I’m of the mind Miami doesn’t make the Finals if Herro had been healthy. His minutes went to Martin and Vincent who both played good defense. Herro would have scored but also gives up lots of points. Martin went on a scoring spree during the playoffs in big games. With him in you got production on both sides of the floor. Maybe you beat the Bucks with Herro but no way you beat the Knicks with him playing 30+ minutes a game.
It's Spolestra, he'd make things work. I doubt the players you mentioned would be eliminated too. He usually goes with hot hand. Strus minutes may have been split and less Duncan Robinson but the Heat have a way of operating and notice guys don't pout when they don't play or aren't prepared when they do.
Give Spoelstra full credit for having them bounce back. It could be argued they won 5 of 7 games with giveaway in Game 6 but they were going to steal that one, but for a guy who was bashed when hired for "anyone could coach that team" to do what he's done in recent years, he's proven that an elite coach in today's game can get a team past more talented teams.
Thibodeau is the anti Spoelstra. He would've lost to Heat with Herro too. He is great to re-energize an organization that has been down because he'll get guys to play hard, but every team he coaches has guys beat to hell by this time of year due to playing them too many minutes in regular season and much like Flip Saunders in his career in Minnesota and Detroit-they play same mentality in regular/season and playoffs and they are worn down. Then everyone turns on the Players instead of Thibs until it's too late. Knicks fans want Randle gone and he had 2 Jayson Tatum ankle/foot injuries--one prior to Playoffs starting and another in Game 5 of Cavs series. They are ganging up on him as the culprit. Brunson was beat up. Robinson could barely move. Quickley got injured. If it was one time, fine but it's every team Thibs coaches.