Miami Heat Thread

[Indy]

But the players are different. You've just compared Jermaine to TJ Ford.

So? Just because one guy is bigger then another doesn't mean you can foul him harder.

[Drex]

No, but the same foul or the same strenght in a foul won't have the same results in two different players.

[melvinsanders]

oh no!!!!lose again,well theres positive:2008 draft!

[shadowgrin]

I smell Dwyane/Converse is back. ^

[Pera]

I think its already been taking care of.

This guy is seriously ruining the reputation of Heat fans on the internet.

[frenchy]

Heat expected to trade for Miller (Griz), good idea or not ?

[shadowgrin]

Good. He provides that swingman the Heat really need (Ricky Davis who?) and Ugly Miller also has decent playmaking abilities which the Heat also really need.

I still think they're going after Mike Bibby though when his finger injury is over.

[diddy]

frenchy, this is good, cuz we need some 3-pt shooting, consistent shooting! but, i don't think that Davis must leave! i want him to play in miami! he is strong and quick and has some playmaking skills too, even hier than miller does!
and one more - mike pietrus wants to move to miami, he told to the media that "if i wouldn't be in miami in january, that i'll be there in the end of the season"

[J J]

Wait wait, Mcdwyane/Dwyane/Converse is banned? When? Why? How?

Link please.

[JT_55]

He was banned two months ago. Didn't you notice the drop in the number of threads started in the past while?

http://www.nbaliveforums.com/ftopic52425.php

[J J]

Bah, that's too bad. I'm like, excited whenever I see a thread that's started by him.

[Andrew]

The Heat/Magic game last week was ultimately a bit anti-climactic when they faded in OT but the back and forth battle in the fourth, Wade pushing 50 points and Cook hitting that last second three to force the extra period was fun to watch. In Wright and Cook, the Heat have got a couple of very promising young players, it's unfortunate they've got a bit of a logjam with Wade obviously getting the most minutes at shooting guard and Ricky Davis coming into the fold this past offseason.

[buzzy]

After watching the game which just ended in favor of Denver, I do think the future in Miami is bright.

Before the trade, everything was so slow, but now they really playing up tempo basketball. Shawn Marion often is the first down the court.
And I think their bench is pretty good. Ricky can get hot from the bench, so does Haslem.

Although Denver won with a point, I really enjoyed watching it.

It was their first game with 100 or more points in 21 games.

Dorell Wright has so much potential. He had 19 points, and also played some good defense on 'Melo. He also made a potential game-saving block, which sent the game into overtime. Mark Blount also looks like he's developing well, had a good game.
Marion seems to fit perfectly and he had a monster game with 23 points and 18 boards.

Now with getting a solid pick and maybe signing a good player in the summer, I think the Heat can get back to the play-offs, probably even further.

[Axel]

I think the Heat have a bright future, but Marion is not a part of that future.

He turns 30 later this year. Hard to see Miami building around Wade and a 30 year old player. With Shawn's game being centered around athleticism I doubt his ability to be effective late into his 30's. Miami will probably dump him for cap space (after all, the Heat were just looking for someone to take Shaq's contract) and hope to net a top pick this year. The Heat will probably be at the bottom of the league again next year as well, but by the 09/10 season I think they will be significantly better assuming that their draft picks work out.

[Andrew]

It depends how quickly they return to being a playoff team and from there, a potential championship contender. Marion may be approaching 30 and there are obviously questions about his athleticism as he then approaches his mid 30s but consider other tremendous athletes such as Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins who remained great athletes even in their 30s. Marion probably has at least another three years of explosiveness left in him, perhaps with a few more of being effective after that.

I'd agree with buzzy though, it was a great game to watch and the Heat looked pretty good, even in defeat.

[diddy]

marion is really good for the heat! he scored 23 and 18 boards against Denver, where Mia lost 1 point in the OT! Flash scored 29 + 10 assts and dorell had 19 + 8 boards! this young core is getting better and better! i love my new heat! and plus Rose, Beasly, gordon or maybe Jordan from the draft (every or them are beasts) + some quality role playas from FA or 1 Superstar and this is reborn new champions for the next season! yyyaaahoooo!

[Andrew]

I wouldn't go that far just yet but I'd certainly agree they've got a bright future.

[Sauru]

yeah they look good after a couple games but thats a far cry from a championship

[buzzy]

Wade Out For Season

I dunno much about that therapy, but for it looks like that the Heat are starting tanking and going for the top pick.

[BIG GREEN]

They're starting?...lol...they started since december and this is only the exclamation. They traded the aging shaq for a guy who probably wont stay with the team and they've been scouting for the draft heavy. I feel sorry for season ticket holders and heat fans in general.

[Andrew]

Looking ahead at the NBA on Foxtel schedule, it looks like there's still going to be a few Heat games shown. I'm guessing they'll be ugly affairs.

[Bruce]

The NBA should do something to avoid teams form tanking, Maybe a change in the lottery system perhaps? This is simply bad for business.

[Lamrock]

Marion is going to average 40, 15 and 10 now, and will lead the Heat past the 2004-05 Atlanta Hawks for least regular season wins this millennium.

[Andrew]

The NBA should do something to avoid teams form tanking, Maybe a change in the lottery system perhaps? This is simply bad for business.

What would you change though? The current lottery system is already pretty fair and it's not as though the team with the best odds frequently wins the top pick either. Memphis and Boston slipping to fourth and fifth last year is a prime example of tanking being far from a sound strategy to move up in the Draft, though as long as you have the worst record you're going to at least get the fourth pick if you don't place somewhere in the top three.

The problem is that tanking might be against the competitive spirit of the game and it's an ugly thing to behold, but it's not like point shaving or any other kind of betting scandals; it's not illegal to lose games and if you're out of playoff contention, there's no rule against sitting your top players so they don't get hurt and just going through the motions.

Besides, to say they're tanking might be giving the Heat too much credit. After all, they surely haven't been tanking all season long but they're just about as woeful in the first two months of the season as they are now and will likely continue to be until April.

[Lamrock]

Tanking is pretty unprofessional, and sucks for the fans and the league, but its not like it doesn't have its consequences. Not only does the lottery have few promises, but also the team is getting nothing out of it. The Blazers will not make the playoffs this year; neither will the Kings. But they are still putting effort in anyway and they are rewarded with chemistry and experience.

Its good to rest a star player, or have them opt for surgery when you are out of the race, but tanking is too hard to enforce, and has its own consequences.