|
Magic in the Magic Kingdom
Thursday 11-26-2009 12:49pm ET
Apparently there can be Pre-Thanksgiving Presents, in addition to Pre-Christmas/Hanukkah presents.
The Miami Heat recorded their signature victory on Wednesday night, 99-98 in Orlando,beating an elite team with balance, defensive stops, rebounding, and outplaying them in the 4th quarter, coming back from an 11-point deficit over the final 8 minutes. There are a lot of players that deserve to heaped with praise.
-Dwyane Wade: Against a team he usually lights up(30.7 ppg vs Orlando), the first three quarters were nightmarish(3-14 FG). But D-Wade turned it on in the 4th quarter with 16 points, including 10 straight during Miami's 14-0 run, and used penetration to set up teammates. -Michael Beasley: The kid has moxie, inserted in the final 8 seconds after 8 minutes on the bench, only to record the game-winning slam/tip with 1.6 seconds left. Add that to nearly 19 pts and 10.5 rbs over the last four games. -Jermaine O'Neal: Maybe people can stop calling him soft. He played Dwight Howard to a draw defensively and grabbed 16 rebounds along with 13 points. And nearly went at it with D-12, receiving a technical in the process. -James Jones: It's simple, he needs minutes to get into his rhythm. After a 4-7 day from 3, we're ready to say JJ is in his rhythm. It will be interesting to see what happens when Quentin Richardson comes back from back spasms. -Daequan Cook: Only 5 points, but finally became the man to check Jason Williams, after the ex-Heat PG took Mario Chalmers and Carlos Arroyo to school over the first 3 plus quarters.
But that's where the biggest catalyst to victory comes in. To me, the Heat won this game when Erik Spoelstra took Chalmers out with 7:58 remaining, put Wade in at the point(1st significant action this year there) and had Cook defend J-Will, and Wade defend Carter. That ignited Wade offensively, and finally allowed someone of height to guard J-Will. It also helped that Stan Van Gundy made some bizarre coaching decisions, such as taking the ball out of Williams's hands, taking Ryan Anderson out when he was toasting the Heat, and making Dwight Howard an afterthought.
So on Thanksgiving, the Heat fan can give thanks for Stan Van Gundy aiding his former team. But more importantly, they should give thanks to the Heat for an instant classic last night. Captain Clutch
Monday 11-23-2009 12:29am ET
OK, so let's make a list of Heat players who I would want taking the final shot in a one-point game. Not surprisingly, the list begins with Dwyane Wade.
Right below him, occupying the No. 2 spot? Udonis Haslem. It's not even close.
As I've said numerous times on the air, I can't remember the last time UD missed a clutch fourth quarter shot. And sure enough, the co-captain delivers not one, but two jumpers in the final 45 seconds, sealing a Miami 102-101 victory over New Orleans that was as close to a must-win as humanly possible this early in the season.
The term clutch can often be a subjective term, and an overused term. Just because players thrive in the clutch once or twice does not automatically make them "clutch players." And players who fail in the clutch should not automatically earn the stigma "unclutch." Especially superstars like Peyton Manning and Alex Rodriguez, who have since successfully removed the tag from their name.
And even those "role players" in basketball who convert in money time, the Robert Horry's and James Posey's of the world, often are beneficiaries of wide open looks. Which is what made Udonis Haslem's game-winner all the more impressive. Sure, the baseline jumper with 45 seconds left was an open look from one of his sweet spots. But the crazy bank shot came on a broken play where both James Jones and Mario Chalmers passed up much better looks. The latter dished the ball off to Haslem, who had a man in his face, and was forced to take a dribble to the left to set himself. Then, the bank shot which broke the Heat's three-game losing streak.
With games in Orlando and versus Boston and a full-strength Washington this week, it cannot be understated how much the Heat desperately needed a W tonight, versus a Hornets team without Chris Paul. A loss, and the "when will this team win" questions would permeate.
Thanks to Udonis Haslem, those questions can fall on deaf ears. And every time No. 40 gets a big fourth-quarter shot, expect it to go through the hoop. Until he misses one. Which may not be for a loooong time. Thunder 100, Heat 87
Wednesday 11-18-2009 1:31pm ET
Oklahoma City outplayed Miami in virtually every facet on Tuesday night. They shot the ball much better from the field, from 3, and from the line(95 percent to 67 percent here). They outrebounded the Heat 41-36, and forced more turnovers. Thus, it's not very difficult to figure out why the Heat lost this game.
