Q: I’m not mad about drawing up the potential go-ahead play for Josh Richardson in Orlando. However, it just got me thinking that Goran Dragic is the only leading scorer I know who almost never takes such shots. Is it him backing down from the moment, or is Erik Spoelstra simply always looking in another direction for some reason? — Sal, Miami.
A: I think this one was calculated, that it was time to start getting Josh Richardson involved in more moments of truth, which is the only way to learn whether a player has the “it” factor for such moments. With Josh, there always has been somebody else, including when Dwyane Wade returned last season. Save for the result, this was the right move by Erik Spoelstra, because at some point you have to take stock of a player as a go-to guy. The moment was there: the Magic were focused on Goran and Wade was in the midst of a miserable 3-of-13 night. As for Goran, he is at his best as a “downhill” player. By that, I mean that if he is going to take a closing shot, he is better off playing without the timeout, building momentum on the way to the basket. To answer your question, Goran is not the same level of scorer in specifically designed sets that eliminate the creative aspects.
Q: No disrespect to Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra, but maybe it’s time to move on from them and get some blood in there. Your thoughts? — John, Killeen, Texas.
A: This is why “Ask Ira” people are my favorite people. Because there is no better time to judge an NBA franchise than after the first game of a season. Assuming you are looking at a larger sample size, I still believe you gain more by having both as part of your franchise. I truly believe Erik is a coaching savant, even if I don’t always agree with the approach. And Pat is still sharp as a tack when it comes to mind for the game. The only fault I truly find with the, quote, unquote Heat culture is that sometimes the franchise places too much value on developmental projects. Yes, such players are wonderful tributes to work ethic and perseverance. But sometimes talent trumps all — only you can’t always sign that talent in a salary-cap world if you have spent your funds solely on the culture club.
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Q: Will Dion Waiters ever travel with the team? — Trey.
A: I can understand, to a degree, that without the opportunity for a full practice during this two-game trip (with only a single shootaround scheduled) that Dion bypass the flight time for conditioning time. But this also is a team that so stresses camaraderie and fellowship that it remains concerning that at this stage of the game, from January ankle surgery, that Dion is the only player of the 16 on the roster who was left behind.
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