Q: That 3 of 8 by Simone Fontecchio on Monday against Serbia has to be more like 6 of 8 when the season starts. – Doug.
A: While that would be nice, let’s not set the bar at .750 for the required 3-point percentage to stay on the court. And three 3-pointers from Simone Fontecchio during the season would be embraced. The difference is that if the 3 of 8 starts as 1 of 6, the Heat have the ability to turn to Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Bobby Portis and others for 3-point accuracy. As it is, unless it is in the power rotation in smaller-ball lineups, it is difficult to envision a routine rotation role for Simone. Actually, for a team with questionable 3-point shooting after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, it will be interesting to see if the Heat avoid going overboard, with Giannis and Bam Adebayo at the rim still the highest-percentage play. There is no need to turn this into Celtics South.
Q: Nikola Jovic plays his best basketball as a wing. He is not a power-rotation player. The Heat have put and plan to put him in the power rotation. Square peg; round hole. The Heat may like his potential, but they will never reach it like this. Sometimes a player just isn’t the right fit on a team. – Chadwick, Lake Worth.
A: Which we next shall see. But to play offensively on the perimeter often means having to defend on the perimeter. And exactly what small forward or shooting guard is Nikola Jovic defending? Now, the exception could be playing him in three-big lineups, where Bam Adebayo then could defend on the wing, Nikola could defend at the four and Giannis Antetokounmpo at center. But that would then leave Bobby Portis Jr. as the lone rotation big man beyond the starters. What Niko can do is be great in training camp, so good that he has to get on the court. As Erik Spoelstra would say, he has to make the staff notice him. And in training camp and the preseason there should be wing opportunities.
Q: Ira, fans are concerned because the Heat had finally got its salary cap and draft picks in order, with some young players that have the potential to be really good. They effectively rebuilt without tanking. They traded that for an older star with a huge long-term salary and injury history and a star that plays the same position as their best player. Plus they gave away future draft picks that will effectively force what will look like tanking in the future. It seems they are following the model of the former CBA and ignoring the implications of the current salary cap league. – Ron, Columbus.
A: And that might happen. But, in the moment, the Heat are a far better team with Giannis Antetokounmpo than without. And the Heat live in the moment. It’s somewhat surprising that fans who are buying tickets for this season would be so worried about the 2030s. Enjoy the moment. And, at worst, have your kids lament what they might be left to watch.