Winderman’s view: Yes they beat the 76ers, but the Heat now need to get real

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Monday night’s 117-105 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

– So what to make of this?

– What, indeed.

– Until Andrew Wiggins is on the court with Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo for an extended period, the possibilities will remain largely unknown.

– And at this point, the only way they can be on the court together for a long stretch would be in an extended playoff run.

– Which, at this stage, appears highly unlikely.

– This time no Wiggins or Adebayo.

– So maybe it comes together Wednesday night in Chicago.

– Maybe it gets Erik Spoelstra to play these final next three games of the regular season with purpose.

– Or perhaps health ahead of the play-in trumps all.

– Which it should.

– We shall see.

– Still, Wednesday night in Chicago should matter enough for Spoelstra to go all-in.

– It could be the only way for the Heat to get a home postseason game.

– The Heat basically put out Monday night what they thought was enough to get the job done.

– But even on a play-in level there has to be more.

– Against opponents that actually are trying to win.

– With Adebayo and Wiggins out, Heat opened with a lineup of Kel’el Ware, Haywood Highsmith, Pelle Larsson, Alec Burks and Herro.

– Davion Mitchell was first off the Heat bench.

– Followed together by Duncan Robinson and Kyle Anderson.

– And then for the first time in three games, Jaime Jaquez Jr.

– With no Terry Rozier in the primary rotation.

– Larsson again injected needed energy.

– Robinson showed signs of having moved past his back issue.

– Ware had numbers, but largely was uneven against the 76ers nondescript big men.

– Herro had the look of a player doing just what was needed.

– Anderson continues to stabilize in the absence of others.

– This time doing it with rebounds and blocked shots.

– Still, the NBA has to do something about this tanking.

– There simply are too many games at the close of the season where one of the team is trying to and needs to lose.

– There has to be a better way.

– Robinson’s second 3-point attempt was the 3,000th of his career.

– Anderson’s fourth defensive rebound was the 2,500th of his career.