Q: Do the Warmth have tiebreakers over Bucks and Sixers? If that's the case, I assumed I heard they might lose tiebreaker if these three groups completed in a tie. How is that doable? — Jeffrey, Miami.
A: It's true, and they might. Whereas the Warmth cut up their four-game season sequence with each the 76ers and Bucks, Milwaukee and Philadelphia solely performed a three-game season sequence, with the Bucks profitable that sequence 2-1 after Tuesday evening’s victory. So within the combination three-way tie, the Bucks are 4-3, the Warmth 4-4 and the 76ers 3-4. So far as head-to-head, as a result of the Warmth went 2-2 towards each the Bucks and 76ers, the subsequent tiebreaker is convention document, the place the Warmth maintain a slight edge there. To the Warmth’s benefit, their remaining 5 video games all are towards East opponents, permitting them to additional solidify that conference-tiebreaker edge. The Warmth are also damage in any a number of team-tiebreaker with the Celtics, having misplaced that season sequence 2-1. In the meantime, the Celtics are up 2-1 of their season sequence towards the Bucks, with one recreation to play, whereas Boston closed 2-2 towards Philadelphia. So, in a three-way Warmth-Bucks-76ers tie, it goes to the Bucks. In a three-way Warmth-Celtics-76ers tie, it goes to the Celtics. And in a three-way Warmth-Celtics-Bucks sequence, the Celtics can be over the Warmth. And for a four-way tie, that 1-2 towards the Celtics doesn't bode effectively for the Warmth, both.
Q: Shifting Max Strus forward of Duncan Robinson was a vital transfer. Strus’ protection was an enormous purpose for Wednesday evening’s win. He can play towards any group, whereas Robinson has hassle defending lengthy athletic groups comparable to Toronto, Brooklyn Philadelphia, and others. – Chuck, Naples.
A: Look, there is no such thing as a manner anybody can query something about Max Strus’ protection after that fourth quarter in Boston. However I nonetheless ponder whether Max would have been within the recreation at that second had Caleb Martin been obtainable. So till Caleb makes it again from his newest calf subject, we nonetheless can’t be sure of the Warmth’s final finish recreation. Nearly as good as Max’s protection was on the shut in Boston, Caleb’s protection is a lower above. The query, although, turns into whether or not Caleb could be equally environment friendly spacing the ground. It might be useful to get a learn on these prospects in these last 5 regular-season video games earlier than the playoffs.
Q: Does Duncan Robinson’s demotion to the second group validate the argument that we overpaid for him? — Ray, Deerfield Seashore.
A: First, Erik Spoelstra would bristle on the notion of terming Duncan Robinson’s shift to the second group as a demotion. In fact, that’s what coaches say. To your level, the participant the Warmth awarded a five-year, $90 million contract to was actually a special, extra environment friendly model of Duncan. That participant merited the contract, based mostly in the marketplace. This model? Not a lot. However maybe it's best to revisit this after the playoffs, when just a few well timed 3-pointers might once more change perceptions.
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