Miami Heat Hot Topics: Injuries won’t stop, Bam should be an All-Star

In our Miami Heat Hot Topics series, we take a look at the week that was. We covered the injuries that just won’t stop, reiterate Bam Adebayo’s All-Star case and more.

In our ongoing Miami Heat Hot Topics series, we’ll catch up on the stories we’ve written so far these past couple days here at All U Can Heat. We covered the increasing grind of injuries that are haunting the Heat as the season goes on, and we refuse to drop the banner for Bam Adebayo‘s All-Star campaign. We also look back at head coach Erik Spoelstra’s mass substitution of the starting lineup as they let the Washington Wizards back into what should have been a blowout, and welcome Dion Waiters back to the rotation.

As we cover these stories and so much more, join us as we look back at the last few days here on the site.

Something Erik Spoelstra never wants to have to do again

On Wednesday night the Miami Heat held a big lead over the Washington Wizards only to allow the outmatched Wizards back into the game. The starting lineup was on the floor for the big run, and Spoelstra found himself in the awkward position of having to pull out the whole starting unit in a hockey-style substitution.

From our Kenneth Wilson:

"You have to attribute some of it to Jimmy Butler not quite finding the consistency in his shooting stroke yet, but you also have to lay some of it at the feet of defensive lapses on that end of the floor by the Heat. Either way, I believe Spo will address and account for it moving forward, as we just can’t have that and still get the best version of the Miami Heat as they can possibly give throughout the remainder of this regular and postseason."

Kendrick Nunn is a flourishing star

We’ve raved about this since the beginning of the season, but Kendrick Nunn has surprised everybody. He’s the current clear-cut runner-up in the Rookie of the Year race, and nobody saw this coming after he had to battle his way onto the roster in Summer League.

From our Sam Golub:

"If you really want to take a pessimistic view of it, the only area of improvement that’s absolutely needed to take Nunn’s game to the next level would be his defensive game. While Kendrick Nunn can certainly score and create, he can sometimes be exposed on the defensive end and especially when opposing teams get him involved in their pick and roll action."

Bam Adebayo should be an All-Star game starter

The All-Star Game starter selection process has concluded, but we’re not ready to let go of the hope that Bam Adebayo should be an All-Star starter. His incredible development has been far beyond anything the Miami Heat organization could have hoped when they drafted him in 2017. If not this year, an All-Star starting spot is a near certainty in the future.

From our Max Marshall:

"Although unrelated, it is stunning how Bam has jumped to not only All-Star caliber but he has done it while also placing himself firmly in the running for the Most Improved Player award."

Injury issues pile up once again for the Heat

It doesn’t seem to matter who is on the Miami Heat roster, injury issues are just going to be a thing they need to deal with. Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn have all been ruled day-to-day with various injuries and Justise Winslow has barely been a factor this season with his bone bruise suffered more than a month and a half ago. Butler, Dragic and Nunn likely won’t miss much time from their current injuries, but it does go to show that this will just continue to be something that lingers for the Heat.

Make sure to check back soon for our next edition of Miami Heat Hot Topics.