With Josh Richardson and Justise Winslow sidelined with injuries, the Miami Heat’s road to the playoffs won’t be easy
The Miami Heat have been one of the most up and down teams this season, although the majority belief is that the team would ultimately make the playoffs. However, as we enter the final week and a half of the regular season, it’s becoming increasingly more possible that the team will miss out on the post-season.
And a bit reason why could point to the absence of two of their key players, who have both been out for a while now.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Heat, there’s no firm timetable on a return for Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson to return and there’s a chance that neither makes it before the end of the regular season.
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The Heat are currently sitting in the 8th seed of the Eastern Conference, good enough for the final playoff spot. However, they don’t have the easiest schedule to close the season. With games against the Celtics (in back-to-back games), Timberwolves, Raptors, 76ers and Nets to close the season, the final stretch leading up to the NBA Playoffs won’t be an easy hurdler for the Heat to cross.
And it will be even tougher without two of their top 4 players on the roster.
The hope is that both – or even just one – of Richardson and Winslow will make a return sooner rather than later. Both have been ruled out for the first game against the Celtics, but there is hope one could return for that second one.
If the Heat want to make the playoffs this season, they have their work cut out for them. However, without Winslow and Richardson, perhaps the odds are beginning to grow more and more against them qualifying for the playoffs this season.
Considering how this season has gone for the Heat, though, perhaps missing the playoffs is more of what they deserve.