Haslem making strides toward return for Heat
MIAMI — Udonis Haslem grabbed a basketball, leaped toward the rim and dunked with two hands, hanging on the basket for a few moments afterward
For most NBA players, this doesn't exactly merit a celebration.
For Haslem, it's significant progress. A week ago, he couldn't have come close to doing that.
Haslem's recovery from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his foot is now in its fifth month, but some signs suggest he may be on pace to make his long-awaited return to the Miami Heat lineup before the regular season ends.
Originally, Haslem was targeting a return to the court by late March, but is now taking a decidedly more-cautious approach.
"It's not hard because it's the smart decision," Haslem said. "It's the smart decision. This injury is a little different, so I have to approach it a little differently than I have in the past. Having so much time off, I had time to research the injury and learn more about it and understand it a little bit."
That being said, he'll take a significant step on Monday.
Miami typically leaves injured and rehabilitating players at home when venturing out on road trips, so recovery schedules are undisturbed. But with virtually the entire Heat training staff accompanying the team on a four-game swing starting Tuesday in Cleveland, Haslem will travel with the club for the first time since getting hurt in November.
Injured Heat guard Mario Chalmers (sprained knee) is also recovering and is expected on the road trip. Barring any late changes, it will be the first time this 15-man Heat roster is together away from a game in Miami.
"That's the plan," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "The plan is to have the complete 'Band of Brothers' going with us."
Haslem has been lobbying to be with his team on the road for weeks, always to no avail.
"It means a lot," Haslem said. "You miss the camaraderie. You miss the trips. Even though you miss your family and you'd love to be with your family, it's a time to get away and really bond on the road, having dinner out as a team and doing things like that. Those are the things that you miss aside from basketball."
Haslem had surgery Nov. 23 to repair a torn Lisfranc ligament in his left foot, an injury that typically needs at least four months — and in some cases, eight months or more — to heal. It's not an easy recovery, even after surgery, and trying to prepare for the rigors of NBA basketball certainly doesn't help the cause.
He was averaging 8.0 points and 8.2 rebounds when he got hurt, and even in his absence, Haslem — who is one of two Heat players left from the 2006 championship team, fellow co-captain Dwyane Wade being the other — has remained one of the emotional leaders in the locker room.
He has little doubt that he'll be ready to help the Heat come playoff time.
"I'm making good strides," Haslem said. "It's looking good. I'm not thinking I'm coming back to play 30 minutes, score 25 points and grab 15 rebounds. That's not the point. But I do think I can come back and contribute something."
