Chris Andersen on Heat's season: We had injuries, not trouble

The injury-riddled Miami Heat may have limped to the finish line, but forward Chris Andersen isn't looking for sympathy. 

Birdman spelled out the ambiguous difference between Miami dealing with "injuries" and not "trouble" in a conversation with the Palm Beach Post's Jason Lieser before the team's season finale against the Philadelphia 76ers.

"Who said we had trouble?" Andersen said regarding the club's injury picture. "We had injuries, but we didn't have trouble."   

Finishing with a 37-45 record, Miami missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. 

The Heat were dealt their first major blow in the summer when LeBron James fled Miami for a homecoming with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are in the midst of postseason play. 

Then came the onslaught of injuries that forced Miami into a constant shuffling of its starting lineup, including to Josh McRoberts, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in December, and Chris Bosh, who's campaign ended in February due to blood clots.

Andersen compared the team's instability to his old Chevy truck.  

"Up and down, side to side, like my '67 truck. Know what I'm saying?" Andersen said. "Front, back, side to side. That's what it's like."  

Andersen himself sustained injuries to both his calf and ankle this season, pinning them on the physicality of the sport. And at age 36, it's logical to wonder how many more seasons he has left in the tank.

"I've got about $12 left in my pocket because of Chick-fil-A, but I can go to the ATM any time and withdraw a limit of $300," Andersen said, tongue-in-cheek.