Injuries are the worst part of sports. It's unfortunate to see a player sidelined due to uncontrollable circumstances. The Miami Heat don't make excuses, but if they did —- this would be the year to make them. The Heat have a league-leading 28 different starting lineups this season.
Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler have missed a combined 46 games this year. Almost all of those missed games were due to injury. You can add Terry Rozier and Josh Richardson's names to the 2024 hurt Heat players list. Rozier is considered week-to-week with a knee sprain, while Richardson could miss a "few" weeks with a dislocated shoulder.
Rozier takes on most of the ball-handling duties while on the floor, while Richardson has thrived in a secondary role. Rozier initiates and creates offense to a sometimes lifeless Heat offense. Richardson has thrived off the ball, shooting over 38% from 3 over the last two months. With these key cogs out for the foreseeable future, how will Miami stay afloat?
Here are five Miami Heat players who need to step up with Terry Rozier and Josh Richardson sidelined for multiple weeks.
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. had a killer rookie stretch in December. Over 14 games, he averaged 16 points, four boards, three dimes, and 48% from the field. These nutty numbers stemmed from him getting a more prominent role with Butler sidelined for a long stretch.
As the team got healthier, his role waned. But it's showtime again. With Rozier out, Jaquez will pick up more of the ball-handling responsibilities. Through 47 career games, he's already willing to get others involved. Drive and kick instincts, high IQ decision-making, and a size advantage make Jaquez a terrifying initiator. He and the presumable starting point guard, while Rozier is out, will need an uptick in their production.