Miami Heat Thread

[kibaxx7]

Actually, if you ask me, if the play was designed for Haslem, that was smart. The Jazz was expecting an open shot for James or Wade, and Haslem's shot was HIS shot. He was open, shame it didn't go in, but it was an intelligent play.

[_Steve_]

Actually, if you ask me, if the play was designed for Haslem, that was smart. The Jazz was expecting an open shot for James or Wade, and Haslem's shot was HIS shot. He was open, shame it didn't go in, but it was an intelligent play.

I see it the same way, good move to create space and hit the open man. Even MJ passed the ball in crunch time, but he was lucky his teammates hit the basket.

[benji]

bigger choke job- Wade missing the FT or James pass to haslem in the closing seconds??

Wade fouling twice.

[Martti.]

The play was a pick-and-roll, Haslem has knocked down that jumper in crunch time many times. Don't see why Lebron gets blamed for not shooting an off-balance circus shot over 2 defenders.

[air gordon]

It's a choke job all around. James was 8/9 in the 4th qtr IIRC. he pretty much did what he wanted against whoever Corbin had guard him. if Spo wanted to take the ball out of his best player's hands on purpose, he indeed is a fool.

watch the replay- they zoned off the pick. James already beat Howard and had momentum heading toward the basket. He could've easily beaten the slower Milsap and then finish over the smaller Devin Harris... if not get the superstar foul called. either way it's not a "circus shot". circus shot was the one he hit 2 possesions earlier lol

If Rose was in the same situation as Lebron facing the same personnel i would've wanted him taking the shot instead of kicking it out to any Bulls player. even Korver.

[NovU]

I am more upset about Haslem not making it despite the wide open look. He's thrown couple airballs the game before. His jumpers haven't been there lately. We also definitely need Bosh back. Watching Dexter Pittman is a huge PAIN. I wish it was the Heat that signed Rasheed. We definitely are lacking size interior.

Outrebounded by 32 to 50, you don't win games that way.

[Andrew]

I can see the reasoning behind passing to Haslem and Haslem can knock it down from that range, but at the end of the day I'd want LeBron to take that shot.

[AMenace]

Well Lebron was going to have a tougher shot than Haslem did, but in all seriousness, a simple 16 foot jump shot is not that hard to make when you are open. And Haslem had heaps of room.

[air gordon]

define what's a tough shot for Lebron James. making a shot in the finals seconds of a close game?

[Andrew]

This one may qualify:

phpBB [video]

It looked like they were ready to finish off the Jazz at that point.

[NovU]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miam ... 108.column

Straight to the points article which the Heat fans were concerned coming into the season yet still no solutions are found.

Sunday, it again got ugly inside, although something not nearly as gruesome as the job the Jazz did in the paint in Friday's streak-busting loss.

Andrew Bynum closed with 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, and probably could have had far more of both if Kobe Bryant didn't take as many shots or make as many in his 33-point performance. Pau Gasol added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers.

The Heat?

They again tried to make something out of backup center Dexter Pittman, who again made nothing of his opportunity.

They even tried to resurrect the player formerly known as Juwan Howard, who, to his credit, did manage a season-high four rebounds.

It started Thursday against the lengthy Trail Blazers, with James opening defensively at center. It took that level of creativity to salvage one game from this three-game trip.

In Utah, the Heat were slammed into submission in the paint, only James' fourth-quarter theatrics making it a game.

Sunday, it reached a point where Erik Spoelstra opted to give Udonis Haslem his first start since the 2009 playoffs.

That gambit was ditched by halftime, with the Heat actually going smaller in the third quarter, opening the period with Shane Battier at small forward and James at power forward.

All the while, Eddy Curry, the incredible bulk who we're still not sure actually has a uniform below those warm-ups, watched from the bench.

But acting as if this is a finished product, one that has enough with Joel Anthony manning the middle, is folly. There was a reason Anthony got six field-goal attempts Sunday, as well as a few more shots that resulted in Lakers fouls. The Lakers wanted him to get the ball, because when he has it, LeBron and Wade don't.

Riley, of course, clearly knows this, as well, having recently worked out Kenyon Martin, Joel Przybilla and then, reportedly, Rasheed Wallace. Heck, he's even kept Mickell Gladness around on a pair of 10-day contracts.

The Heat last season made it through the Eastern Conference playoffs with a similar size issue. But that's when the opening two rounds were against Spencer Hawes andJermaine O'Neal.

This time, it could be Tyson Chandler (who ended the dream last year), followed, perhaps, by Dwight Howard, Joakim Noah and possibly the same power rotation that took care of the Heat on Sunday at Staples.

"We feel we have enough," Spoelstra said. "We feel very good about our depth."

That's what a coach should say. But Pat Riley also has a say in this equation, and in this case, he needs to have a big say.

I hope the Heat find Jeremy Lin of centers soon.

