NBA Miami Heat

Miami Heat May Not Survive Another Dwyane Wade Injury

Fresh Videos

By @ShaneRantSports

Getty Images

Getty Images

Without LeBron James, an NBA Championship or Finals Appearance was not expected in South Beach this season. A four-year reign became a battle of survival for the Miami Heat, as many viewed a playoff birth as a win in itself. That goal seemed reachable and would show upcoming free-agents they are a couple of pieces away from making another run. Then the injuries piled up and the latest one came at almost the worst time.

Dwyane Wade will miss at least another 1-2 weeks with a strained hamstring, and with every passing game, Miami loses ground in the postseason hunt. Since Wade went out January 30th, the Heat are 1-4 and have fallen to ninth in the East with a record of 21-29. Even the emergence and tremendous play of Hassan Whiteside has not helped stop the bleeding.

It has become evident that Wade is still a crucial piece of the puzzle for Miami. It is hard to tell exactly how long he will remain sidelined, because the hamstring has given the All-Star problems all season. If it is much longer, though, the Heat may lose all hope for the postseason. Luckily, there is some good news for the defending East Champs, because in this conference, there is always some hope of making the postseason, even with 35 wins.

The rest of the good news is that the Heat could get through the next week or two around .500. On the schedule are the New York Knicks twice, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Orlando Magic. Miami will also take on the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans. I have less hope in those games, but if they can go 4-2 or even 3-3 through this stretch, the Heat will give themselves a fighting shot once Wade finally returns.

Shane Phillips is an Lead NBA Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow Shane on Twitter @ShaneRantSports, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also email Shane at [email protected].

Share Tweet
Trending Now on