I got a sneaky suspicion that TD steps up big time the rest of the series. He'll be left open and knock down his shots at a good clip. He'll be something that the Heat will have to worry about. Which will let us sneak by with a 7 game series win. You heard it here first...
This seems more like wishful thinking.
Considering the observation made when TD was allowed more minutes; he neglected to improve his decision making; he neglected to improve his dribble-drive and finish at the rim where he has repeatedly force-flopped himself to the floor with little to no contact.
This, to the untrained eye seems like "drawing a foul", but in reality he does it to distract from the fact he cannot finish in traffic.
I attribute this continuation (and my next point) to being trained (or not properly) in the unorthodox former coach way.
TD seemed fine for our former coach when he had the green light to chuck. When he was asked to facilitate and decide quickly, to get guys involved or take matters into his own hands... he failed.
My second point and reason for TD failure is his inability to learn and understand what exactly a PG does. A PG knows that guy's want the ball in a position to catch and shoot or tripple-threat in rythem. All PG's know this as well as to accomplish these passes WHILE NOT STARRING DIRECTLY AT THEIR TEAMMATE, or after picking up their dribble...
TD has yet (and its been years now) to demonstrate his acquiescense to the nuances of a true PG. He is stuck in tweener mode where he was conditioned to be by you-know-who.
All TD can be counted on doing is hopefully locking down on D. And again, to the untrained eye he does, until you consider he can't properly get around screens, he fouls too much when unecessary, and he doesn't stop the ball.
Really Bibby is our best hope and he's semi-fragile/over-the-hill.