The defending NBA champions are starting to feel the rash of injuries catch up to them, and the Miami Heat's LeBron James discussed the team's possible need to alter their preparations for games if teammate Dwyane Wade remains sidelined longer with knee soreness.
Wade missed his season-long third straight game Tuesday night against the Boston Celtics due to what the team described to ESPN as an overall soreness in the knee and part of a proactive maintenance to work his way back from the injury.
Wade, who has had knee issues in the past, has missed 12 of the last 42 games the Heat have played, though the Heat have won two of the three games that he's been sidelined on this recent stretch--including a 93-86 win over the Celtics Tuesday night.
Despite the team winning and holding down second place in the Eastern Conference, the absence of Wade and key rotation players may hamper the team down the stretch. ESPN reports that Wade's absence is an ongoing recovery process from offseason shock-wave therapy treatment on his right kneecap, which was bruised last spring and ailed him throughout the Heat's run to their second NBA title in as many years last season.
James admitted it may begin to become worrisome if more Heat players miss time.
"With some of the guys being in and out, and with the concern with D-Wade, it's been tough on all of us trying to fill that," James told ESPN. "We've just got to be able to do a little bit more consistently, and go in with the mindset sometimes that he's not playing instead of [he is] playing."
Wade hasn't played since their 101-86 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday where he immediately ruled himself out for the game against the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday right after Friday's triumph. Despite the Heat winning two of three, they are just 5-5 in January and have dropped four of their last six.
James told ESPN that he couldn't describe what is ailing Wade.
"I'm not a doctor. I'm only a player, man," James said per ESPN. "I don't know the [therapy] program he's on. I do know that his knee, if he's feeling good, he's going to play. If he's not feeling good, he doesn't play. For me as one of the leaders on this team, I've got to make sure the guys that are prepared to play are ready to play. When D-Wade is ready to come back, then that's what it is."
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra admitted that it was part of the proactive healing process to bring Wade back to full health.
"It's just part of the process; you can't predict it," Spoelstra said via ESPN. "You're going to have some good days and some days where you don't feel great. What we try to do is not predetermine or have expectations about it. We know as long as we stick to the routine, he should get better, quicker and stronger."
The Heat have been forced to change their lineup a lot this season, and James believes that the changes could hurt their consistency as the Heat may begin to worry that a third straight championship may not be achievable if they can't stay healthy.
"It's tough, it's tough," James said, according to ESPN. "And guys think it's easy, but it's tough."
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