Miami Heat’s point guard Mario Chalmers sprained his right knee, out for about two weeks
On Saturday night Miami Heat has lost one of their starting line-up players Mario Chalmers. Chalmers injured his right knee against the Denver Nuggets, when he landed gawkily. The Heat said there was no extended damage to the knee, although Chalmers
will probably going to miss two or more weeks of basketball. If Chalmers stayed out for two weeks, he would miss seven games, while the Heat is left with 12 games over a span of three and a half weeks in this regular-season. But the team President Pat Riley
said he is not interested in signing another point guard for Chalmers.
Chalmers suffered the injury when he was guarding Nuggets’ Ty Lawson on the right-wing late in the first regulation. Lawson tried to impel and Chalmers fell backwards, appearing to favour his left leg. Chalmers then tried to recover, but hit Lawson's
outstretched right leg as he attempted a jump shot. Chalmers said, “His leg kicked my knee. It was very frightening. I didn’t know what had happened.”
Chalmers was then taken off the court after initial check up, but he was walking without any problem during Heat’s Family Festival on Sunday. Though, he was wearing a brace on the knee.
“It isn’t anything serious,” he said. “I’ll be re-evaluated in a week. I’ll definitely be back by the playoffs and maybe the last couple games of the regular season.”
Chalmers had a good game until he got injury, prior to this, he wasn’t performing well since he replaced Carlos Arroyo in the opening line-up on Jan. 22. Chalmers is averaging 6.7 points, 2.4 assists and 2.2 rebounds. Mike Bibby, who signed with the
Heat two weeks ago, is expected to take over for Chalmers as the starter.
Veteran point guard Mike Bibby is going to be Chalmers substitute in the front line-up. So far, Bibby has played 10 games for the Heat, he has 20 dimes, eight turnovers and shooting percentage is 46.8 from the field and 45.7 percent when it comes to
three point shot. He lodged 34 points during 26 minutes stay on Saturday.
“Mike’s great — when he gets the ball, he gets off it if he sees me and LeBron streaking up the floor,” Wade said. “When he gets it back, he’s able to run offense. Very good shooter. Most importantly, veteran guy. Very smart. He’s going to be big for
us in the playoffs.”
Bibby said his major aim is to understand Heat’s ideology of defence, which is totally different from the organization he played with.
Coach Erik Spoelstra explained his strategy, he said Dwyane Wade and LeBron James will definitely be handling the ball for some time, as they do before, but Mike Miller will also accompany them this time, while Eddie House will be in to play for rest
of the minutes.
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