Heat's Miller Comes Back With A Bang
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Lost amidst the celebration of the Heat's resounding victory over the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night was the return of a fully healthy Mike Miller to the lineup.
Miller spent much of last year on the injury list as he dealt with a broken thumb, shoulder and ankle problems and he hadn't played until Tuesday night while recovering from a sports hernia surgery.
All total, Miller has missed more than half of the regular-season games for the Heat since signing with the Heat in the summer of 2010.
Miller was supposed to be the final piece of the puzzle to go with the Big Three, but Heat fans have had to wait and wait for him to finally get healthy.
He wasn't supposed to play big minutes Tuesday night against the Spurs, but he caught fire shooting the ball and connected on six of six from behind the arc and finished the night with 18 points and four rebounds.
"Every once in a while you get going when you're a shooter," Miller said. "I just happened to do that. First game back, it felt good."
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra had been playing it safe with Miller because the Heat will need him and Dwyane Wade healthy down the home stretch and in the playoffs.
His performance wasn't a surprise to the Heat's Shane Battier, who has played with Miller before in Memphis.
"I've played with this guy for four years, so this is old hat for me," Heat forward Shane Battier said. "I've seen him do this time and time again. He's one of the special shooters in the league."
Still, when Miler went tumbling to the floor trying to keep the ball alive early in his first time on the court, Heat fans and coach Erik Spoelstra were nervous as he got up limping slightly.
"That's who he is," Spoelstra said. "At this point, I can't cringe any more than I already do. You can't tell him to play to a different personality than what he is."
What the Heat hope to get out of Miller is the ability to play Miller and LeBron in the same lineup and rest Wade and/or Bosh, or vice-versa.
Miller's shooting and rebounding ability will help open up more lanes and second-chance points for the Heat, which is dangerous with LeBron and Wade ready to slash.
Miller's road has been tough in Miami, as his family has had to fight through tough times with their children, but after Tuesday night's game, it may be Miller's luck has finally changed for the better.
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