Q: Hi, Ira. Can’t the Heat and Panthers do a greater job planning their home-game schedules collectively? They each had nice seasons final 12 months and deserve to start out their seasons with out competing with each other. They every deserve their evening within the limelight on opening evening. Twenty-five % of their residence video games overlap, (10 video games). I’ve season tickets to each. I must promote my tickets to the Heat on these ten nights as a result of Heat tickets promote higher than Panther tickets do on-line. The Panthers got here out with their schedule 5 weeks earlier than the Heat, so I blame the Heat and the NBA for this greater than the NHL and the Panthers. Just just like the overlap of video games through the playoffs final 12 months, it’s not serving to to develop the fan base for the Panthers. – David, Fort Lauderdale.
A: Which I’m undecided must be the Heat’s concern. And I do imagine the groups have divergent season-ticket bases. The major issue is that each leagues have higher flexibility when NHL and NBA groups don’t play in the identical constructing. So first they must navigate the markets the place groups share arenas, comparable to Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Toronto, Washington, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Denver and Dallas. Then, with the Heat and Panthers additionally concerned with the administration of their amenities, there may be the necessity for different revenue-earning occasions all through the calendar. All of that mentioned, sure, it’s a disgrace that there will likely be overlaps on 35 of the 82 dates for the 2 groups this season, together with 10 when each are at residence, together with the Heat’s first two regular-season residence video games. But, hey, Bally Sports has a brand new app, so that you will be at one and watch the opposite concurrently. No, not optimum. But, hey, it’s enterprise.
Q: Maybe extra content material on the upside of Marcus Garrett, Gabe Vincent, Omer Yurtseven, et al would give credit score to how the genius of Erik Spoelstra will get probably the most out of the Heat roster. – Leonard, Cornelius, N.C.
A: In due time. But the offseason usually is about pondering huge. It is also about imagining much more from the highest tier of the roster, be it Bam Adebayo’s scoring, Kyle Lowry’s conditioning, Victor Oladipo’s rehab, Jimmy Butler’s taking pictures. But if final season’s run to the No. 1 seed within the East confirmed something, it was that the ancillary items not solely can’t be neglected, however at instances will develop into important.
Q: Ira, given Kevin Durant’s historical past and calls for and talent to alter his calls for, “I want this coach” and “it’s either him or me,” do we actually wish to add that to the combination that got here so near the Finals this 12 months? I query if the Heat Culture is a match for him. – Richard, Rhode Island.
A: When it involves greatness, you make concessions. Jimmy Butler has been Example 1 in recent times. So, sure, lodging clearly could be made for Kevin Durant, simply as they have been made final season for Kyle Lowry. In truth, that could be the one facet the place Heat Culture has modified probably the most in recent times, with participant empowerment altering the equation. For Kevin Durant, you rewrite your rulebook. Because as shut because the Heat acquired final season, within the eyes of Pat Riley it doubtless was not shut sufficient. There is a purpose Kevin Durant has introduced the NBA to a personnel standstill. In the NBA, greatness finds a method (to get no matter they need).
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Source: www.bostonherald.com