As news broke that Tyler Herro was going to be sidelined for an extended period of time after having foot surgery, the glass-half-full side of Miami Heat fans recognizes that Herro should be back in November, and it isn't an injury that is going to keep him out for the entire year.
But the timing of the injury and the specific games he is going to miss is during a stretch when the Heat needed all hands on deck to try and make a run in 2025-26.
Tyler Herro to be sidelined to open the 2025-26 season
The way Miami's schedule is set up this year, their most difficult stretch is by far their first 15 games of the year. The first five games aren't too terrible, but it is the ten-game stretch from games six to fifteen that could create some serious problems.
In case one needs a reminder, the Heat have a stretch from November 2 through November 16 where they play:
- @ Lakers
- @ Clippers
- @ Nuggets
- vs Hornets
- vs Trail Blazers
- vs Cavaliers
- vs Cavaliers
- @ Knicks
- vs Knicks
- vs Warriors
Even with Herro, Miami would have been favored in maybe two or three of those games at best. Now remove the potent scorer on Miami's roster for this stretch, and who knows what the Heat's record could be after 15 games.
Light at the end of the tunnel
Part of what makes the timing of Herro's injury even worse is that Miami could dig itself such a hole that it won't be in a position to benefit from the backend of the schedule.
For example, the 12-game stretch Miami starts on January 20, all the way through the All-Star break, is a stretch where it wouldn't be crazy to think the Heat could go 9-3 or better if everything is clicking.
Herro's injury means newcomer Norman Powell is going to need to step up to keep the ship afloat just high enough until Herro can return so that Miami can try to make a run later in the year.