Q: Ira, the Heat said James Johnson will be ready for camp. But doesn't he need to be back before to be ready? And what about Dion Waiters? And Tyler Johnson? -- Greg.
A: For as long as the NBA season can be, it still features a relatively long offseason when you are eliminated early from the playoffs. The Heat noted with both Johnsons that they will be ready for the start of training camp. And while time in the gym during the offseason matters, what matters most is being good to go at the start of camp. Still unanswered is whether Dion Waiters will be 100 percent for the start of camp. And that matters a lot, because it can be argued that the Heat have not seen a truly healthy Waiters since the latter stages of the 2016-17 season. Beyond all of that, if the Heat do attempt to put contracts into play in trades, you are talking about Johnson, Johnson and Waiters having yet to be seen on the court post-surgery. So such trade physicals could be particularly intriguing -- if there are trade physicals.
Q: Why define everything by winning titles, or contending for them? After all, sports is a form of entertainment. And while it's nice to win the championship or even to contend for one, isn't a team successful if it wins more than half of its games, say, pleases its fans enough to bring them back to its games, buy season tickets, support it, and achieve some level of financial stability? First is best, of course, but it's not everything. Despite Vince Lombardi's dictum. Translated to the Heat, that can foster the realistic view that 2017-18 wasn't a disaster, it was a moderately successful season. Strive for more, sure. But no ashes and sackcloth, please. -- H.S., Tel Aviv.
A: Fair points, especially at this time of the season, when most are left to feel as if all is failure if not in the NBA Finals (with even the Cavaliers, after advancing to the Finals, left to feel somewhat like that, themselves, with their severe underdog status). To me, the emptiness of the moment for the Heat is more a factor of the lack of competitiveness in the first round against a team that so struggled in the second round. If it were the 76ers in the NBA Finals from the East, I believe the Heat could feel far better about themselves.
Q: Who you got in the Finals? -- Ron.
A: Warriors in five, because LeBron James will have at least one moment. But I do think LeBron will be able to score, especially with the Warriors lacking a rim-protector as a second line of defense, with their decision to go center-less. It will be curious to see if the Cavaliers opt to hide (rest) LeBron on defense by possibly having him open defensively against Kevon Looney, even if it means having to play Tristan Thompson on Draymond Green.
CAPTION Miami Heat president Pat Riley says Hassan Whiteside is going to have to do something to change. Miami Heat president Pat Riley says Hassan Whiteside is going to have to do something to change. CAPTION Miami Heat president Pat Riley says Hassan Whiteside is going to have to do something to change. Miami Heat president Pat Riley says Hassan Whiteside is going to have to do something to change. CAPTION Udonis Haslem on life after the playoffs. Udonis Haslem on life after the playoffs. CAPTION Miami Heat president Pat Riley says he has no plans to retire and will remain an active participant for the team. Miami Heat president Pat Riley says he has no plans to retire and will remain an active participant for the team. CAPTION Miami Heat president Pat Riley says he wants to have Wayne Ellington back next season. Miami Heat president Pat Riley says he wants to have Wayne Ellington back next season. CAPTION Miami Heat president Pat Riley says he is going to continue to try to make the team better. Miami Heat president Pat Riley says he is going to continue to try to make the team better.
iwinderman@sunsentinel.com. Follow him at twitter.com/iraheatbeat or facebook.com/ira.winderman
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