-More surprising is Kevin Durant outplaying Dwyane Wade. Durant's length was a problem for Quentin Richardson(who only played 18 minutes) and whoever else carried the assignment of guarding the NBA's 4th leading scorer. As for Wade, if someone can figure out why Thabo Sefalosha has more success containing D-Wade, please 'splain it to me?
-Also please explain to me whats happened to Michael Beasley recently! Last night's 3-9 FG to me was worse than Saturday's much-discussed 3-17 FG. At least Beasley grabbed 8 rebounds and provided activity against the Nets even when his shot wasn't falling. Last night, not a single rebound in 23 minutes. That's why he played less than half the game, and deservedly so.
-And with Daequan Cook's shoulder rounding into shape(17 points), he gives the Heat another option for end of games. With Udonis Haslem seemingly finishing most games at the 4, I would say you are more likely to see Cook or Quentin Richardson closing contests out at the 3 over Beasley. So, in conclusion, the 23-minute games may not be such an aberration. Of course, more consistent play from B-Easy could change that.
-It's also disconcerting to see Mario Chalmers defense completely tail off after a few good games. Remember when he shut down Derrick Rose two weeks ago? Tough to, after witnessing Mo Williams and Russell Westbrook do whatever they pleased during this homestand.
-Hopefully they prove me wrong, but I don't have such a great feeling in going into a back-to-back with Atlanta after 40 minutes from Wade and 38 minutes from Jermaine O'Neal. Win or lose(or Sink or Swim as Mark Sanchez would say), we're on the air at 6 PM tonight!
Heat 90, Wizards 76
Wednesday 11-11-2009 1:12am ET
Yes, this will probably be one of the five ugliest victories recorded by the Heat this year. Yes, even coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged the team "probably came out a little flat", which may have been an effect of no game action for four days. But the combination of a superstar flexing his "best player in world" muscles, nasty defensive disposition team-wide, and a team full of headcases exploding in the second half leads the Miami Heat to where they've only been once in franchise history: 6-1.
-We've predicted before that Dwyane Wade, after leading the league in scoring in 08-09, will parallel Kobe Bryant's last couple of seasons and probably not average 30 plus. That said, Kobe is good for some vintage scoring efforts, and D-Wade recorded his second 40 plus point game(41 points), shredding the Wizards apart after a sluggish first half. The Flash torched the Wizards for 27 in the second half, 14 in the final frame, and also set up Jermaine O'Neal and Mario Chalmers for two crucial baskets during the final 19-3 stretch.
-That run occurred following Spoelstra's decision to replace Michael Beasley with Quentin Richardson in crunch time. There's no doubt that was the right call. Beasley(6-17 FG) took way too many forced/ill-advised shots and seemed to be deterred by the Wizards height inside. And Q-Rich's defense on Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler shined, even if he didn't score a single point.
-Excellent game by point guards Mario Chalmers and Carlos Arroyo, combining for 23 points and 7 assists on 9-13 FG shooting. Arroyo, especially, ignited otherwise dry spells in the second and fourth quarters.
-Believe it or not, Washington led by 8 at the half, and double-digits early in the third quarter. That was before Arenas turned from Agent Zero to "Absolute Zero." Arenas wasn't expected to play with a sore-calf. And 12 turnovers later, sitting him may have been the wiser decision for Flip Saunders. Arenas can be a special player, but you are never getting over the hump with his decision making, or lack thereof, in the clutch.
-So now it's the Wade vs. LeBron with a side of Shaq showdown Thursday night. I wrote about the King James to Miami rumors yesterday in this blog. Later today, I will write about how the Heat can make their case to displace Cleveland in the East's top 3 with a victory. Heat Forward LeBron James?
Tuesday 11-10-2009 3:35pm ET
In an interview that aired on our opening night edition of Countdown to Tipoff, president Pat Riley said he hoped to build a dynasty through the summer of 2010 free agency class.
Re-signing Dwyane Wade would be a central component to Riley's blueprint. But there may be a component even BIGGER than re-upping the best player in franchise history.
How about Wade joining forces with his good friend LeBron James, aka the best player in the world, according to many.
According to Mark Stein of ESPN.com, at least three sources indicate the Heat would be at the front of the LeBron line should the King leave Cleveland. Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com goes one step further, claiming that the unreleased "Riley plan" in 2010 is luring James and Chris Bosh to South Beach for less-than-max deals, but also giving them opt-out clauses after three years.
