Miami Heat: They Dodge A Bullet After Max Strus Injury Update

Miami Heat: Who Will Step Up In Max Strus’s Absence Though?

Strus’s improved offensive consistency showed itself throughout the 2021 preseason, finishing as the Heat’s fourth-leading scorer at 13.5 points and on a blistering 47 percent from three. This showing featured a 28-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs.

Strus’s play has warranted an increased role for the Heat’s third-year wing and head coach Erik Spoelstra will have to go deeper into his bench without him. Who is the guy for the moment though?

AS STRUS MISSES TIME, WHO GETS FIRST CRACK

One player who the Heat should certainly allocate minutes to is Caleb Martin, one of Miami’s assigned two-way contracts. Seeing 26 minutes against Memphis and after only seeing eight (three inactive) in Miami’s first five outings, Martin displayed versatility in short spurts, as the Heat deferred to smaller lineups in Adebayo’s absence.

While he isn’t as bulky as Strus, Martin can fly in the open court and create highlight plays from either end.

While the Heat do have an open roster spot available, I don’t see them in play to fill any gaps between now and next spring — when the buyout market spikes. It shouldn’t be too much longer before Victor Oladipo returns to the lineup as well.

Until then, the Heat will continue to rely on Strus to be a key contributor for their bench when he’s healthy. In his absence, the call has been made for players to step up and contribute, while the Next Man Up mentality instantly comes into full play.

We’ll see who can grab the baton. As long as they help the Miami Heat stay near the top of the race, it doesn’t even matter though.