Q: Ira, how do you recover from that? Milwaukee could ask Erik Spoelstra which player he wants them to sit and they still can win. – Gregory.
A: Can’t argue, at least not after a thrashing like that, with the Bucks thriving in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo. There is an argument that could be made about Milwaukee having a superior roster to the Heat’s even with Giannis subtracted from the equation. Put it this way, the Bucks were without Giannis and they simply turned to Bobby Portis and his double-double; the Heat were without Tyler Herro, and they turned to Duncan Robinson. Giannis doesn’t have to do all the heavy lifting for the Bucks to win. Jimmy Butler has no other choice for the Heat. If Giannis returns for Saturday’s Game 3, this well could be over with the Heat’s return to Milwaukee for Game 5. The Heat need to get more alongside Jimmy next season. What Giannis has likely makes him jealous.
Q: Ira, games like this happen. The home team almost always is better after losing the first game. But no fight? – Andy.
A: Well, there was a bit of fight at the start of the second half. But at some point you also recognize it’s not your night. When you are undersized and largely unathletic, it is difficult to both cover the paint and the 3-point line. So that turns nights the Bucks shoot threes like they did on Wednesday night into nightmares. I’m not sure the Heat can do much about that. If the Bucks shoot threes like they did in Game 2, then quite possibly game, set, match for the Heat’s season.
Q: Hi, Ira. When is this Omer Yurtseven going to play? After this season this guy is going to leave and become a star in this league and you still be defending Erik Spoelstra’s decision for not letting him play. I am sick to my stomach seeing this kid on the bench at all times. – Masoud, Tucson, Ariz.
A: OK, now exhale. Have you seen Omer Yurtseven in pick-and-roll defense, or any defense, for that matter. Yes, you certainly can adjust a defensive approach in order to get a player with significant offensive and rebounding upside. But you don’t do that for your third-string center who missed two-thirds of the season. From the moment Omer underwent his ankle surgery in October, it became apparent this wasn’t his year. Now the question is how much do you pay in free agency for the unknown? And that could come down to whether such money would be better spent otherwise.
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