Dragic return expected
Sore knee kept guard out of season finale
MIAMI Heat guard Goran Dragic has every intention of playing in Saturday’s playoff opener against the Philadelphia 76ers.
After missing Wednesday’s season finale versus the Toronto Raptors because of knee soreness, Dragic is expected to be in the starting lineup for Game 1 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
“It feels way better now than it was two days ago,” Dragic said. “But I’m doing everything that I can. Probably, I’m going to feel it a little bit. But it’s not going to bother me. That’s the only thing that I’m about, I can play through the pain. But as long as it’s not bothering me, I’m OK.”
Dragic, who leads the team with 17.3 points and 4.8 assists a game, will practice today. The Heat were given Thursday off, but did hold a team film session at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Dragic said he doesn’t expect the soreness to limit him against the young Sixers backcourt.
“I’m going to feel it, but it’s not going to slow me down or anything,” Dragic said. “Even when you play through the games, it’s a lot of adrenaline and basically you don’t feel it.”
The adrenaline will be especially beneficial with the Heat in the postseason after missing it last year.
“It’s way different, especially the arenas are more loud, the fans are crazier and of course the games mean more,” Dragic said. “Even if you lose one game, it means something. So it’s a lot more pressure, but at the same time it’s a lot more fun because of that.”