Jimmy Butler injured his ankle against the Denver Nuggets, putting Miami in a position where they have to play without him in the lineup. But this is not Miami's first rodeo with Butler out. With Butler's absence, Miami has a deep enough roster to weather the storm.
As coach Erik Spoelstra likes to say, this is a perfect opportunity for guys to step up and earn regular playing time when Butler does return to the lineup.
Pelle Larsson
Miami’s second-round pick has slowly found his way into the rotation even with Jimmy Butler in the lineup. But now with Butler’s injury, there is more playing time for Larsson.
Larsson is capable of holding his own on defense, which is crucial because Miami desperately needs more defenders on the floor. He can step in to support Butler defensively. If Miami can efficiently utilize their depth to cover Butler's minutes, they should be fine. On the offensive end, Larsson aggressively attacks the rim and finishes well. While he may not be able to provide the same scoring output as Butler, he can drive to the basket in a similar way. Furthermore, Larsson can replicate some of the skills that Butler brings to the team.
Jamie Jaquez Jr.
Jaquez is a player similar to Butler, known for his ability to drive to the rim and shoot mid-range jumpers. If given more playing time, Jaquez has the potential to score more points. Currently, Miami's offense heavily relies on Tyler Herro, who primarily scores from three-point range or by attacking the rim. If Jaquez can provide scoring relief for Herro, it would be a significant boost for Miami.
Jaquez can initiate the offense similarly to Butler and possesses excellent footwork in the post. The team should aim to get Jaquez touches in the post to create more scoring opportunities. Miami is in need of consistent scoring, and by utilizing Jaquez in the post or allowing him to drive to the basket, they can enhance their scoring capabilities. The team would be satisfied if Jaquez can replicate 70% of Butler’s offensive game.
Haywood Highsmith
To begin the season, Haywood Highsmith needed to secure the minutes that many fans expected him to receive. Recently, he has been gaining playing time and has been included in the starting lineup. Highsmith excels in perimeter defense, similar to Jimmy Butler, and some may argue that on a good night, Highsmith is an even better defender than Butler. He has a talent for getting into passing lanes to create steals and exhibits excellent timing when reaching for them.
In a recent game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Highsmith recorded five steals. He effectively matches up against the opposing team's best players. With Butler in the starting lineup, it's essential for Highsmith to receive significant playing time.
Offensively, Highsmith has also improved. He is a streaky 3-point shooter, with a shooting percentage of 36%. When his shots are falling, it becomes a valuable bonus for the team. Moreover, he has worked on his ball handling during closeouts and is increasingly aggressive in attacking the rim, either searching for open teammates or utilizing his improved floater.
While Highsmith may not fully compensate for Butler’s offensive contributions, he provides Miami with another capable wing defender who can hold his own on that end of the court.