The Miami Heat suffered a tough loss over the weekend and are preparing for their next game as the news and rumors ramp up.
Check out the latest buzz below.
Bosh Day-to-Day
Star Chris Bosh sat out of the Heat loss to the Bulls on Sunday, but said he should be back soon.
He was bothered by a slight strain in his left calf. No MRI is planned, but he did plan to meet with a team doctor on Monday to have the injury reevaluated.
“It’s a day-by-day thing so far,” Bosh said. “I had some soreness there that really didn’t let up, and it progressed over a day or so.”
“It’s one of those things that can get worse, if you don’t take care of it. It can be a lot worse than it has to be. So we have to take this precaution right now,” he added to ESPN.
On ther other hand, the Miami Herald says Bosh could be out for several weeks, after Bosh said that if he plays too soon “the muscle could tear away from the bone.”
“Bosh is doubtful for [Tuesday’s], but he could be out a few weeks,” the Herald said, without citing where that diagnosis came from.
It was the first game Bosh missed this season.
Coach Erik Spoelstra agreed that the injury needs to be handled carefully.
“With these types of things, you have to be very judicious how you approach it,” Spoelstra said. “He was very sore [Sunday] and [Saturday]. But he doesn’t remember exactly when it happened.”
McRoberts Could be Out for Season
Just when Josh McRoberts appeared to be getting comfortable with his new teammates, and them with him, he got injured again and missed his third game in a row on Sunday because of a right knee bruise.
And the Heat announced on Monday that McRoberts need surgery, and could miss the rest of the season.
Even before that news, a reader wondered when the team will trade him, saying “he must not want to play here.”
“He does. And no one feels worse for the missed time that he does. He has been almost apologetic about each injury or ailment that has kept him out,” responded Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.
“The one thing about the Heat is that they’re willing to be incredibly patient if they believe there is going to be a payoff. It is the approach they took with Mike Miller. And it is one they took with Greg Oden and Eddy Curry. They really like what McRoberts offers and believe his unique game will make them more complex for the opposition to scout in the playoffs.
“When you sign a player coming off toe surgery, you know the payoff won’t be instant. It is why I think they would be reluctant to listen to overtures from Charlotte about a reunion, possibly with Lance Stephenson as the bait. The reality is that the Heat have been a better team with McRoberts on the floor and that 58 games still remain. For now, that means having to endure nights like Sunday.”
Some good news did come Sunday. Chris Andersen played 18 minutes after missing the previous nine games with a sprained right ankle, scoring two points, grabbing three rebounds, and getting one block. Danny Granger also logged 20 minutes, although he picked up five fouls and only shot 1-of-6.
Napier Scores 22 in D-League Debut
Shabazz Napier was sent down to the D-League along with center Hassan Whiteside, and scored 22 points in his debut.
Napier also got two rebounds and three assists, while Whiteside had 21 points and 12 rebounds in the win over the Iowa Energy on Saturday.
Heat rookie Andre Dawkins also plays for the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Napier was a regular part of the Heat rotation for the first eight games, but saw few minutes after that prior to the demotion.
The move was greeted with surprise and was not explained by Spoelstra.
“Napier was struggling, but not to the extent that he seemed headed for this kind of demotion. With one other true point guard on the roster, the Heat (11-12) also did not appear to have the luxury of sending him down. He was ninth among NBA rookies at 21.4 minutes per game playing behind starter Norris Cole and combo guard Mario Chalmers,” noted the Palm Beach Post.
“This could be a brief D-League stay for Napier to get more playing time and sharpen specific aspects of his game. Miami sent center Justin Hamilton to the SkyForce last year to get him some work for two games before bringing him back.”
Napier was chosen 24th overall in the draft, with seven players chosen ahead of him spending time in the D-League so far this season.
Winderman called the move “a bit confounding,” but said it’s partly “them making it clear to him that more is needed than ballhandling and shooting.”
Heat Slammed by Bulls
Derrick Rose was fouled on a fast break, staggered off the court and kept going out a tunnel.
He came back unhurt, but the Chicago Bulls hardly needed him.
Mike Dunleavy led a balanced attack with 22 points and the Bulls overcame a sloppy start Sunday to beat the offensively challenged Miami Heat, 93-75.
The Bulls had their lowest-scoring game since Nov. 21 and still won easily, building a 26-point lead in the second half. Dunleavy said the makeup of the team lends itself to scoring consistency.
“With what we have, there shouldn’t be many nights where we struggle offensively,” he said. “If the outside shots aren’t going, we have many ways to get inside, and we can push the ball. We’ve got a lot of options.”
Jimmy Butler had 17 points, Taj Gibson 15 and Rose 14 for the Central Division-leading Bulls. They improved to 11-3 on the road, best in the Eastern Conference.
Miami leading scorer Chris Bosh (calf strain) missed a game for the first time this season, which left the Heat without enough punch or size to challenge Chicago. Miami shot a season-low 35 percent, including 4 for 22 from 3-point range.
“A guy like Chris is irreplaceable,” said Dwyane Wade, who had 17 points for Miami. “All we ask for and hope for is he can get back as soon as he can when he’s healthy.”
The Heat’s point total matched their season low.
Chicago pulled away in the third quarter thanks to Dunleavy. He was shut out in the first half but scored 19 points on eight shots in the third period, when Chicago outscored Miami 33-16.
Dunleavy finished 4 for 5 from 3-point range, while the Bulls shot 9 of 18 beyond the arc and 47 overall.
The teams slogged through an ugly first half in their first matchup this season. The Bulls committed 13 turnovers but led 39-32 because Miami shot only 29 percent.
“It was your typical Sunday in Miami,” Dunleavy said with a smile. “It seems like everybody had a big Saturday night.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
