Beyond the poor performance sportingly speaking, the Miami Heat have been subjected to a brutal plague of injuries. They have been counting their absences by approximately a dozen for a little over a week. But there is no loss more sensitive than that of its main pillar: Jimmy Butler. The forward has not played a single game since last November 16 due to knee problems. In this time he has missed a total of seven games that the Heat have resolved with a decent 3-4. Fortunately, Butler has admitted through social networks that he is ready to return tonight against the Boston Celtics at the Garden.
“I can not wait. It’s been too long and I’m thirsty“Said the player in a short video recorded with his mobile camera during the team’s flight. Miami arrives in Boston out of play-in positions (10-11) despite being tied for everything with the New York Knicks. Once again, the team has done a great job of surviving after starting the season with two wins and five losses. In the last ten games they already have five wins despite suffering the aforementioned casualties.
Right now the infirmary is overflowing. Tyler Herro, Dewayne Dedmon, Duncan Robinson, Gabe Vincent and Max Struss are being tested on a day-to-day basis and could return at any time. On the other hand, Victor Oladipo will remain sidelined due to knee ailments until December 6 at the earliest. Omer Yurtseven’s return is not expected until the end of February.
(Cover photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
