ASK IRA: Has Heat’s Davion Mitchell unfairly gone overlooked?

Q: Ira, I vote Davion Mitchell for the Heat’s best eight-point game of the season. That late steal was huge and his 11 assists went overlooked. I didn’t like seeing Dru Smith having to sit out with his fifth foul, but I’m glad Davion was in there to step up. That was big. – Johnny.

A: It was interesting that two of the game’s most influential players led their teams in turnovers on Thursday night, with Davion with five for the Heat and Cade Cunningham his seven for the Pistons. But it also showed that the two were involved, on the ball, willing to step up to the biggest moments. While Davion’s eight points fell well short of Cade’s 31, I agree that the Heat might not have escaped with the victory without Davion’s presence. He was as much a factor on the defensive for the Heat end as Cade on the offensive end for the Pistons. It was a meaningful moment for Davion.

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Q: The Heat have the fourth easiest remaining schedule and injuries can change things fast. It’s way too early to say Heat can’t get a Top 2, 3 or 4 seed in the East. – Tom.

A: Going into Thursday night in Detroit, the Heat’s remaining strength of schedule was fifth easiest according to Tankathon. But also consider that NBA.com noted on Thursday that the Heat have the league’s ninth toughest schedule for January, with both calculations based on the winning percentages of opponents. So it’s not as stacking wins is necessarily going to be simple in the short term. But to move up, you have to beat the teams above, which made Thursday night in Detroit meaningful. Now the Heat have to back it up, with a pair of upcoming games against the Timberwolves on Saturday and Tuesday. To make up ground, you have to beat the team above, with the Heat 0-1 against Boston, 0-3 against Orlando and 0-2 against Toronto so far.

Q: This year has been a rollercoaster ride. Before the season, play-in seemed the most we could hope for. Then the great start and maybe a top-four finish. Then the losing streak and back to being a play-in team. Now four wins in a row and closer to third than ninth with 40% of the season gone. I’m getting whiplash. Which Heat is the real Heat? – Howard, Hallandale Beach.

A: Not sure I know and not sure the Heat know. Remember, we have yet to fully assimilate the Tyler Herro factor, with that return expected over the next week. To this point, the only consistency has been inconsistency.