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Miami Heat: For this team, it’s forever a ‘next man up’ mentality

By Allana Tachauer

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 30: Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball during the first half of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 30, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 30: Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball during the first half of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 30, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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The Miami Heat are once again battered and bruised as they forge ahead in their playoff push, still gunning for that eighth seed.

Five games.

That’s all that remains of the Miami Heat’s 2018-19 campaign.

A handful of matchups against the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets is all that separates them from the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

Well, if they manage to clinch that 8-seed.

Heading into Wednesday’s action, the Heat do indeed sit at No. 8 in the Eastern Conference, just a half-game behind the Nets in seventh and one game behind the Detroit Pistons in sixth.

But at 38-39, in a weakened conference, nothing is guaranteed.

Of course, earning a trip to the postseason becomes that much more difficult when key members of the squad are sidelined with injuries.

While Rodney McGruder (knee soreness), Josh Richardson (heel bruise) and Justise Winslow (thigh bruise) are all listed as questionable for Wednesday’s rematch with the Celtics, Derrick Jones Jr. is now listed as out after banging into an opponent on Monday evening.

The 22-year-old underwent an MRI, which unfortunately showed a bone bruise in his knee. It’s an issue he already dealt with earlier this year, causing him to miss a total of eight games.

It’s definitely not ideal for Miami, to say the least.

However, as comes with The Culture, there is always a silver lining.

As fortune or fate would have it, the Heat are no strangers to injury. Because of this, the so-called “next man up” mentality is very near and dear to their hearts. It’s something that, over recent time, they’ve perfected into a bit of an art form.

After a horrifying start against Boston, Miami hit the ground running in the second half, determined to make a comeback. While they still fell short in the end, their effort was certainly something to applaud — especially Goran Dragic‘s takeover.

The Slovenia-native recorded a whopping 30 points in 39 minutes, shooting 12-of-20 from the field. As if that’s not impressive enough, he had five assists and five steals to his name too.

He’s not the only one who has put the team on his back either.

Dion Waiters has recently stepped things up, specifically when it comes to shooting the 3-ball.

In Miami’s March 30 win over the New York Knicks, the shooting guard took 16 shot attempts from downtown, sinking six. He finished with 28 points on 11-of-23 shooting on the night, alongside six assists, three rebounds, two steals and one block.

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1112172884007378944

Now, 16 triples might be both excessive and hard to get up on the regular, but there’s still something comforting about Waiters’ unwavering confidence, even without big-time bodies out there on the floor.

While there’s nothing easy about this current playoff push, no one’s looking to throw in the towel, depleted roster or not.

dark. Next. Week 25 NBA Power Rankings

Because when it comes to the Miami Heat, there’s always someone ready to go.

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