DETROIT — The subject was underachieving, the playoff race, but mostly 3-point shooting. Of the latter, both arguably could be considered experts, as Tim Legler made a recent appearance on JJ Redick’s Old Man and the Three podcast.
As the discussion between the former NBA guards turned to the Miami Heat and specifically Duncan Robinson, it was as if Legler no longer could hold back.
“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 practically blurted. “Because the guy was record setting for the franchise, with his 3-point shooting, prolific. Had big moments in the postseason.”
What has happened this season has become abundantly apparent, and for reasons beyond the finger injury that first hampered Robinson in November and December and then the finger surgery that had him out for six weeks starting in January.
Since breaking Tim Hardaway’s franchise career record for 3-pointers in December, Robinson has been much of what he stood as during last season’s playoffs and then the start of this season — an afterthought.
Going into Tuesday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena, Robinson had appeared in only eight of the last 17 games. And even after what appeared to be a revival with 28 minutes in last week’s loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, that was followed up by only 2:15 of action in Saturday’s home 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 said after that loss in New York. “So I think that’s something we can build on.”
Except like so much since Robinson signed his five-year, $90 million contract with the Heat to return in 2021 NBA free agency, there has been little building with Robinson.
“I mean,” Robinson said, “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 noted that Max Strus largely has usurped Robinson’s role, 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 lack 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 dust flies up in 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 beyond the arc, which would rank him 130th in the league if he had enough qualifying attempts.
Redick, a long-time supporter of Robinson who helped Robinson gain a foothold in the podcasting field, said this is not the case of the former undrafted guard out of Michigan taking the money and running.
“I do think there’s some guys that get paid and then they disappear,” Reddick said. “Knowing Duncan, and how much, the whole thing, his career, his story, the team, his performance, it all matters to him. It all matters 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 said, “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.”
