The Miami Heat are finally about to head into their second-round NBA Playoff series on Monday evening.
Finishing off the Atlanta Hawks nearly a week ago, they have had the chance to get some much-needed rest before their highly anticipated bout with a team that had been among the powerhouses of the Eastern Conference in the Philadelphia 76ers.
Propelled by Joel Embiid in the regular season, until the arrival of James Harden at the NBA Trade Deadline, they would go on to beat the Toronto, finally, in six games.
It was in that last and final game though that one of their stars and their best player, Embiid, would sustain an elbow to the face from Pascal Siakam of the Raptors.
Not seeming to be that serious then, Embiid would proceed to do postgame interviews and the like, carrying on as if all were fine. But, apparently, all wasn’t fine.
You’ve, surely, heard by now.
Miami Heat Playoffs: Kyle Lowry Still A Question Entering Game 1 With 76ers
During the lone NBA Playoff game on Friday night and just a day or so after the game, the news broke that he had sustained an orbital fracture from the blow and would be out for an indefinite amount of time in the NBA’s concussion protocol with a mild concussion.
Though that, at least, means he’ll miss Games 1 and 2 of the series, it has since been reported that he may get back earlier.
Philly isn’t the only ones dealing with an injury to one of their most essential players though and though the guy they’re missing is more crucial than the next guy in question for the Miami Heat, he’s still important too.
In fact and again, though Embiid is the more talented player in question here, the importance factor may be closer to equal than it isn’t. The things that their teams depend on them for are just as important.
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Miami Heat Playoffs: They Need Kyle Lowry To Reach Their Full Potential
Believed to be inching back towards a return and as soon as for Game 1 on Monday against Philadelphia, Kyle Lowry had been out since Game 3 of the Atlanta series while nursing a hamstring situation.
Well, it appears as though he isn’t a lock to return on Monday either.
Butler does not necessarily sound particularly optimistic on Lowry. Says Heat have enough.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) April 30, 2022
That’s a huge blow to a Miami Heat team looking to make a run all the way to the NBA Finals. While they should be able to handle this Philadelphia team in Game 1, especially without Embiid going, you want Lowry in the lineup going for Game 2 and beyond.
He’s an essential part of everything they have done this season and hope to do from this point.
Embiid is the biggest absence in this series and though the Miami Heat were the favorites heading into the series anyway (rightfully so), that makes it that much tougher for them for every minute he is unable to take the floor in this series.
However, to ensure the Miami Heat do all that they are capable of, in this series and beyond, they need their floor general and QB1 on the floor. His status is something to keep an eye on, of course, hoping he makes it back sooner than later.