Q: Ira, Pelle Larsson showed me plenty at EuroBasket, enough to say he’s the real deal. What say you, Erik Spoelstra? – Franklin.
A: Considering this isn’t “Ask Erik,” we will have to wait until training camp or beyond for such an answer. But I agree that the relentlessness offered by Pelle Larsson the past two weeks with Sweden’s national team was impressive, energetic and enthusiastic. Even though Sweden won only a single game, Pelle showed the exact type of fight that the Heat embrace, including the fight to the finish against an impressive Turkey roster. Spoelstra often talks about players making the coaches notice. Pelle did just that just about every minute he was on the court for Sweden. It certainly seemed like a takeoff point to a Heat rotation role. How much of a role? On a roster loaded with wings, that remains to be seen. But EuroBasket only further stated his case.
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Q: Ira, do you think Nikola Jovic is humbled by Serbia’s loss? – Jason.
A: Well, if he is, that might not be such a bad thing. Losing also is a part of maturing, and, as Nikola Jovic said after Saturday’s upset loss to Finland at EuroBasket, he thought he “wasn’t ready from the jump.” So if he tucks that away and then reminds himself of Saturday’s pain during a key Heat playoff moment down the road, there still could be gain. Nikola largely did his part on Saturday. Is he an equal at the moment of Lauri Markkanen? No. Not yet. But Serbia did not lose Saturday because of Nikola Jovic. The injury absence of Bogdan Bogdanovic was far more of a factor. So back to the Heat practice court it is for Jovic.
Q: Better season: Dolphins or Heat? – Alan.
A: Well, the Heat play in the diminished East and the Dolphins in a division with the Jets and Patriots, so both teams have something going for them from a scheduling standpoint. It likely will come down to maximizing schedules, but the pathway would seem less challenging for the Heat in the NBA East than the Dolphins in the AFC. Of course, the NBA also has the play-in, so 10 of the 15 teams can lay claim to making the postseason. Of course, the NBA also has the draft lottery, which could eventually incentivize a move in the other direction. Bottom line: similar situations.
