The Miami Heat started the season winning seven of their first ten games. During that time, the overall health of their roster was relatively stable.
Now, that has all changed, as the Heat are now dealing with a slew of injuries.
The Heat currently sit at the fifth spot in the East but have been playing without their two stars in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. They are also still missing Victor Oladipo and Markieff Morris.
All of these injuries have taken a toll on the team’s success, but one of them has impacted the team the most. That would be the absence of Jimmy Butler.
Just like last year, the Heat are a completely different team without Butler.
There are few players in the NBA that impact winning as much as he does.
Kyle Lowry and the Heat’s depth have done a pretty decent job of stepping up in the absence of their stars, but it is too heavy a burden to consistently carry every night. The Heat have gone 5-5 without Butler, which is better than last season’s record of 7-13 without their best player.
However, that record is still not ideal, especially for a team that is seeking to win their fourth franchise title this year. This recent tailbone injury has been bothering Butler for a while now.
His presence is missed on the court. So, what can be done about it?
For a potential solution, we look to four-time NBA champion and former Miami Heat star, LeBron James. He, arguably, has the highest basketball IQ of any player, while also impacting winning more than any other player in NBA history.