Miami Heat’s biggest question for Udonis Haslem in 2022-23

Udonis Haslem #40 of the Miami Heat helps up teammate Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat prior to the playing the Boston Celtics (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Udonis Haslem #40 of the Miami Heat helps up teammate Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat prior to the playing the Boston Celtics (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

The Miami Heat are 2-5 and need something to get them back on the right track. There is no magic trick-type essence to it all though, as they’ll just have to do the work to figure this thing out.

You know that’s true, as that’s how these things tend to go, but also because that’s the Miami Heat’s way of going about most situations, with hard work, effort, and in a direct fashion. And to nail that point home, Heat head man, Erik Spoelstra, did the exact same thing in an expression of disappointment after their most recent defeat.

But speaking of the games they’ve played though, there has been an interesting fact to emerge from a few of them. Playing in his customary clean-up minutes after a game has already been decided, Udonis Haslem has taken on that role for the last several seasons now.

However, he has already been pressed into action in another game too. Yes, you read that right, Udonis Haslem was “pressed” into action by the Miami Heat, meaning they absolutely needed to go to him.

Udonis Haslem has already seen himself log meaningful minutes early on in the season for the Miami Heat. What, exactly, does that say about their team?

And that leads you to his biggest question for the season.

Biggest Question For Udonis Haslem: How Much Will The Heat ‘Need’ Him To Play?

Playing in two of the Miami Heat’s seven games so far, that would put him on a pace to play about 23 or 24 games or so. Well, even if he only got to 23, then that would be nearly as many games as he has played in across the last four seasons combined.

You love to see the OG play for the Miami Heat and that’s mainly for two reasons. One, you love to see him still show off his stuff but secondly, that typically means that the game is about over and almost always in the Miami Heat’s favor.

But, if they need his body in meaningful minutes, that doesn’t bode well for the Heat’s chances, one would think. Now, they are dealing with injury issues, developing a rookie that can play that spot a bit, and enduring foul trouble from their other available options, so you keep all that in mind.

However, that’s why this is a big question for Haslem. Because again, if they are forced to go to him a ton, then that doesn’t mean good things for the team.