Heat could face second straight postseason without pivotal guard
Tyler Herro missed the Miami Heat's run to the 2023 NBA Finals after breaking his right hand in the opening game of the postseason against the Milwaukee Bucks. Losing the versatile guard certainly hindered Miami's on-ball creation, though they did find a way to overcome his absence.
Unfortunately for Herro, it would appear that history could now repeat itself. He is currently out of Miami's rotation, having missed 16 consecutive games due to tendinitis in his right foot. Herro has only suited up for the Heat 36 times this season.
According to Shams Charania, who appeared on Wednesday's edition of FanDuel TV's "Run It Back," there is no time frame for Herro's return from injury.
"The big worry is Tyler Herro," Charania said. "There's no real sense of when he'll be back, when he'll be available. He got a PRP shot a couple of weeks ago, still no clear sense of a timeline."
Herro is one of the Heat's best on-ball creators, a high-level ball-handler who can generate his own offense and create for his teammates. Given the team's lack of playmaking talent, his skillset would be useful during the postseason. Furthermore, Herro can operate as an off-ball threat. He is adept at driving close-outs, shooting off the catch and providing secondary ball movement as part of a bigger sequence.
The addition of Terry Rozier has certainly helped galvanize Miami's half-court offense. Adding Herro back into the mix would give Erik Spoelstra an additional layer of unpredictability in his rotation. Unfortunately, even if he were to return in the coming weeks, he is highly unlikely to reach his peak performance levels due to the significant length of his absence.
Last season, the Heat enjoyed a fairy tale run to the NBA Finals despite Herro's injury. It's unlikely they will experience similar success this spring if he remains on the injury report heading into the playoffs.
More must-reads: