Miami Heat Playoffs: Must Capitalize With Joel Embiid Out At Least 2 Games

The Miami Heat took care of their business against the Atlanta Hawks in five games. Though the last one was a game that saw them win without Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry in the lineup, they were able to get in there, not mess around, and get out of there unscathed, for the most part.

Hey, you can mention Jimmy and Kyle’s status, but the reports indicate that they would have been able to go in the very next game had there been a need for a Game 6. So, there’s that.

A guy that won’t be able to go for his team’s next game though, something you have all heard about by now, and facing off against the Miami Heat in Monday’s Game 1 of their second-round series, Joel Embiid will be down for at least five days following an elbow in Toronto.

Due to the blow received from Pascal Siakam, Embiid will be out for the five-day window in the concussion protocol, while he also has an orbital fracture from the incident.

Miami Heat Playoffs: Must Capitalize With Joel Embiid Out At Least 2 Games

While there is a belief it doesn’t require surgery, he still has to clear the concussion hurdle and figure out how to manage on the floor with the fracture. He is a man that is hampered by a few things at this point.

Not only does he have the sling on the thumb, but he will probably also have to wear the mask again when and if he plays.

Though surgery won’t be required, he still has quite a few different barriers to cross before he can return.

Even still, that return wouldn’t happen until Game 3 of this second-round series, at the latest.

That brings you to the Miami Heat part of things. They could, should, and frankly, would have beaten the Philadelphia team had they been fully healthy, as Miami is just the better team.

However, this presents an even greater sense of urgency and purpose if you are in that Heat locker room. You must handle your business again here early.

Miami Heat Playoffs: Must Be Deliberate And Intentional From The Very Start

You hate to see a guy go down, especially a star, especially one of Jimmy Butler’s best friends in the NBA based on what you have seen, and especially the opposing team’s best player, but in a year where everyone downplayed the Eastern Conference’s top seed, this is the fate of the top-seed.

With that, they must not mess around with the fact that he won’t be there. This is an opportunity for them, however you choose to see, digest, or read it.

James Harden will now have to try and revert back to Houston Harden to see if he can beat the Miami Heat by himself and along with slight assistance from current his crew of merry men. In a seven-game playoff scenario and with Harden’s playoff history, you take the Heat in those situations every time.

Again though and like the rest of the playoffs beyond this series, where they still need to beat two more teams to win the whole thing, they still have to go out there and do it. This is an opportunity though and they must capitalize on it.