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Miami Heat: Luol Deng Stepping Up Big Time In Chris Bosh’s Absence

By Kenneth Teape

Feb 7, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) is pressured by Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick (4) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 7, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) is pressured by Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick (4) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Miami Heat needed someone to step up with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade sidelined and Luol Deng was up for the task.

The Miami Heat looked like they could be in for a tough stretch of games post All-Star Break. With Chris Bosh sidelined indefinitely with another blood clot scare, the Heat’s already thin front court was to be tested. Add in the fact that Dwyane Wade came out of the All-Star break hobbled and missing games, and things were looking extremely bleak for the Heat.

With their two best players sidelined, the Heat desperately needed someone to step up and try filling the void. That person was veteran Luol Deng, who has turned back the clock in the last two games to get the Heat two big victories despite Bosh and Wade both being sidelined.

Despite Bosh being sidelined, head coach Erik Spoelstra has still decided to go with Amar’e Stoudemire as the starting center with Hassan Whiteside coming off the bench. That pushed Deng, the regular small forward, to power forward. The decision has paid off big time, as Deng has responded with two monster games.

In an important game against the Atlanta Hawks coming out of the All-Star break, the Heat looked like easy pickings with all the injuries they were dealing with. The Heat came out motivated and fighting, keeping the game close throughout. They were able to pick up a 115-111 victory over the Hawks on the back of a monster game from Deng.

Deng led the way with a season-high 30 points. He made 11-17 from the field, adding 7-of-10 from the foul line and 1-of-3 from the three-point line. He also was a factor in the Heat winning the rebounding battle, pulling down a team-high 11 in the game. This was an outstanding performance by Deng, as the Heat were also without Whiteside, who was serving a one-game suspension.

Deng didn’t stop there, as he was the driving force in a blowout victory over the Washington Wizards the next night on the second night of a back-to-back set. Deng followed up his 30 and 11 against the Hawks with a 27-point, 10-rebound performance against the Wizards. He was efficient once again, making 11-of-18 from the field and all five of his free throw attempts.

That was the first time in his career that Deng hit those marks in his career, as he had never put up 25-and-10 games consecutively in his career. It could not have come at a better time for the Heat, as Deng has seamlessly stepped into a featured role the last two games despite being a complementary role player for most of the season previously.

The victories have also put the Heat into first place in the Southeast Division, as they have been able to move up the standings, not drop further despite the injuries they are dealing with. The Heat have another important game tonight against the Indiana Pacers, who are right behind the Heat in the Eastern Conference standings.

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Will Deng be able to give another strong performance to carry the team? He will have some help tonight, as Wade is expected back in the lineup after participating fully in today’s shootaround and being listed as a game-time decision.

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