Q: So play-in again? – Ron.

A: It’s beginning to certainly feel that way. Look, the Pistons and Knicks aren’t going anywhere at the top. The Celtics and 76ers have shown resilience. And the Cavaliers and Magic have their depth of talent. So that, alone, could preclude anything other than the play-in round for a fourth consecutive season. As it is, the Heat exited Tuesday night’s loss a half-game out of 10th place, the final play-in spot, the spot where they finished last season.

Q: Hi Ira, with those first 21 games seemingly a mirage, my question is this: Can a team who’s max contract talent is someone who is more or less a “nice player” ever find a path beyond mediocrity? – Ray, Deerfield Beach.

A: They have before, so they certainly can again. But it has to be the right players in the right system. And at this stage, it’s not so certain the Heat have either to properly augment Bam Adebayo. But also to be fair, this is not a system on offense that plays to Bam’s strengths. At this stage, a reassessment is needed across the board, which certainly is not the easiest path in the midst of a season. It’s not just that something is off; many things are off. So, yes, Bam needs to be better. But so does Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell and a host of Heat others. They reveled in the early success, now they have to show the same motivation to climb out of whatever this is.

Q: Ira, remember our bench? – Andy.

A: A bench is only truly a “second unit” when the roster is intact. It is hard to be that when Tyler Herro, Pelle Larsson and Nikola Jovic are out. Herro’s scoring clearly is needed. Larsson’s energy clearly is needed. And there could yet again be something to be said about Jovic’s creativity. This was never a team with a huge margin for error, no matter what the early-season record said. This team needs to get whole and healthy. In a hurry.