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Thursday, April 19, 2001
Hardaway put on injured list with bruised foot
Associated Press
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MIAMI – Tim Hardaway wore a stylish two-tone leather shoe
on his right foot and a protective boot on his left – the sort of
fashion statement that's trendy with the hard-luck Miami Heat.
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| Hardaway |
At least one starter has been sidelined virtually all season,
and now the Heat are hurting again. A deep bruise in Hardaway's
left foot put him on the injured list Sunday, meaning he'll sit out
the final three games of the regular season.
The timing is bad because the playoffs begin next weekend.
"I'm fully expecting him back for game one, healthier and
rested and with a lot of vigor," coach Pat Riley said.
A glum Hardaway, hampered by foot or knee injuries during the
playoffs in both 1999 and 2000, sounded less optimistic about being
ready for the first postseason game.
"Hopefully," he said. "We'll see when I start practicing,
whenever I start practicing."
The ramifications of a hobbled Hardaway were immediately
apparent Sunday as Miami lost to the Orlando Magic 90-73.
"Tim is a big part of their success," Magic guard Darrell
Armstrong said. "When you lose him, you're losing leadership and a
guy who knows when to take the big shot. He's really the heart of
that team."
Hardaway had missed only one game because of injury this season.
He said he first hurt his foot some time ago, probably when another
player stepped on it.
The pain became worse last week, and an MRI on Saturday
disclosed the bruise.
"It's very frustrating," he said. "I can't run or jump on it.
... The MRI showed it was best for me to sit out and try to get it
healed."
The 34-year-old Hardaway's injury is the latest blow for a team
accustomed to being short-handed.
"How are we going to adjust to it?" center Alonzo Mourning
said. "How we always adjust to it. Everybody knows what they have
to do. It's just a matter of dealing with it again. It's nothing
new to us."
Mourning missed the first 69 games with a kidney disease. When
guard Eddie Jones returned last week after missing 15 games because
a dislocated shoulder, Miami was finally at full strength – for
three games.
"That's the way it's always been around here," Hardaway said.
"It shouldn't be any surprise."
He was replaced in the starting lineup Sunday by Anthony Carter,
who had five points and no assists in 17 minutes.
To take Hardaway's place on the roster, the Heat activated
center Duane Causwell.
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