Heat's Justise Winslow back in the lineup after missing 14 games due to injury

With Justise Winslow back from injury, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra now has to figure out rotation.
Heat's Justise Winslow back in the lineup after missing 14 games due to injury
Heat's Justise Winslow back in the lineup after missing 14 games due to injury /

After missing 14 games with back issues, Miami Heat guard Justise Winslow is expected to return for tonight’s game against the Indiana Pacers.

Winslow, who began the season as the starting point guard, has only played 10 games. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters at the morning shootaround in Indianapolis he was unsure how much Winslow would play. The plan is to bring him along slowly during this three-game road trip that also includes games against the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.

While Winslow getting back in the fold is considered a bonus, it only makes things tougher for Spoelstra. He now has the task of revamping the rotation now that the team is regaining full strength. Last month guard Goran Dragic was back in the lineup after missing nine games with a groin injury. 

Spoelstra utilized a variety of players in their absence, making it even more difficult to trim the rotation. With Jimmy Butler out on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers, he went to James Johnson off the bench. Johnson had previously only played seven games after falling out of the coaching staff’s favor due to conditioning issues. His playing time came at the expense of Kelly Olynyk, who did not play because the Trail Blazers played small ball.

Now, Spoelstra has the task of somehow finding the perfect mix with the team at full strength. The good news is this is the ideal time for him to explore lineup possibilities. After the Pacers, they face a pair of teams that are under .500. 


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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel.  He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star.  TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here