Miami Heat: Does Mike Miller's Thumb Injury Really Even Matter?

Miami Heat guard Mike Miller's recent thumb injury has caused a slight panic among NBA pundits, analysts, and some fans, but I am having a difficult time trying to figure out why.

It was recently announced that Miller could miss three weeks or more because of his injured thumb, and proclamations of impending doom for the Heat followed shortly.

Really?

I'm no big fan of Miami's superteam, but it's ridiculous to think that Miller's injury will have any bearing on whether or not the Heat reach their ultimate goal of the NBA Finals.

Miller does bring a different element to the Heat with his accuracy from long range, but there are several things to consider before declaring Miami's chase for a championship done before it really even starts.

For one, Miller's injury could hurt team chemistry at the beginning of the season, but by the time Miami enters the meat of it's regular season schedule he should be fully healed.

There will be plenty of time for Miller to re-discover his shooting touch if necessary, and forward James Jones does nearly the same things as Miller, if not as well.

More importantly, it's hard to imagine Miami's title hopes resting at the end of Miller's feathery jump shot.

Seriously, Miller may be a crucial component of Miami's team, but unless LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, or Chris Bosh are sidelined for a significant period of time, I would still feel pretty good about the Heat's chances.

It's easy to place exaggerated importance on a player's presence, especially in the preseason, but Miami was a contender before they signed Miller, and they will still contend if Miller fails to play a single regular season game.

James, Wade, and Bosh are the reason Miami fans have been giddy about their team, and Miller was merely a consolation prize that followed those historic signings.

The Heat will be a different team without Miller because his 6-foot-8 frame, shooting skills, and ability as a secondary ball-handler fits well with the Heat's strategy to play an up-tempo game.

James, Wade, and Miller give the Heat three perimeter players that are all capable of directing the fast break, and Miller's ability to drift outside the 3-point line makes him particularly dangerous to the opposition.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Miller's talent is a luxury for the Heat, not a necessity, and I would like to think that Miami can weather the storms of the Eastern Conference until Miller returns.

Besides, injuries are nothing new to Miller, and I'm certain that Heat architect Pat Riley has a contingency plan for situations just like this.

On the other hand, if Miller really does mean that much to Miami's quest for a championship, then maybe the Heat are not as good as advertised in the first place.

If the preseason has shown us anything at all about Miami, it has more to do with the fact that the interior will be an issue for the Heat.

Outside of Chris Bosh, none of Miami's big men have really stood out, and the prospects of facing post-strong teams like Boston, Orlando, and Chicago look bleak unless the Heat improve.

Miami's interior is a real concern which somehow remains hidden by lesser worries such as minor injuries suffered by Wade and James, and questions about the team's chemistry.

Miami may very well be derailed in their bid to capture a NBA championship in 2011, but it won't have anything to do with Miller and his thumb if it happens.