The topic was underachieving, the playoff race, however principally 3-point taking pictures. Of the latter, each arguably may very well be thought of consultants, as Tim Legler made a current look on JJ Redick’s Old Man and the Three podcast.
As the dialogue between the previous NBA guards turned to the Miami Heat and particularly Duncan Robinson, it was as if Legler now not may maintain again.
“It’s mind boggling to me, this entire time, for the last couple of years here: What in the world happened to Duncan Robinson, in terms of the way they view him?” Legler virtually blurted. “Because the guy was record setting for the franchise, with his 3-point shooting, prolific. Had big moments in the postseason.”
What has occurred this season has turn into abundantly obvious, and for causes past the finger harm that first hampered Robinson in November and December after which the finger surgical procedure that had him out for six weeks beginning in January.
Since breaking Tim Hardaway’s franchise profession document for 3-pointers in December, Robinson has been a lot of what he stood as throughout final season’s playoffs after which the beginning of this season — an afterthought.
Going into Tuesday night time’s sport in opposition to the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena, Robinson had appeared in solely 8 of the final 17 video games. And even after what seemed to be a revival with 28 minutes in final week’s loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, that was adopted up by solely 2:15 of motion in Saturday’s residence victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
“He kept himself ready and he’s given us a spark in his minutes in the last two games,” Spoelstra mentioned after that loss in New York. “So I think that’s something we can build on.”
Except like a lot since Robinson signed his five-year, $90 million contract with the Heat to return in 2021 NBA free company, there was little constructing with Robinson.
“I mean,” Robinson mentioned, “I just try and make the most of the opportunities that present themselves. And some stuff you can control, some stuff you can’t. So I’m always going to be prepared.”
Legler famous that Max Strus largely has usurped Robinson’s function, citing Strus, “as more physical, he can guard better, he slides his feet better, is not quite on the level of Duncan Robinson as a shooter, but he’s pretty good at replicating that.”
In hindsight, to Legler the upshot has been a scarcity of forethought by the Heat.
“And they gave him $18 million a year, as like what? As like an appreciation for what you’ve done for us? And now you don’t have a seat?” Legler continued. “He stands up now and like mud flies up within the air.
“And I’m going, ‘This is one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league. You’ve got Duncan Robinson over there. You paid him all that money,’ but they have like no faith in him. And now he has no rhythm. So he does play, it’s not happening for him.”
Robinson entered the week 58 of 173 on 3-pointers, at .335 from past the arc, which might rank him one hundred and thirtieth within the league if he had sufficient qualifying makes an attempt.
Redick, a long-time supporter of Robinson who helped Robinson acquire a foothold within the podcasting area, mentioned this isn’t the case of the previous undrafted guard out of Michigan taking the cash and working.
“I do think there’s some guys that get paid and then they disappear,” Reddick mentioned. “Knowing Duncan, and the way a lot, the entire thing, his profession, his story, the group, his efficiency, all of it issues to him. It all issues to him.
“And basketball is a confidence game, man, and when you lose your confidence, you lose your edge, especially as a shooter. And when that happens, and you can’t provide value in other ways, why are we going to play you? I think that’s it. That’s all it is.”
Of a Robinson revival this season, Legler mentioned, “It’s impossible now.”
Legler continued, “Ever since you paid him, you don’t have a use for him anymore. It has been very much a head scratcher.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com