Just when things looked like they may just begin to finally start to come together for the Miami Heat, they were dealt another blow. In their most recent contest against the Los Angeles Lakers, a winning effort but barely, the Miami Heat took a devastating blow when it comes to injury.
On an attempt later in the game, Victor Oladipo came down awkwardly on his knee and wasn’t right afterwards. He limped to the other end, only to be pulled from the game, and before heading straight to the locker room.
His night was done. Again, the Miami Heat won the game, but they lost a very important piece along the way.
As the evening progressed and eager for an update, one was eventually given on his situation. The “update” was that there would be no update.
That report came from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Verbatim, his report was that “Spoelstra said there will be no update on Oladipo’s right knee injury and he will be further evaluated tomorrow.”
However and via the hardwork of Barry Jackson and Scott Agness, there was word, of some sort. Though it wasn’t anything completely definitive, it was more than was previously revealed.
Update from Scott, who covered Victor with Pacers https://t.co/bmSFXt7qMe
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 9, 2021
Still though, it wasn’t the best news either and it got even worse.
The Miami Heat lost Victor Oladipo, for now, but what’s it all mean?
As a little time progressed and with the Miami Heat needing to head to Oregon for a Sunday night showdown with the Portland Trail Blazers, the reports of Oladipo’s situation and status started to come again. Here is one of the more recent reports, again, from Barry Jackson.
Every Heat player except Victor Oladipo is traveling with Heat to Oregon this afternoon. Oladipo (knee) remains out indefinitely.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 10, 2021
Ouch! That last word is a very bothersome one.
Indefinitely means that “they don’t know”. With that, here are three immediate reactions to that news.
Where does this leave them this season?
The Miami Heat were starting to get comfortable with Oladipo in the starting unit and he was appearing to become more comfortable there too, as the Lakers game, in which he was hurt, was arguably his best as a member of the Miami Heat so far. This injury is not only a setback for him as an individual player, but obviously for the Miami Heat as a whole.
While they still may have enough to make a run, with him in tow, things are just that much more effective and easier, potentially. That’s the first reaction though and that’s to the Miami Heat’s current season and hopes.
How long is ‘indefinite’ for Victor Oladipo and the Miami Heat?
The thing about this deal for the the Miami Heat and Victor Oladipo is that it wasn’t just a this year thing, one would think.
Where does that leave Oladipo and the Heat beyond this season?
This was an expanded tryout and first-hand look-see into his medicals, to help them along in the decision-making process to see if they wanted to attempt, at least, to keep him around beyond this year. That whole process has now been interrupted by this unfortunate situation.
Injury and missing time are apart of sports, a huge part. Though you would rather not see them than doing so, it’s just one of the unfortunate parts of what comes with all the great things that sports and specifically, the NBA, are and is.
The Miami Heat still have a decision to make when it comes to Oladipo though. This doesn’t make that decision any easier.
With this injury and though “indefinite” could mean a week from now or eight weeks from now, that’s just it. Nobody knows exactly when or, at least, that’s what’s being reported.
The ‘unknown’ is always the scariest thing
In any scenario or situation and in any walk or aspect of life, the scariest thing to deal with is the unknown and the anxiety of it all. That’s what this situation is for the Miami Heat organization, the team, and those that support the team.
It was apparent that he tweaked something in his knee, but it’s not been revealed “how bad”. Now, to add to the unknowns of it all, his absence will be one of the nature that has no cap or definitive date of return.
Great.
While you never want these things to be rushed, it’s just an awful spot to be in. One can’t possibly account for what one doesn’t know, but that’s also why it’s the most frightening place to be.
You can’t plan for it and the Miami Heat didn’t plan for this. That’s the point of it all though, as they couldn’t have possibly had the chance or known to.
Hopefully, it really isn’t that bad and his indefinite absence is a comfort-level on his part and caution on their part thing. Only time will tell, but keep your eyes peeled.
Kendrick Nunn and Goran Dragic will see an uptick in time you’d think as well, but that was a given. As one can see, things are starting to get really interesting, for good or for bad.