together, including Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa, and just added low-price free agents like P.J. Tucker and Caleb Martin, we would have done just as well as this year’s team and we would have had ample money available this summer to sign a top tier free agent? – Greg, Jacksonville.

A: If I would have known that Kyle Lowry would have missed so much time during the regular season and then an even greater percentage during the playoffs, then, yes, it would have altered the thinking. But who knew? So now it’s about maximizing the final two years on that contract. I still believe he can be the right player at the right time for this roster, but, now, at 36, it also has to be about redoubling the commitment.

Q: Are you so afraid of losing your locker room access that you won’t criticize Erik Spoelstra? Enough with this one 3-point attempt from going to the NBA Finals. It should have never been that close. Erik was outcoached by a rookie. He lost three out of four playoff games at home. Every player except Jimmy Butler played worse than their regular-season averages. He constantly fails to get the best out of his players. Erik failed to make any adjustments to put his team in a position to win except playing Jimmy 46 to 48 minutes per game out of desperation. The Heat deserve better. – Jarvis, Pompano Beach.

A: First, the pandemic took away my locker-room access. But second, if someone would have told you on the eve of last season that Erik Spoelstra would coach the Heat within one game of the NBA Finals, would the criticism then have been the same? And, to be candid, if yours would have, then you live by some remarkably high NBA standards.

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