Is Pelle Larsson (part of) the answer?

Now I have taken my sleeping pill and I sometimes write my worst under temazepam. Still, I have been reading about Larsson for a while. This post is informed by my view that the "Heat's" issues currently are physical (lack of talent) and mental. To me, the "Heat" are soft, and they're beat mentally and emotionally. They have always played disciplined, if physical basketball under the Riley-Spoelstra regime. Maybe what they need is a spark of undisipline, a recklessness to reset the mentality. This is a sampling of what "Heat" beat writers have written about Larsson this season. 

Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, March 13:

Larsson sparked the Heat with his energy on the defensive end, finishing the defeat with three steals and with the only positive plus/minus on the team at plus-5. “The most inspiring moments were when Pelle came in,” Spoelstra said after Wednesday’s loss. “He had the crowd really inspired, the team inspired and we just need a whole lot more of that — one through 15 — all the way through.”

Pelle Larsson willing to dive right in when it comes to providing a needed Heat spark (Ira Winderman, March 14)

Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson (9) goes after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

...if Pelle Larsson keeps happening, as the Miami Heat 2025 second-round pick out of Arizona did during Wednesday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers with his energizing effort, then rethinking potentially could be in order.

While the scoring is not yet there on a consistent basis, and while the fouls have been there too often amid defensive zeal that needs to be reined in, Larsson has shown a deep appreciation of what is needed off the bench.

So he quite literally has dived right in.

Or, more to the point, learned the need to dive in.

In what could stand as the Heat’s ultimate hustle play of the season, Larsson repeatedly dove, crawled and wrestled for possession of a loose ball during the second quarter of Tuesday night’s loss that arguably provided more inspiration than anything offered amid the team’s slump since the Feb. 6 Jimmy Butler trade.

“That play at half-court is one of the best plays I’ve seen,” said Spoelstra, with his team closing out a five-game homestand Friday night against the Boston Celtics. “He got three loose balls on one possession.

“You feel like those plays can inspire a whole lot more. That’s what we’re accustomed to.”

...

“I remember a play I had in Philly, when the ball was on the floor and I didn’t dive on it, and that kind of haunted me for a little bit,” he said. “So I’m glad I got that one back.”

With the Heat often going with a veteran mix off the bench, Larsson’s lightning jolts have injected needed vitality, which has left it somewhat surprising that he hasn’t been offered more from Spoelstra.

“Really, the idea was just to get a spark,” Spoelstra said of utilizing Larsson not only for the entire second period Wednesday night but for 28:16 overall. “We needed something to get us going. I wasn’t even necessarily expecting that. I’ve been feeling it for a couple of games. I think in short minutes, he’s mentally stable enough to handle that, three or four minutes and then come out, and get your regular guys in there.”

As it is, those regular guys would gladly embrace more of the 23-year-old Swede.

“When he’s on the court,” forward Andrew Wiggins said, “his energy’s contagious with how hard he plays, the way he plays.”

...

“We need more guys like that, obviously,” guard Tyler Herro said. “I mean that’s what we need. If we can get all five guys playing like that, obviously that’ll help.”

Anthony Chiang, November 26:

"Pelle played so hard,” Spoelstra said after the overtime victory. “He really played hard, picking up full court, guarding bigger guys, throwing his body all around. He had an impact, for sure.” (OT dub over Mavs)

That's only three observations, but they are more than 4 months apart and make the same point. Larsson has the burden of proof and he has met it in providing a "spark", "energy", which is "contagious", and a fighting mentality that I, at least, see missing in this team's core. I would play him more. Or, Spo could stay the course when he's lost 10 straight.