

ASK IRA: Is Whiteside a riddle Spoelstra can't solve?

Ira Winderman
Contact ReporterSouth Florida Sun Sentinel

Q: Erik Spoelstra is ruining Hassan Whiteside. Again, he takes him out of the game. You have to leave this guy on the court. He changes the game. How many second-chance baskets did Orlando get in the fourth quarter? I like Bam Adebayo. He is athletic but a poor defensive rebounder. Spoelstra is too set in his ways. Or is it his ego here? Whiteside needs 30 minutes plus a night unless in foul trouble. -- Morris, New York.

A: Actually, Orlando scored only five second-chance points in the fourth quarter, so it wasn't that. And the Heat outscored the Magic 10-6 in the paint in Tuesday's final period, so it wasn't that, either. What it is is what it has been the past two seasons: The Heat have three minutes-worthy centers in a league where it is difficult enough to play one, let alone two. As it was, Erik Spoelstra played Bam Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk for Tuesday's entire fourth quarter. That said, unless Hassan was physically ill, leaving for the locker room before any game is over is bad form. Make light of it if you will, but it is times like this where it is particularly important to be there for your teammates. This is why you have a Pat Riley. It is time to intercede. Because everything about this was a bad look, from the bench exit to leaving it unresolved during the postgame interview period. All players should care deeply about defeat. And if that was, indeed, the reason, then fine. But make that clear -- in the moment. It has been years now of trying to make sense of the Heat-Whiteside-Spoelstra dynamic.

Q: When Josh Richardson goes into shoot-until-he's-back-in-a-groove mode, the Heat rarely end with a close game. Does the return of the starting backcourt relieve this type of game or do you think it will persist? -- Jorel, Tampa.

A: If the goal is to test Josh for a go-to, featured-player role, then you have to treat him as such, including allowing at least the attempt to shoot himself out of a funk. I believe Dion Waiters also would be given similar latitude. But to your greater point, the Heat desperately need Goran Dragic and Dion back. The offense is too pop-gun otherwise. But there has been little hint of when that will be for either.

Q: Isn't Carmelo Anthony the perfect reclamation project? Pat Riley did it with Jason Williams, Antoine Walker, Rafer Alston and countless others. Here is why Melo is a great pick up: The coverage he will demand on offense will make the game so much easier for Hassan Whiteside and others on offense. The players will get easy shots. This seems like a no-brainer. I think Spoelstra is getting really frustrated with the limited offensive power. -- Stuart.

A: Carmelo would be the kind of move you would make if you believed he was the piece needed to advance significant playoff goals, as was the case with J-Will or even Antoine. That is not where the Heat are right now. This is about examining Josh Richardson, Bam Adebayo, Justise Winslow, even Rodney McGruder (and maybe even Yante Maten or Duncan Robinson), not taking minutes away from them. Follow him at or

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