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Miami Heat: Injury bug biting across crucial stretch of season

By Kenneth Wilson

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 30: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat and Rodney McGruder #17 of the Miami Heat hi-five during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 30, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 30: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat and Rodney McGruder #17 of the Miami Heat hi-five during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 30, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Miami Heat are in a must-win final stretch of the season. As they head to Madison Square Garden on Saturday to face the New York Knicks, they will be missing a few core players.

Coming off a must-win game against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night, the Miami Heat will be on the road for a game Saturday. Heading to the Mecca, as it is affectionately called by many, the Miami squad will be at less than full force.

According to the Miami Heat’s official Twitter account, Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson, and Rodney McGruder will not travel with the team for this game. This is less than ideal for this scrapping Miami Heat squad that sees themselves in the midst of a battle for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.

With Justise Winslow averaging about 13 points per game and four assists, Josh Richardson averaging about 17 points per game and four assists, and McGruder even chipping in about 8 points per game and about two assists, the Heat will be missing a potential 58 points in their lineups on Saturday. This is a huge blow to a team that often has difficulties creating offense, and putting up points in general.

However, and as mentioned, this game is against the Zion-ing, I mean tanking Knickerbockers. Although the Knicks compete on each and every night, this game should be a victory for the Miami Heat. Although a heavily contested and competitive game is what you would expect from a team coached by Heat lifer and former Miami assistant David Fizdale, they don’t have the necessary pieces to win games on a night in and night out basis.

With Miami only leading the Orlando Magic for the eighth seed by a half game, being a half game behind the Brooklyn Nets for the seventh seed, and only one game behind the Detroit Pistons for the sixth seed, every game is crucial. Even with all the injuries, the Miami Heat cannot afford to give any ground in this tight playoff race.

Just because the Heat won’t be at full strength, that doesn’t mean that the Knicks will take it easy on them, as these games against the Heat have probably been circled by Fizdale all season. That shouldn’t be a problem though, as the Heat should still have more than enough fire power to go in and seal a victory.

That is the hope, because to lose a game to the lowly New York Knicks, and especially at this point where they are in the thick of a playoff race would prove to be dire. Not only would it hurt their record, putting them another game behind the eight-ball for one of those final three slots in the East, but it would be extremely damaging to the psyche.

dark. Next. Is Goran Dragic making a case for something?

The Heat know all these things, as coach Erik Spoelstra is surely reminding them that they are the hunted in this match-up. Even with many teams looking to play spoiler on other team’s playoff chances, including these New York Knicks, the Miami Heat should come out on top.

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