Last games have no bearing on playoffs
Time for another Miami Heat mailbag. And with the playoffs starting this weekend, we are looking ahead.
If you were not able to ask a question this time, send them along for future mailbags via Twitter to @tom dangelo44 and @Anthony_ Chiang. You can also email me at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
From Jerry, Port St. Lucie: The Heat have not looked good the last two games (entering play Wednesday). Is it time to worry?
Tom: I don’t think there is much carryover from the regular season to the playoffs with the exception of health. And that goes both ways. The Heat have lost the last two games — let me rephrase that, the Heat have been hammered in the last two games, by an average of 23 points. But, hey, they are getting closer having been embarrassed by the Knicks by 24 and then pounded by OKC in the fourth quarter to lose by 22.
But just like I do not believe Philadelphia entering on what could be a 16-game winning streak will mean anything when they hit the floor to start the postseason, the Heat possibly entering on a threegame losing streak if they drop their regular-season finale Wednesday to the Raptors will mean little.
We have seen this act from Miami all season. The Heat are inconsistent, which is why they were fighting for one of the final three spots along with Washington and Milwaukee entering the final night of the season. Miami is capable of being blown out by anybody or reversing that score on anybody. Doesn’t matter if it’s a lottery team or a playoff team.
Even the players understand that. The locker room was more upbeat Monday after the OKC loss than it was Friday after their no-show at Madison Square Garden. Here is what Dwyane Wade had to say after the loss to the Thunder:
“We put in the effort. Against the Knicks we didn’t. Tonight, we did. (OKC) was desperate and they got some things to go their way and they ended up winning the game. Not from a lack of trying, not from a lack of playing the way we needed to. I’m OK with our effort in this game.”
From Manuel, Miami Shores: Should DWade start?
Tom: No. Wade has found a home coming off the bench. He is averaging 12.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 22.6 minutes since rejoining the Heat. His shooting is down (40.9 percent) but missing five games because of a mild hamstring strain set him back a bit. He is shooting just 36 percent in eight games since returning, including just 5-for-19 combined against the Knicks and Thunder.
Coach Erik Spoelstra has said many times he just wants Wade to continue to get comfortable in this role. And Wade himself enjoys coming off the bench and playing with Kelly Olynyk, Justise Winslow, Wayne Ellington and Bam Adebayo. Most importantly, limiting his minutes early keeps him fresher for crunch time, when he really is needed.
Expect Wade’s minutes to climb some in the playoffs seeing as he has more experience than the entire roster combined excluding Udonis Haslem. But do not expect him to start.