With Lowry Possibly Down, Who Can Fill In At Point Guard?
One of the biggest issues for the Miami Heat has been fighting off the injury bug.
Many of the Heat’s big names have missed time. Jimmy Butler has sat eight of the past nine games with two separate injuries. Tyler Herro was sidelined more than a month due to an ankle sprain. Kyle Lowry is now the latest after injuring his left hand in Monday's win against the Houston Rockets. After going down in front of the first row of stands, Lowry immediately showed discomfort when joining the other Heat players on the other side of the court. After dribbling the ball a few times with his right hand, the guard walked off the court towards the locker room while the shot clock was still counting down.
Lowry’s latest derailment could alter Miami’s game plan moving forward. Although the latest hiccup may only sideline the guard briefly, he has a history of missing time. The guard has failed to play in 70 or more games since the 2017-18 season. Lowry has appeared in roughly 77 percent of the Heat’s games since 2021.
With the stability of Miami’s floor general in doubt moving forward, what does the team’s depth look like? In the two most recent games that Lowry missed against the Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz in late December, R.J. Hampton started both contests. The two-way player has appeared in eight games for the Heat this season. The former 2020 first-round pick has yet to establish himself in the NBA. Now could be the time for Hampton to prove his worth to the league if given the chance.
Duncan Robinson and Josh Richardson are two versatile players who could help ease the lack of point guard depth. Both players have stepped into the starting lineup at times. Robinson led the Heat with seven assists in Monday’s victory. Richardson equaled that assist total in the Jan. 8 game against the Phoenix Suns. Either rotational piece could step back into the starting lineup to give Miami relief in the starting point guard role moving forward.
Tyler Herro is putting a career-high in points this season, but he is also passing the more than he ever has. He has become the team’s leading scorer and is tied with the injured Butler for the most assists per game. Herro had three games with six assists during the Heat’s recent West Coast road trip.
The last internal option for Miami’s point guard spot is a wildcard. Jaime Jaquez Jr. actually brought the ball up the floor a few times after Lowry left Monday’s contest. The rookie has impressed with his quick and impactful adjustment to the NBA. Could we see Jaquez develop his skills as a floor general? Coach Erik Spoelstra may have to tinker with that idea.
Casey Fahrer is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at caseyfahrer716@gmail.com.