And perhaps the biggest caveat comes from the reigning MVP himself, telling New York reporters this weekend he's more interested in W's than max $$.
Look, while all the speculation is fun, its hard to take any of the reports super seriously right now, because I don't think D-Wade or LeBron definitively know where they are going to suit up a year from now. So if they don't know, how would anonymous sources know?
But here's something we do know: If it's about W's more than millions, then the Heat gives LeBron and Wade the best chance to author their own Jordan-Pippen dynasty. Cleveland doesn't have room for a max player, even after nuking the dead weight that is Shaquille O'Neal. The Nets and Knicks, at best, can add one max player to sub-par rosters. And if team infrastructure counts for something, well doesn't that give Micky Arison/Pat Riley/Erik Spoelstra a clear edge over Jerry Reinsdorf/Gar Forman/Vinny Del Negro?
And while landing LeBron James would be the most monumental free agent coup in Heat and probably NBA history, its not like Riley hasn't made a killing in defying the odds. Acquiring Alonzo Mourning on the eve of the '95 season. Trading for Shaq in the summer of 2004. Unloading Shaq's unloadable contract less than four years later. If you know Pat Riley, he always will try to make the impossible possible.
My advice for Heat fans. Until the summer of 2010, root for your team to win as many games as possible. And root for the Cavaliers to lose as many games as possible.
Back-to-Back Thoughts
Thursday 11-05-2009 12:21pm ET
Sorry, have been running around like a crazy man last couple of days. Here's the Suns and Wizards recap condensed into one post.
First, the bad. Suns 104, Heat 96
-No they weren't going 82-0, but this one is more disheartening than a first loss should be. Especially because for the first 32 minutes, the Heat dominated every aspect of the game: offense/defense/tempo/balanced scoring. And then, everything unraveled in rapid-fire fashion.
-Certainly, a ton of credit must be placed at Steve Nash's feet for his 25-point, 9-10 FG 2nd half. He got into the paint whenever he pleased, and was sometimes succeeding playing 1 on 5. A masterful performance by not just a 35-year old, but a 35-year old who had his worst career numbers against Miami(13 pts, 5.8 assists, 41 FG).
-Also kudos to former Heat coach Alvin Gentry for stymieing the Heat with a zone defense in the 2nd half. The Heat were clearly out of sorts playing against it for the first time this year. And it could be a problem going forward, because even though the long-ball has worked, Miami is not going to win games around its three-point shooting.
-It's rare that I question anything that coach Erik Spoelstra does, but I was surprised by the end of game lineup of Chalmers/Wade/Q-Rich/Dorrell/Anthony. I just thought it left the Heat at a size disadvantage, and without enough offensive punch, or even defensive punch minus JO protecting the paint.
Now, to the good. Heat 93, Wizards 89
-Dwyane Wade, this victory is yours buddy. For those waiting for the "Best Player in World" game that happened at least 10-15 times last year, Wednesday night was the first of the 09-10 season.
-Inside D-Wade's 40 points: All 9 of the Heat's points during a eight and a half minute third quarter stretch where the Heat offense struggled mightily. Three key assists to Q-Rich, Rio, and JO in the 4th, even as the supporting cast wasn't supporting as a whole. Maniacal defense, including a huge block on Caron Butler with 55 seconds left, and a block on Fabricio Oberto that the officials inexplicably called a goaltend. And of course, the Jordanesque game winning jumper with 24.6 ticks remaining.
-Make no mistake, Gilbert Arenas is healthy and back to Agent Zero Level. But while Wade was thriving in crunch time, Arenas's last three plays were turnover, bad alley-oop pass, and blown layup. Hence, that's what separates Wade and Arenas.
-Quentin Richardson's offense shined tonight. The 19-19 statline was similar to the 18-10 from Tuesday. But the 10 shots versus 17 attempts weren't. Q-Rich should not be the second option for the Heat to win most games.
-A tough night for Jermaine O'Neal(4 pts). Mario Chalmers had games to forget on both-ends of the floor during the back to back. But both players did nail huge shots. Meanwhile, it's clear that while Michael Beasley is a starter, he's not a finisher yet.
Daequan Out, Jermaine Likely In
Tuesday 11-03-2009 3:58pm ET
Coach Erik Spoelstra told me this morning that Daequan Cook will likely be held out for a second straight game with a strained shoulder. The hope is Daequan will travel to Washington and play Wednesday night.
