This is a new feature of the blog where we print a question asked of Heat beat writer Ira Winderman and re-answer it here because Ira's answer was unsatisfactory. Here is a link to Ira's Q + A page: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketball/heat/sfl-askira,0,3595666.story?page=1.
Q: Now that Haslem is back, how is he looking at center? Also, did Coach mention anything about starting Haslem, Marion and Beasley? -- Bob.
A: Bob, my friend, great question. Haslem did not play much center in the second exhibition game against the Nets (he sat out the first one). UD is undersized for the power forward spot, really, so center is even more of a stretch size-wise. However, I don't think it makes any sense to do anything but start UD, Beasley, and Marion up front. Whatever his defensive shortcoming may be, the Heat need Beasley's ability to create shots with the first group. I think Quinn is going to start ahead of Banks because he provides more ability to space the floor, and turns it over less. But if you start Quinn, Wade, Marion, Haslem, and Blount, where are the shots going to come from? They are going to run a lot of pick and rolls with Wade and Blount, I would imagine, and defenses are going to jump Wade and leave Blount to shoot the 18 footer. I don't know how attractive an option that is. Beasley gives them a couple of additional options. He can certainly play screen and roll, and he demonstrated pretty good ability to post up in the second Net game. And you can dump it to him at the high post and let him work. You can't really bring Haslem or Marion off the bench - UD because you need his defensive presence, and Marion because he would flip out. So I think you just start all three - it may not work either, but I think that is what you try first. If other teams want to force feed the post to start the game, let them try it - that's not the forte of most teams anyways.
(for the record: Ira believes that Spoelstra is going to try to play Joel Anthony more in the middle for defensive purposes and is leaning against playing UD in the middle much - I don't think that makes sense if UD, Marion, and Beasley are your best three forwards)
In other news:
Is Barack Obama already the greatest black American? In my house, of course, we are often divided amongst racial lines, but I think we agree that Obama may have already eclipsed Martin Luther King Jr. for the top spot. If he were to win in November, he certainly would assume that mantle. The greatest white American ever? 1920's golfing legend Ben Hogan.
