Miami Heat Host Magic, Hope For Bosh’s Return
By David Ramil
Among the many challenges the Miami Heat has faced this season was a brutal early schedule featuring a number of back-to-back sets. Things were supposed to improve with a seven-game homestand but Miami didn’t make the most of the opportunity, dropping four of six matchups so far. This stretch ends tonight against the Orlando Magic (12-21), hopefully on a good note with the return of Chris Bosh.
A lingering calf injury has kept Bosh out of the lineup for the past eight games, during which Miami notched a 3-5 record. C.B. was able to go through a full workout on Sunday but head coach Erik Spoelstra was guarded about the return, stating the following via the team’s official Twitter account:
Still, having Bosh’s 21.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game should be a boost for the Heat, who have struggled to find a complementary scorer to Dwyane Wade (averaging 29.2 PPG over the last five games). There are signs that Luol Deng might finally assume that role, possibly putting together his best two-game stretch since he joined Miami this summer. Deng has been inconsistent for most of this season, putting up great numbers on one night and noticeably absent the next. But after a 25-point burst in a Christmas Day win over Cleveland, Deng followed that up with a solid 16-point outing in a loss to Memphis.
Danny Granger has also been a positive factor, adding 18 points against the Grizzlies and providing the floor-stretching ability that the Heat have lacked throughout the season.
Should Bosh return, how will that affect Spoelstra’s fluctuating lineup rotations? Injuries have led to various starting units and, as editor Wes Goldberg outlined here, perhaps moving Bosh to the forward spot might be in the works. The Magic’s Nikola Vucevic has been a matchup problem for the Heat in the past, grabbing gaudy rebounding numbers even in the midst of Orlando’s 11-game losing streak to Miami. Chris Andersen could limit Vucevic’ impact while allowing Bosh to stay out of foul trouble and work through some of the expected rust after a long layoff.
Orlando’s Tobias Harris will face the Heat for the first time this season (he missed Miami’s 99-92 victory on November 22) and his 19.6 PPG will be a challenge for Deng to limit. Harris has turned into a capable scorer, and his 39.4 field-goal percentage from 3-point range makes him a versatile threat. The inside/outside combo of Vucevic and Harris will be one to watch. Also, keep an eye on rookie Elfrid Payton, now starting for the Magic. His long-limbed defense could be a problem for Miami’s point guards and he was able to play passing lanes perfectly when these two teams last met.
The Magic are improving, no longer the foregone victory that they’ve been over the last few seasons. They’re competing for a playoff spot (currently 2.5 games out) and a win against Miami would be a major boost. If Bosh does make it onto the floor, the Heat have to find a way to settle down and stay consistent, a major issue all season.
The game is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. from the AmericanAirlines Arena. Check back with All U Can Heat for a full recap, post-game grades and analysis.