[Andrew]

Considering Bosh was also out in the Lakers game, I'm not sure the situation is all that dire. Yes, those players do have the advantage over the Heat's rotation at centre, but there's the little matter of the rest of the team and in that respect, the Heat are pretty well off. That's not to say they can't nor shouldn't look to improve in the middle, but I think they've got a pretty good chance of getting away with losing that matchup and succeeding in spite of it.

[atlwarrior]

Hmm... Some flashes of the old scoring champion Stackhouse during his Piston days in tonight's game.

[NovU]

What great clutch performance by both Wade and Lebron. Lebron deferring that last shot to Wade was very unselfish. It seems he really doesn't care what media says about him being falling shy in the clutch all the time. If Wade never made the shot we'd be seeing the headlines like "Lebron sucks" again.

Also Bosh making a 17 footer was clutch as hell. Lebron found an open man like he did against the Jazz.

[AMenace]

phpBB [video]

This is clutch. Great game to watch!

[NovU]

The Heat are struggling against Roseless Bulls. The Bulls are amazing and truly a better team. All rotation players contribute to the team and great communication on the court both on offense and defense. On the other hand, the Heat heavily relied on Lebron so far. The Heat are relying on Lebron's threes to stay in the game and that's not a good sign so far. Let's see how the fourth quarter goes.

EDIT: Noah just has Bosh under control. Watching Bosh trying to do anything against Noah looks pathetic. Very poor outing for the Heat. Entire team aren't showing up in exception of Lebron and Wade. Credits to the Bulls though. They're playing a true team basketball at the moment. So unselfish.

EDIT: No easy baskets allowed for the Heat. And problems at PG and inside are exploited once again. Lucas just killed Chalmers. Didn't even need Rose.

EDIT: Rebounding just wasn't there once again. The problem in the paint is clear. Bosh bulking up never helped it seems. He can't have 4 rebound nights.

[Andrew]

The Heat sure made it close though, they played some excellent defense at the end there trapping Lucas. They really took advantage of him being a reluctant passer and prone to overdribbling and it very nearly cost the Bulls; that's why you need a good floor general out there. Had LeBron made that three at the end there, we could've been looking at overtime, or quite possibly a Heat victory in regulation.

[123rockstar]

The Heat are not gonna survive this kind of play in the postseason. They rely most on James and Wade. No other players are consistently contributing. We have already seen that in the Finals last year. I wont be surprised if the HEAT are going to sign a new Big Man before the trade deadline. They need great stops in the paint.

Sure Wade and James are great defenders on court, but sure it would drain most of their energy, thus, ending up short on the offensive end. I cant blame Wade nor James in this loss. Other players need to step up and contribute, especially in the defensive end.

[JoeJames]

The Heat are not gonna survive this kind of play in the postseason. They rely most on James and Wade. No other players are consistently contributing. We have already seen that in the Finals last year. I wont be surprised if the HEAT are going to sign a new Big Man before the trade deadline. They need great stops in the paint.

Sure Wade and James are great defenders on court, but sure it would drain most of their energy, thus, ending up short on the offensive end. I cant blame Wade nor James in this loss. Other players need to step up and contribute, especially in the defensive end.

Last season Heat lost the regular season series and the game one of the ECF, then everybody though "this is gonna be easy"... but... Heat played great defense on Rose and won 4 consecutive games.

The problem of the Heat for me, is that they maybe gets overconfident and not destroys their opponets (just like Bulls)

[Andrew]

I don't think the implication was that it would be easy, simply that this style of play won't serve the Heat well in the Playoffs...which is probably right. Of course, I don't think this particular game represents what the Heat have been doing all season, or what their level of play will be come the postseason, I expect they'll be on more often than they're off.

[shadowgrin]

Bosh bulking up never helped it seems. He can't have 4 rebound nights.

Bosh can bulk up all he wants but unless he changes his vagina mindset he won't be a better rebounder.
Just look at his recent numbers against a Sixers team that had no height to use in that game.

[_Steve_]

Bosh bulking up never helped it seems. He can't have 4 rebound nights.

Bosh can bulk up all he wants but unless he changes his vagina mindset he won't be a better rebounder.
Just look at his recent numbers against a Sixers team that had no height to use in that game.

^ Nice one!

[NovU]

Whatever it is, it's not acceptable that Lebron is the leading rebounder on the team. Even in a win against PHI, we were out rebounded. Something's gotta be done in the middle.

[atlwarrior]

Wade almost cost them the game too because a couple of careless turnovers in the 4th qtr. He also took several bad shots at the end of the game.

[NovU]

Seems like it's Ronny Turiaf for us. 6-10, 249 lbs, 29 years old center who's got no skills but tons of heart. I like it and should be an upgrade over what we have on bench. Just hoping he's in shape though as he only played four games this season.