ASK IRA: Has the Heat’s Wiggins Watch reached a point of concern?

Q: Heavens to Wiggins what is going on here, Ira? There is a chance the Heat have only six more games left (if they lose in the play-in), so how can Andrew Wiggins not be out there? – Sanders.

A: Hamstrings can be tricky and coming back one game too soon could mean being out for the remaining games. For as much as seeding could be essential for the play-in round, nothing is more essential to the Heat at this stage than winning in the play-in round. So if the choice is Andrew Wiggins for Saturday night against the Bucks or for the play-in round the week of April 13, then you prioritize that latter. With Erik Spoelstra indicating to TNT that a return next week is likely, it makes being declared out for Saturday against the Bucks a bit more understandable. Still, it is not optimal having to work Andrew back in with that huge game against the Bulls looming on Wednesday night in Chicago.

Q: I know hindsight is 20/20, but at the time I was: A. Surprised that Ja Morant wasn’t double-teamed as soon as he crossed halfcourt. B. Questioned why Kel’el Ware was in the game instead of another player who would have a better chance to defend Ja, even though Ware did a pretty good job.  – Joel, Fort Lauderdale.

A: When it comes to Part B of your question, consider all the times the Heat yielded putback opportunities in those situations, so no complaint here about having a big body on the floor (think back to the home loss against the Kings and Domantas Sabonis, among other such losses). As for Part A, considering Davion Mitchell has done such a good job of fighting through screens, including creating screening fouls, I’m not sure why there was such capitulation on the switch. All of that said, remember also that the Heat were playing on the second night of a back-to-back and the Grizzlies were rested, so overtime hardly was guaranteed of producing a different outcome.

Q: Carry (top of the key), into a travel (three steps), into a push-off (arm extended), into a game winner. – Cheno.

A: Or, as the NBA’s Friday officiating report said of Ja Morant’s game winner on Thursday night, “Morant (MEM) places his off-arm against Ware (MIA) and stops his forward momentum before he releases from contact and steps back.” So in the NBA’s view, no carry, no offensive foul, no travel.