The Miami Heat are back and ready to hit the court. In fact, they’ll do just that on Monday, as they hit the court for the first time in the new season.
Though just a preseason contest against the Atlanta Hawks, it should feel really good for them to, not only, get back out on the floor to get going but to do so after the way their season ended last year. With a slew of new guys to deploy and a bunch of returning talent, as well, the Miami Heat should hit the ground running in this new season.
Speaking of some of the guys or talent that they have though, there is one returning guy that won’t be able to get his season started quite so soon. A highly talked about topic, Victor Oladipo still has a way to go before his returns to the court.
Though it might not be as long as some might have anticipated, it does still seem to be some time away.
The Miami Heat have a chance to be really special this season. And If Victor Oladipo can get back to, at least, 70 percent… it could certainly mean contention.
Here is a recent word on the topic from, both, Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
Said he's not been cleared to do anything full speed https://t.co/2UeXzS9599
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) October 1, 2021
It goes deeper than that though. Not only is a timetable unknown at the moment, but he isn’t doing a whole lot beyond getting shots up, apparently.
However, there is nothing wrong with that, at all. With the way that this whole thing has gone for him and his desire to be with Miami beyond this season, it’s actually the smartest and most logical way to go about it.
Not that they needed any help in making the decision or input from anywhere, especially here, but allowing him to fully go through a recovery for an injury that’s finally repaired, according to all that’s known or public, is multi-faceted and beneficial in multiple ways as well.
You continue to build that trust-currency that helped both parties land in this scenario, while you give yourself the best chance of ensuring you have a healthy Victor Oladipo later in the season and beyond, hopefully. That’s the real kicker of it all though.
With a healthy Dipo and for whatever that looks like, a 70-percent version of what he can be is a massive boost for Miami’s bench and could be more than enough of the x-factor that they need to put them over the top.
His ability to make plays for himself and his teammates, his ability to create from nothingness, and his ability on the defensive sides of the ball are all valuable and could be put to great use by a Miami Heat team that should be able to compete for a title this season.
That, alone, makes the cautious approach being taken with Oladipo the exact right move.