Erik Spoelstra of the Heat gives revealing viewpoint on Terry Rozier’s ‘jacked’ neck injury.
While the Miami Heat were entirely healthy for a couple of games recently, with the exception of Josh Richardson, who was announced as out for the season earlier, this has suddenly changed. Terry Rozier, the Heat’s star, will miss Wednesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks due to neck spasms, his second straight absence, as head coach Erik Spoelstra discusses the situation.
Rozier has been impressive for Miami after being acquired from the Charlotte Hornets shortly before the NBA trade deadline, where he has been an upgrade at point guard over Kyle Lowry, who is now with the Philadelphia 76ers. With three games remaining in the regular season, his status is uncertain, as Spoelstra described Rozier’s neck as “really jacked up” before Wednesday’s game against the Mavericks. “As soon as he gets relief, it’s as simple as that,” Spoelstra said about Rozier’s return to the lineup. “You know, his neck is just so screwed up right now, and he needs to relax it down. For anyone who has experienced neck or back discomfort, it just takes time. He is doing everything
So far with the Heat, Rozier has averaged 16.4 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 42.3% from the field and 37.1% from three. When ClutchPoints inquired about Rozier’s future situation, Spoelstra stated that it will be “day to day” because anything can change. “He’s day to day, it is also one of those things that one day you wake up and it’s gone,” Spoelstra told reporters.
Rozier admitted he “shouldn’t have played” against the Pacers last Sunday. Rozier’s last game occurred on April 7 against the Indiana Pacers, when he shot two for seven from the field and scored four points in an atypical showing. According to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel, he even stated frankly after the game that he “shouldn’t have played”. “I mean, I never like to make excuses, but I shouldn’t have went, I shouldn’t have played…,” Rozier was quoted as saying. “I felt like I hurt the team by trying to be a warrior and get out there, and I feel like I hurt myself, but we move on, can’t do nothing about it, I know it’s going to get better.”