With the playoffs on the horizon, the Miami Heat are regaining their full strength. Tyler Herro made his comeback on April 5 against the Houston Rockets, signaling his readiness for the postseason.
The 2021-2022 Sixth Man of the Year showcased his skills by scoring 17 points on seven-of-14 shooting, along with six assists and five rebounds during his 25-minute stint off the bench.
Herro had been sidelined since February 23 due to a hyperextended left knee. Despite this being his first appearance off the bench this season, it could become a regular role for him moving forward.
However, the 24-year-old isn’t fretting over that prospect. He’s well-versed in the NBA’s dynamics, as he conveyed to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald in an April 6 article.
“Consider this: there are merely six games remaining,” Herro explained to Chiang. “I’ve just returned from a 20-game absence. It’s a challenge to seamlessly integrate me into the starting lineup at this juncture.”
The challenge is intensified given Miami’s current momentum, with four wins in their last five games.
Herro sees himself as a starting player, a sentiment he reiterated in conversations with Chiang and other journalists after the game.
However, he’s willing to adapt to whatever role and whenever Coach Erik Spoelstra calls upon him.
“Whatever Spo decides is ultimately his call,” Herro affirmed to reporters. “It’s a difficult decision. Everyone knows I belong in the starting lineup in this league. But as I mentioned, returning with only six games left, it’s challenging to slot me in like that. Nevertheless, what’s crucial is that I’ll be getting starter-level minutes, and that’s what counts. I might be a starter, but for now, I’ll contribute off the bench.”
With just five games left and the Heat on a hot streak, as Jimmy Butler puts it, maintaining chemistry becomes paramount.
One player, in particular, is reaping the rewards of this chemistry, and his contributions will be crucial as the team heads into the final stretch.