Will injuries hamper Miami Heat at start of NBA season?
Q: Are the early injuries to Haywood Highsmith and Caleb Martin, two players who figured to be in the rotation, starting to be a concern? With an improved Eastern Conference, the Heat cannot afford to get off to a slow start and then have to fight their way back into trying to avoid the play-in games. – Joel.
A: Caleb Martin is less of a concern with his return Friday from his knee pain, albeit in a cameo appearance in Houston. But Haywood Highsmith is a concern, with his knee not to be evaluated until after the first week of the season. Based on the strides he had shown during the preseason, it is possible he could have emerged as an opening-night rotation player. Now he will not have opening night. Basically, the Heat can get by with either Caleb or Haywood, with the question now whether Caleb will be up for something substantial by Wednesday’s opener against the Pistons.
Q: It is thought that the Heat have greater depth this year, in players who can step in and provide good minutes in regular-season game rotations, when others are out with injuries. Of course, there will be plenty of opportunities to test that all season, but it’s beginning to look like it may be tested right out of the gate in game one. – Morgan, New Orleans.
A: Yes, it does, with Jaime Jaquez Jr. (groin) also among those in question, as well as Josh Richardson (foot). Still, for all that the supporting cast might provide, it will come down to Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, with no plug-and-play replacement options of their pedigree. When one of those three go out, and with the Heat having lost Max Strus and Gabe Vincent in the offseason, that is when true concern could arise.
Q: Ira, for the third time you mentioned that NBA players and teams are being prudent in regards to injury in order to have a full and healthy roster in May and June. When can you remember full and healthy rosters in May and June in recent years? Do you really believe that this strategy is working? – David, Parkland.
A: I would say yes, because those teams have been able to get to May and June.
