Q: Ira, Norman Powell showed me all he needed to show when he returned Friday night. He didn’t have to and no one would have blamed him after he missed three games with that injury. How can you not love that guy? – Franklin.
A: You are correct on multiple fronts about the fortitude that Norman Powell showed Friday night after leaving in the first quarter with a groin strain, at a time when so many others are opting to sit (see the question below). From the beginning, Norman Powell made clear this is where he wanted to be and was up to any challenges presented. Friday night that meant re-emerging from the locker room and still finding a way to pace the Heat’s offense. Groin strains can be tricky, especially for a player in his 30s. But these players want to be out there for each other, just as Tyler Herro is itching to return, just as the Heat had to prevent Bam Adebayo from returning too soon from his toe strain.
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Q: Ira, are we going to see an entire team in a game? Each time I look (or you tweet), it’s another player on the other team getting the night off, and these aren’t all injuries. – Barry.
A: With Friday another one, with the Bulls giving Coby White the night off, as he works back from the calf strain that had him out Chicago’s first 11 games. And with White having just returned on Sunday, it made sense to be cautious with the back-to-back set that concludes for the Bulls on Saturday. But it’s also interesting that the Bulls decided to sit him on the first night of the back to back, possibly in deference to the Heat’s pace. And that’s a concern for those who would prefer to see the Heat play the best, since the Heat’s high-octane approach is not necessarily the best approach for opponents to take with older players or those working back from injury. Yes, getting diminished opponents could work in the Heat’s favor, but at the cost of those taking in Heat games not getting to see the opposition’s best. The back-to-backs and the overall compact schedule are doing the league no favors when it comes to showcasing talent.
Q: Is it too early to start talking about the possibility of Norman Powell being selected to his first All-Star Game? – Pedro, Miami.
A: I can’t see how he’s not. About the only way that would change would be because of injury or if the scoring dynamic were to change dramatically when Tyler Herro returns. Considering Norman made it work last season with James Harden with the Clippers, it seems he should be able to thrive alongside Tyler, as well. By all indications, Norman should be able to punch his ticket to All-Star Weekend. In fact, the selection of Norman could actually work in the NBA’s favor in the new USA vs. World format, considering Norman competes with Jamaica’s national team, as he did this summer during international qualifying rounds.
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