ASK IRA: Are Joel, Mario the current Heat versions of Zo and Payton?

Q: There should not be any surprise about Spoelstra finishing with Chalmers and Anthony after starting with Ilgauskas and Arroyo. It was the same in ‘06 with Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning finishing the fourth quarters for their defense in place of Shaq and J-Will. Spoelstra’s just using the same Riley formula. — Moshe. A: Good point, with the Heat certainly looking for the same results. In some ways, albeit to a lesser degree, Anthony and Chalmers offer many of the same things that Zo and Gary offered. Q: I agree with you about playing Miller more right now. He is the fourth-best player on the Heat and the sooner you work him into the rotation, the better. Barring foul trouble to Ilgauskas or maybe Arroyo, he should be the first sub off the bench. — David. A: No matter how it happens, he has to get in there. And, as I blogged, it would seem to make the most sense now, against this run of lesser opponents. Honestly, how much worse could the Heat have been wi...