The Miami Heat have a game to worry about on Wednesday evening and their own stars’ health to manage as they head into it. The longevity of their best players for sustained stretches and the most important parts of the year will, more than likely, determine just how far this Miami Heat team can go.
With Jimmy Butler having missed quite a few games this year, making sure he is healthy near the end of the year and into the postseason is the most important thing. Because as has been indicated by the last few seasons, as he goes, so do they.
Now, he can take them as far as they want and need to go, but he has to be present and with the roster to do that. That though, at this very moment, is just background noise.
Right now and to, both, the notion of having a game to play and the longevity of their current players along the roster, the Miami Heat’s head coach recently had kind words to say about one of his former players and a guy that is the opposition on Wednesday.
You probably already know who that player is.
Miami Heat: Coach Spo Exactly Right About LeBron’s Ability To Play Until 50
Here are a few of Coach Spo’s thoughts on LeBron James. They come from a piece by Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
"But in James’ 20th season, he’s still elite. James, who turns 38 on Friday, entered Tuesday averaging 27.8 points while shooting 49.6 percent from the field, 8.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game this season. “It’s crazy,” said Spoelstra, who was James’ head coach during his four seasons with the Heat from 2010 to 2014. “He’s redefining what’s possible with human performance. The way he looks, it looks like he’s the Tom Brady of the NBA, that he could just keep on going. His athleticism is still there. But if he ever only had to rely on his brain, he could play until he’s 50 and still be effective and move the needle.”"
And after having the chance to let Spo’s thoughts and sentiments sink in, there is but only one conclusion that can be drawn. Well, there is only one right conclusion.
And that would be that he is exactly right. Though there are signs of LeBron’s athleticism diminishing—just a bit though, it is still there.
And on top of the fact that he is still one of the most athletically gifted players in the league, even after two decades, he is still one of the most athletically imposing as well, which is different than flat-out “athleticism”.
Let’s go a bit deeper into it all.
Miami Heat: Lebron Can Play Until 50 Due To His Skill, Athleticism, And ‘Brain’
At his size, strength, and in a game dominated by 6’6 to 6’9 guys anyway—he still stands out.
In combination with the “brain” that Spo mention, that “imposition” would be just that much easier based on the fact that he can play anywhere and at any position on the court. From the point guard to the center, LeBron can still do it all.
And admittedly so, in accordance with a slight step back athletically, his defense has taken a slight step back too. Where he was once the most elite of the elite on that side as well, the peak of perfection defensively, he has taken a step back to just being very good—which is still, no pun intended, very good.
So, overall, when you look at what Coach Spo had to say about his former championship-winning player for the Miami Heat during the world-famous Big 3 Era, he was spot on.
But don’t let the compliments fool you, if Spo has a plan for anybody, it’s LeBron James. Let’s just hope they can execute it on Wednesday night.