Q: Ira, all I wanted for Thanksgiving was a fully engaged Kyle Lowry. Why can’t we see that every night? – Anderson.
A: Now we’re talking turkey. First, Kyle Lowry is 37, and the only player who is an every-night player at that age is LeBron James. Kyle also reads the moment, and Wednesday night it was a moment when the Heat were lacking Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Kevin Love. So he stepped back in the time machine and stepped up from the 3-point line. The question is when – or even if – the Heat can get all their leading men firing at the same time. Kyle arguably has been too deferential this season, as he was at the start of last season. The best of Lowry at the same time as the best of Jimmy Butler, best of Bam Adebayo and best of Tyler Herro assuredly would take the Heat to another level.
Q: Hope this will have Erik Spoelstra thinking more about Orlando Robinson. – Robert.
A: The irony is that at Wednesday morning’s shootaround, Erik Spoelstra was talking about trying to get Orlando Robinson playing time in the G League, as part of a plan to have him playing in Sioux Falls alongside Nikola Jovic. Then the Bam Adebayo injury happened and then Orlando happened. The stint was impressive. But unless Orlando definitively is moved ahead of Thomas Bryant in the Heat hierarchy in the middle, the playing time won’t be there with Adebayo back. With Robinson, the long view means playing time now – somewhere.
Q: Tough break for Dru Smith. – Sam.
A: Perhaps the toughest break of all if it is anything serious with that knee, with Dru Smith’s contract guaranteed for only $425,000. Based on the Heat’s position against the luxury tax, it could open the door for a replacement player. But the way the injury happened, with that ledge at the edge of the Cavaliers’ court, one would hope his injury situation would get the benefit of the doubt.
