Heat guard Tyler Herro has exited the NBA’s health and safety protocols, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, who tweets that Herro was in attendance at the team’s practice on Tuesday. Herro initially entered the protocols last Wednesday and has missed Miami’s last three games.
The Heat haven’t released their injury report yet for Wednesday’s contest vs. New York, so it’s unclear if Herro will be reactivated for that game or if he’ll need a little more reconditioning time. Either way, it’s good news for the Heat that they no longer have any players in the COVID-19 protocols.
Here’s more out of Miami:
- Assuming Herro is able to play on Wednesday and no other players enter the health and safety protocols, the Heat will have to make forward Chris Silva ineligible for the rest of his 10-day contract, tweets Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. Silva is on a hardship deal and can only be active if at least one Miami player is in the protocols. His contract runs through Sunday night.
- Victor Oladipo, who is still recovering from quad surgery, moved around well on the Heat’s practice court on Tuesday, taking part in a “vigorous” workout and running without a limp, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Jackson suggests there’s a chance Oladipo could make his Heat debut in February. “He’s itching to get back,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said. “… We’ll see what happens. He’s starting to be at practice more and more. We’re starting to hear his voice and he’s starting to get opportunities to run in transition. When he’s able to suit up, it’s going to be a big day for all of us.”
- There was some concern entering the season about whether the Heat had sufficient depth at point guard behind Kyle Lowry, but Gabe Vincent has proven capable of handling the position despite having previously played more of a combo guard or shooting guard role. “He has improved as much as anybody as I’ve ever seen, seriously, in my entire career. I really mean that, too,” Heat forward Duncan Robinson said of Vincent, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. “I remember playing against him in the G League and honestly he kind of played like me. Catch-and-shoot and shooting threes. Obviously, he still shoots it at a high level. But he just does everything. He passes, he defends, he makes all those little plays in between. He’s just a guy that you love to play with, he really is.”
- Lowry, who has missed the Heat’s last four games, remains away from the club for personal reasons, tweets Jackson, so Vincent is expected to continue starting at point guard.
What on Earth is going on with Lowry? I believe it is a valid question to ask when a star player is away from the team for 10 days and counting, and without any explanation other than the usual “personal reasons” BS
Facts we don’t have time for that bs.
Bruh it’s just a game. Believe it or not these players have lives outside of basketball. They don’t owe fans a detailed explanation.
The relationship between fans and the players/sport is more delicate than that. Players don’t owe fans an explanation but that same line of thinking should make fans wonder why they play dress up in players clothing likes kids do super heros.
Dude…Oladipo being anywhere close to healthy would be such a big deal. Just need him to defend close to the way he used to, playmake, and make the occasional jumpshot and that would be so valuable. Its especially more important having lost Marcus Garrett. If the Heat could grab Paul Millsap, it would be amazing. Just hope they can stay healthy for once
Vincent has really improved his defense and decision making, and I think that has allowed him to be so good at both guard spots, which was an area of concern, while Oladipo was going to be out.