Perceptive article by Ira:
The metrics say the Miami Heat’s preferred starting lineup… Bam Adebayo, Caleb Martin, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry…is stuck in the middle. There is a 10-11 record when the unit starts and a middling 2.7 positive net rating.
Whoa. 10-11.
But based on recent starts by the unit…. it’s also as if the group has been stuck in the mud.
In context Ira means by "recent starts" this three game road trip. That is too small a sample size. I wish he would be more telescopic and less microscopic. By "stuck in the mud" he means below slow starts to the first and third quarters.
Thursday night, the Heat were down 10 to the New York Knicks before their first substitutions, and then that starting five went scoreless for the first 4:56 of the third period to fall behind by 14 in what turned into a 106-104 loss at Madison Square Garden.
Two nights earlier, there was an 11-point deficit at the outset before Erik Spoelstra’s first substitutions in Cleveland, with the Heat rallying to win that game against the Cavaliers.
And at the start of this four-game trip...the starters blew a 13-point lead at the start of the third period in the stunning loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
…
Against the Knicks, that meant twice having to overcome deficits created by the starters.
…
“…It’s all about trying to get your body warm or whatever. We can’t really afford to try to work ourselves into the game or into the half.” …-Caleb Martin.
Getting your body warm? "Or whatever"? Yeah, try "or whatever", Caleb, getting your body warm doesn't cut it.
…
Thursday, the Heat positioned themselves for the chance for victory with Martin and Lowry on the bench.
For Lowry, it was yet another night of being held out of a fourth quarter.
“This was just trying to get some footing and traction in this fourth quarter,” Spoelstra said. “We were digging ourselves out of that hole. Finally that group started to get some rhythm, so I just let them ride.
Bullshit.
“I had every intention of bringing him and Caleb back, but that group started to get a little bit of momentum, and we just tried to ride that to the end.”
Bullshit. The only reason K-Lo is starting is his contract. Ira has written as much on more than one occasion. Kyle is shot physically and his mind seems elsewhere. He doesn't want to be here.
