LeBron James Injury: Heat Must Tread Carefully With LBJ's Ankle

The Miami Heat are living dangerously right now and need to proceed with caution.

LeBron James is essential to anything the team does this season (duh), and ensuring he is 100 percent in March and April is the primary goal. Right now, even LeBron himself admits he isn’t 100 percent healthy, according to Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald:

Meaningless games in early January are not the No. 1 priority right now.

After landing awkwardly on his ankle last Wednesday against the Pacers, James skipped the Heat’s next game, but was forced into action in Saturday’s 11-point win over the New Jersey Nets.

He played a ridiculous 37 minutes and looked tentative at times, as evident by his eight turnovers. He is expected to start tonight against the Golden State Warriors in a move that makes no sense.

Why risk further damage against a team that Chris Bosh and Co. can beat by themselves? The prospects of LeBron re-injuring his ankle are real, and it certainly isn’t going to improve by logging 30 to 40 minutes of game action on it.

With the best record in the NBA, there is no sense of urgency in Miami right now. There is no reason to force LeBron into action.

Ditto goes for Dwyane Wade.

The leader of the Heat is dealing with a foot injury that has kept him out of the last three games. Considering the team won all three and now leads the NBA in both points (108.3) and assists (24.6), life is good.

Don’t force your way back on the court until your foot/ankle is 100 percent.

Too much is riding on the season to risk a major injury that would derail the Heat’s quest for a championship, because it’s title or bust in South Beach.

James is one of the toughest guys in the NBA, but is just as susceptible to breaking a bone as everyone else. Let him rest. D-Wade is more fragile and should be even more careful with his foot.

All things considered, going 2-3 in the next five games and getting a 100 percent James and Wade back after the stretch is perfectly fine.

But a 2-3 stretch to the Bulls in the playoffs with two hobbled stars is a death sentence.