Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has his hands full with a roster full of injuries, and the team’s next two games are against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday and Friday nights.
“At some point, we’re hoping to get some guys back,” he said following Tuesday’s team shootaround. The Heat are 7-11 and 12th overall in the Eastern Conference standings.
According to some NBA betting sites, the Heat have the 13th-best odds to win the championship in 2023. See which sportsbooks have the highest odds for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers.
In the year “I feel like we’re a better team,” Erik Spoelstra said as the injury-depleted Heat returned home at 7-11 after their first four-game winless streak since 2008. Rather than our record, our record is our record.
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) November 22, 2022
“Even if they’re not 100 percent, they’re close enough, maybe even short minutes, to give us a little boost,” the Heat coach continued. “That’s where we are now.”
Now, after a 105-101 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night, the Heat are on a four-game skid. While Spoelstra isn’t sure when Jimmy Butler and Tyler Hero will return, the veteran coach knows the team needs help.
“Just give us what you’ve got,” the Heat coach added. “Give us everything you have. If you are used to playing 30 minutes, give us 15. If you are used to playing 20 minutes, give us eight. So we can manage things now.
Erik Spoelstra believes Heat player should face Wizards if healthy enough to play minutes
On Monday, the Heat were Jimmy Butler (knee), Udonis Haslem (personal), Tyler Hero (ankle), Victor Oladipo (knee), Duncan Robinson (ankle) and Omer Yurseven (ankle).
Miami’s backcourt is a shell of what it used to be. 15 games into the 2022-23 season, the Heat are 29th in scoring at 108.2 points per game. Their offensive efficiency rating ranks 23rd (1.064).
On the other hand, the team is hanging on defensively. The Heat are allowing 109.8 points per game, which ranks ninth in the league. But their opponents are shooting 47.6% overall.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Haslem and Butler were listed as questionable for Wednesday night’s game against the Wizards. Although Oladipo, Urseven and Hero are out indefinitely, Gabe Vincent is now listed as questionable.
Oladipo has not played since the 2022 NBA Playoffs. In their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, the two-time All-Star averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
If Butler, Hero and Oladipo can stay healthy together in the second half of the season, the Heat could be a strong playoff contender. GM Andy Ellisberg may try an offseason trade.
Fortunately for Miami fans, the Wizards are also dealing with a fair number of injured players. Bradley Bell (quad), Monte Morris (ankle) and Rui Hachimura (ankle) are listed as questionable for the Heat. Not to mention, Delon Wright (hamstring) is out indefinitely.
After a two-game homestand with the Wizards, the Heat will play the Hawks on Sunday at State Farm Arena. Of course, Miami takes on the Boston Celtics in back-to-back games at TD Garden.
