Miami Heat: Justise Winslow’s back injury worse than expected

It appears we aren’t as close to Justise Winslow’s return as the Miami Heat had originally hoped. His injury has been re-classified by the organization.

The injury bug has been the main constant for the Miami Heat so far this season, other than winning of course. Through 30 games the Heat are 22-8 and are tied for second in the Eastern Conference in spite of the continuous injury issues. The most significant of these has been Justise Winslow‘s back injury, and it seems as though it’s not going to clear up anytime soon.

Winslow has been sidelined since December 6th, and it was originally classified as a back strain. According to the Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman, the Heat have re-classified this injury as a bone bruise.

Obviously, this extends the timetable for Winslow’s return somewhere further into the future. As opposed to the original diagnosis of a strain, a bone bruise could take as much as two months to recover from, let alone to the point of being able to perform the kind of intense physical activity undertaken by a professional athlete.

In a way, the injuries experience by the Miami Heat may prove to be something of a silver lining, considering they’ve won throughout them and just about every injury or suspension has simply paved the path to a breakout player off the bench. Dion Waiters and Goran Dragic‘s absences opened the door for Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn, and with Winslow sideline Derrick Jones Jr. has taken an expanded role.

That said, you can only get away with playing a thin rotation for so long. The next injury or surprise absence will be a real problem, especially since the Heat have very little in the way of resources with which to add another rotational player.

These breakout players showing what they can do are a blessing to be sure, but the Miami Heat are in more need for a return to full strength as games go by.