Heat's McRoberts may miss rest of season, Bosh out indefinitely
MIAMI, Fla. -- The Miami Heat announced that Josh McRoberts is out indefinitely after suffering a right lateral meniscus tear and could possibly miss the rest of the season.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra broke the news to reporters following Monday's practice. Health issues have been a consistent thorn in the Heat's side during the entire season, but, coupled with Chris Bosh also being ruled out indefinitely with a calf strain, injuries are now threatening to derail what initially was thought to be a promising season.
The Heat's projected starting five of Bosh, McRoberts, Norris Cole, Luol Deng and Dwyane Wade have started only two games together this season for a total of 34 minutes. Bosh was the only constant on the team as they cycled through 10 different starting lineups.
Spoelstra says the Heat, who visit the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, won't feel sorry for themselves.
"You have to fight yourself from doing that," he said. "Certainly you're going to feel emotions and (it was) a kick to the gut about Josh this morning.
"It's tough. You feel for him more than anything else because you wanted him to come in here and contribute. You started to see flashes of it. It's ironic that his best game really was the Phoenix game and that play happened in the last minute of the game. But that's what Heat fans could see and everybody could start to feel what he could add to our group."
McRoberts signed a four-year deal worth about $23 million in the offseason and has been in and out of the lineup this season with a variety of ailments and injuries. He has averaged 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 17.4 minutes in 17 games.
"Injuries are a part of this game," said Spoelstra. "How you respond to adversities, respond to things that are tough, that's what really reveals and reflects your collective character as a group. That's where we have to focus on right now -- are the things that we can control."
Only eight players were able to go through practice with Wade suffering a stomach virus and Justin Hamilton unable to play because of a quad contusion. Spoelstra was unsure if Wade would travel with the team for Tuesday's game and Hamilton is listed as questionable. Bosh was limited to shooting flat-footed free throws during practice and will not travel with the team in order to rest and recuperate.
"I mean, it happens," said guard Mario Chalmers about the team's rash of injuries. "It's going to take more of us to be more of a collective group now and everybody's got to pull their weight every night now. That's a big blow to lose Josh like that, but hopefully things can't get no worse."
Because the Heat are so short-handed, the team also announced they are recalling rookie point guard Shabazz Napier and center Hassan Whiteside early from their NBA D-League assignments with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. The two players will rejoin the team in Brooklyn and will be available to play immediately while rookie guard Andre Dawkins remains with the Skyforce.
"We would have preferred them probably playing another game or two, but now we're bringing them back," Spoelstra said. "Sometimes you have to try to plan it as best as you can since it's not right in our backyard, but we were out that way a little bit and we wanted to get them some minutes but they'll be with us by tonight."
For now, the Heat can only band together and hope they can continue to get healthier as the long regular season continues onward. They may also be granted an injury exception should McRoberts indeed be ruled out for the entire season and they can pursue trades, though there is not much to offer teams in return.
"I told the guys this afternoon that there will be brighter days," said Spoelstra. "It always usually evens out at the end. We're being hit pretty strong with the injury bug right now but we have enough guys to play.
"We'll have enough healthy bodies to play tomorrow. We have an opportunity to get better as a group so there's a lot of things still to look forward to -- to get through this time, to grind through it. Then as we start to get a full compliment of players, now you have the habits that you've built up through the tough times."
You can follow Surya Fernandez on Twitter @SuryaHeatNBA or email him at SuryaFoxSports@gmail.com.
