The Miami Heat will begin their NBA first-round series against the Boston Celtics tomorrow short-handed, which is not a surprise or unusual for the Heat. Jimmy Butler had already been ruled out for several weeks after being diagnosed with a sprained MCL, and now the Heat will be without Terry Rozier at least the beginning of their first-round series.
According to Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson earlier today, Rozier’s health is improving, but he has not been cleared to play yet. Jackson added that Rozier could return sometime in the first-round series.
Per source, Heat guard Terry Rozier's neck – while improving – is not healthy enough yet. He's week to week at this point. But injury is NOT considered career threatening, per source.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 20, 2024
Jackson also said that Rozier’s neck injury is not considered career-ending. While it may have been surprising that Jackson brought up the injury as possibly career-threatening, he insisted that it was a necessary question due to where the injury occurred.
How The Miami Heat To Replace Terry Rozier Against Boston, Guard Receives Good News In Update
Miami and Boston start their opening-round series on Sunday afternoon. However, there are plenty of days of rest in between contests.
So by Jackson’s report, Rozier could return for Game 4 in South Beach on April 29. However, since Game 3 in Miami is slated for next Saturday, there is an outside chance that Rozier will be ready by then.
Even with Butler and Rozier in the lineup, the Heat (46-36) would be tough against the Celtics (64-18), the NBA’s top team. But without the pair, the Heat’s depth is depleted, and the question becomes, where will Miami get points from?
Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo are the obvious answers, but those two players are not capable of matching the firepower of the C’s.
Boston was the second-highest-scoring team in the league this year at 120.6 points a game. The Celtics were the league’s top offensive team and second in defensive efficiency.
Meanwhile, Miami grabbed the No. 8 seed in the East for a second straight season. The Heat went on a historic playoff run last season, posting a 13-10 record and reaching the NBA finals. But the Heat are a different team than they were a year ago.
A few hours after Jackson’s news about Rozier, Ira Winderman of The Miami Sun-Sentinel revealed that Duncan Robinson is questionable for tomorrow due to recurring back problems.
Heat injury-report update for Sunday at Boston:
Jimmy Butler (knee) out.
Terry Rozier (neck) out.
Josh Richardson (shoulder) out.
Duncan Robinson (back) questionable.
Kevin Love (ankle) available.
Rozier traveling; Butler not.— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) April 20, 2024
Robinson returned from a four-game absence to Friday’s Play-In victory over the Chicago Bulls, although he only saw 12 minutes of action. Winderman said Rozier traveled with the team to Boston while Butler did not.
The Celtics swept the Heat 3-0 during the regular season. They won each of those three games by at least four points and held the Heat to 111 or fewer.
Who Will Replace Terry Rozier In the Starting Lineup?
Miami is 22-17 since acquiring Rozier from Charlotte. The Heat are 7-2 (two play-in games included) without Rozier in the lineup during this stretch and 4-1 without Butler and him.
Rozier has been out since April 8, and Herro has been filling the point guard role. Despite being better off the ball, Herro is used to handling point duties.
Rozier’s absence does shift the spotlight to Jaime Jaquez Jr. and possibly Nikola Jovic. Jaquez, who will start alongside Herro, had a strong rookie campaign and played exceptionally in their two play-in tournament games this year.
Delon Wright projects to be the Heat’s third guard, though Robinson could see some time in the backcourt. Speaking of Robinson, coach Erik Spoelstra will have a decision to make if Robinson can play tomorrow.
Will Spoelstra start Robinson or keep Caleb Martin and Jovic in the first five? Robinson came off the bench against the Bulls. Either way, Martin will start at three or four, depending on Robinson.
Erik Spoelstra’s Upcoming Lineup Decisions
Regardless of who is in the Heat’s first unit, Spoelstra will likely limit his rotation to eight players (nine at the most). Herro, Adebayo, Martin, Jaquez, Robinson, and Wright are absolutes. Kevin Love, Haywood Highsmith, and Wright will get the most run off the bench. Then, Jokic or Patty Mills could see for a few minutes, depending on Robinson’s health.
Despite their injury situation, the Heat seem pretty confident going up against Boston. Miami held off the Celtics in seven games in last year’s Eastern Conference finals after taking the first three games.
“I love this position, honestly,” Herro told Winderman. “A lot of people didn’t think we were going to win (Friday), and that’s part of it. I feel like we’re better when our backs are against the wall anyways.”
“So we’re going to go to Boston and come up with a game plan with the coaching staff to stop one of the better teams, pretty much ever really, on paper.”
