Category: Miami Heat Blog

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel blog reporting on a Dwyane Wade injury that seems minor, but will still likely frighten some Miami Heat fans:

They are the three words in the same sentence that make Miami Heat fans cringe: Wade. Knee. Sidelined.

Sunday, for the first time this season, that was the case, with Dwyane Wade sidelined against the Boston Celtics at AmericanAirlines Arena due to a knee injury sustained during Wednesday’s loss to the Utah Jazz and exacerbated in Friday’s loss to the Washington Wizards.

The Heat listed Wade as being out with a “right knee contusion.” It is the first game Wade has missed this season due to a knee issue, after missing seven previous games due to a hamstring injury.

Heat assign Shabazz Napier and Hassan Whiteside to D-League

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have assigned both guard Shabazz Napier and center Hassan Whiteside to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Napier has appeared in 23 games with the HEAT this season averaging 5.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 21.4 minutes while shooting 42.9 percent from the field. He previously scored in double-figures in six-straight games from November 16 through November 25, the longest such streak by a HEAT rookie since Michael Beasley did so in eight consecutive games from April 1, 2009 through April 15, 2009,

Whiteside, who was signed by Miami on November 24, has appeared in three games with the HEAT this season totaling six points, four rebounds and a block in nine minutes of action while shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from the field. Earlier this season, he appeared in three games in the NBA Development League with the Iowa Energy and averaged 22.0 points, 15.7 rebounds, 5.33 blocks and 28.7 minutes while shooting 85.7 percent from the field, helping them to a perfect 3-0 record.

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on Miami Heat small forward Luol Deng:

Luol Deng stressed Thursday that frustration over the Miami Heat’s injury situation should not be mistaken for panic, but the team’s starting small forward indicated his hand injury likely will cause him to miss time.

The team is listing Deng as questionable with a bruised right hand. Deng said he has bone bruises on the thumb and index finger.

X-rays came back negative Wednesday, but because of ongoing swelling, a possible MRI has been delayed, leaving Deng uncertain of his timetable.

“I wish I could tell you,” he said after Thursday’s light practice at AmericanAirlines Arena, before departing with the team for a five-game trip that opens Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Miami Heat are off to a 6-5 start this season. At 19.9 ppg, Chris Bosh is slightly ahead of Dwyane Wade’s 19.8 ppg to lead the team in scoring. Bosh is also grabbing 8.7 rpg. He’s shooting just 41.5% from the field, though. With LeBron James gone, and Dwyane Wade past his prime, it’s an adjustment for Bosh to lead as he once did with the Toronto Raptors. Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting:

Now Chris Bosh can relate to Dwyane Wade.

For years, Wade has talked about having to adjust to playing at an older age. Wade would say he no longer jumps as high. He’s not as fast anymore. Playing smarter below the rim is more important than rising above it.

At 30, Bosh finally understands. It has hit home even more this season with him being asked to carry a bigger offensive load.

And he’s noticed the difference.

“I’m a little bit older,” Bosh said. “I have to adjust my game. They’re putting younger and bigger guys on me.”

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel with an update on veteran Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade:

After pushing through three sets of back-to-back games this season, Dwyane Wade said Friday that it is time to stop pushing and instead take time to deal with a strained left hamstring sustained early in Wednesday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Wade not only decided to skip Friday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena, but indicated he would be careful not to rush back too soon. He missed nine games late last season with a similar strained left hamstring.

“For me, obviously I want to play as many games as possible,” he said Friday. “As I said before, you can’t control certain things. I’ve had worse. I’ll be back out there soon enough. Just when I come back, I want to be able to play the way I was playing the way before, and not hampered like I was the other night.”

Miami Heat big-man Chris Andersen is towards the end of his NBA career, and is attempting to make the necessary adjustments. Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting:

He still plans to play with high energy in his 13th season, but will do it at a smarter pace.

“I was told a long time ago, even though I’m called Birdman, you can’t jump forever,” Andersen said Wednesday. “Like [Shaquille O’Neal] says, you have a certain amount of jumps in your career.”

Step one in the transformation process is becoming a well-rounded player, especially on offense. Andersen, 36, explained why he’s been shooting jumpers after practices during training camp, mostly from the elbow and baseline.

Translation: he wants more scoring opportunities with less wear on the body.

“I’ve been blessed to be able to jump at 36 so I want to be able to use that a couple more times but I want to be able to shoot it, too,” Andersen said. “That’ll prolong my career three years, maybe.”

The Miami HEAT announced today that center Justin Hamilton underwent a procedure at South Miami Hospital on Monday to repair an atrial flutter (abnormal heart rhythm).

After experiencing light-headedness during practice, he was sent to Doctors Hospital where the diagnosis was discovered.

He will remain sidelined for a few days and can then begin non-contact exercises for approximately three weeks before being re-evaluated prior to re-joining the team for practice. Hamilton is expected to make a full recovery.