Category: Miami Heat Blog

Via the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

[Miami Heat] point guard Kyle Lowry said the injury reports have become the story of the Heat’s struggles.

“It’s our season,” he said. “It’s been our season this year. Let’s get our injuries out of the way now, then come March, April, May, June, we’ll all be healthy.”

According to SpoTrac’s tracker, the Heat have lost 124 player/games to injury this season, second only to the 183 lost by the Orlando Magic, with the Cleveland Cavaliers third at 121 such games lost.

With 13 players having missed time due to injury, SpoTrac ranks the Heat tied for third in the NBA in that regard, behind only the 14 players who have missed injury time of the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Miami Heat are just 13-15 so far this season. Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel on the team’s modest start:

The expectations have been muted.

Depth that had been considered a Miami Heat strength entering the season largely has proven to be something considerably less.

Part of it has been injuries. Part of it has been the shift of 2021-22 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro into the starting lineup, with energetic former reserve Caleb Martin now also a starter.

So these days, even the small steps are celebrated, such as Monday night’s 87-82 victory over the Indiana Pacers, when the Heat’s three-man bench of Max Strus, Dewayne Dedmon and Victor Oladipo combined for 20 points.

While hardly overwhelming, it was a step forward, considering it provided the Heat with nearly a quarter of the team’s scoring and that the trio outscored Indiana’s bench.

FULL ARTICLE

The Miami Heat have signed guard Dru Smith to a two-way contract.

Also today, the Heat waived center Orlando Robinson from his two-way contract.

Smith, who was previously converted to a two-way contract by the HEAT on October 13 before being waived on November 13, has started all three games with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce and averaged 17.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.00 steals, 1.33 blocks and 34.0 minutes while shooting 48.8 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the foul line. He scored 28 points against the Windy City Bulls on November 19 while also recording four steals and blocking three shots.

Smith started all 25 games he appeared in as a senior at Missouri in 2020-21, averaging 14.1 points, 3.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 2.04 steals and 33.9 minutes while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from three-point range and 83 percent from the foul line. He was named to the All-SEC First Team and became the first player in school history to be named to the SEC All-Defensive Team after leading the conference in steals for the second consecutive season. He also led the team in points, assists, steals, field goals made, free throws made and minutes and earned Conference Player of the Week three times, the most by any player that season.

Robinson appeared in two games with the HEAT this season, totaling 14 points, nine rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block.

The Miami Heat have signed center Orlando Robinson to a two-way contract.

Also today, the Heat waived guard Dru Smith from his two-way contract.

Robinson has started in all four games with the HEAT’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, averaging a team-leading 20.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.25 steals, 1.00 blocks and 31.2 minutes while shooting 53.2 percent from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the foul line. He leads the team in points, rebounds, blocks and field goals made and posted a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double at Iowa on November 5. He was previously signed by Miami on July 7 before being waived on October 13 after appearing in four preseason games.

Robinson played three seasons at Fresno State where he started in all 90 career games. In his final season as a junior, Robinson started all 36 games with the Bulldogs and averaged 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.19 blocks, 1.00 steals and 33.2 minutes. He became just one of two players in NCAA history to accumulate at least 700 points, 300 rebounds and 100 assists in a single season. Robinson was named to the All-Mountain West First Team, the NABC All-District 17 First Team and was selected as a Lefty Driesell Defensive All-American. He led the team in points, rebounds, blocks, field goals made, free throws made and minutes and finished second on the team in assists and steals. Additionally, he recorded 18 20-point games, including three 30-point performances, and posted 12 double-doubles.

Robinson will wear number 25.

Smith appeared in one game with the HEAT this season, totaling two points, one rebound and a steal in 5:37 minutes of action.