Spo also expects Jermaine O'Neal to play in spite of a broken nose. JO said Monday he doesn't plan on wearing a nose guard. Heat 95, Bulls 87
Monday 11-02-2009 10:34pm ET
This game was about as evenly matched as humanly possible until the final 3:54. It was there Miami thoroughly dominated Chicago 13-4. It was there Erik Spoelstra coached circles around Vinny Del Negro. And it was there that the Heat proved right now they are a better team than the talented Bulls.
What does that mean? For those taking the everything is gravy route, continue to celebrate the Heat's 3-0 start. For those who didn't put a lot of stock into wins versus New York and Indiana, Sunday's W had to give you notice.
-For a third consecutive game, my performer of the game isn't named Dwyane or Wade. Udonis Haslem(19 pts, 11 rebounds) continues to blossom in his new sixth man role, showing an expansive game in creating offense for himself. And has Udonis ever missed a shot in the clutch? Seriously?
-Interesting game for Wade, who started 4-5, cooking up some highlight reel plays against a team some think will pose the biggest threat to the Heat's chances to re-sign him. D-Wade ended the game 8 for 19. However, he is once again showing an ability to defer when his teammates are producing. That trust wasn't always there last year.
-Carlos Arroyo's jumper off the pick and roll game gives the Heat their best backup PG since Gary Payton. Yes, sorry Smush Parker, he's better than you.
-Not everything will be rosy for Jermaine O'Neal, especially not when teams double and sometimes triple team you. But give him and Michael Beasley credit for producing in other areas while points were not as easy to come by.
-The Heat defense continues to be masterful against the 3(21 percent) while protecting the paint. One concern: Luol Deng(26 points) lighting up the much shorter Quentin Richardson.
-The Heat got away with 19 turnovers, in part because the Bulls had no idea how to finish. Miami won't be as fortunate versus better clubs.
-What's worse in the fourth quarter, Derrick Rose trying to shoot jumpers, or Vinny Del Negro making sure the ball is not in his hands?
-Up next the Suns on Tuesday. Tune into Countdown to Tipoff at 6:30 PM on your home of the Heat, 940 WINZ the Sports Animal! And e-mails are welcome at jmp@ccmiami.com. Heat 96, Pacers 83
Saturday 10-31-2009 1:41am ET
The last time Miami won at Conseco Fieldhouse, we were in Year 1 of the George W. Bush administration. "How You Remind Me" by Nickelback was the No. 1 pop song. Dick Clark was still fully hosting New Year's Eve. And on that day in 2001, a lineup of Rod Strickland, Eddie Jones, Jim Jackson, Brian Grant, and Alonzo Mourning took down the Pacers 89-87. Since then, 17 straight losses in Indiana. Until the Heat finally exercised the curse Friday. And right before Halloween no less!
Former Pacer Jermaine O'Neal, booed at the start, scores 22 points and 12 rebounds for a second straight day. No one in franchise history has ever opened with back to back 20-10 games. And Miami, at 2-0, is off to its quickest start since a 4-0 burst in 2004.
-This game belonged to the Heat defense, which has been stellar against two high-powered offenses. Miami made Danny Granger(6-20 FG) into a jump shooter, and not a particularly effective one. The Heat dominated the glass(27-12) in the second half against an outstanding rebounding team. And this time, they short-circuited that Indiana rally we've seen so many times during the losing streak.
-While coach Erik Spoelstra threw everything and the kitchen sink at Granger, much credit has to be given to Quentin Richardson, who had the primary assignment. It seems like at 25 pounds lighter, Q-Rich is trying to redefine himself as a defensive stopper, with the offense secondary.
-Just another night at the office for Dwyane Wade(32 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals) who once again avoided heavy lifting. But still seemed to score whenever he pleased.
-Still the story of the game was for a second straight night, Jermaine O'Neal. There's no question he's regained some lift and mobility. Can he keep it up for 82 games? That remains to be seen. The Bulls Sunday will provide JO with his first physical post defense.
-Since Dwyane Wade says he doesn't want to battle LeBron in the dunk competition, is Udonis Haslem throwing his hat into the ring? The hammer dunk over Solomon Jones in the first quarter must qualify as one of the more unlikely posterizing efforts we've seen in recent years!
-Spoelstra says he was pleased with Michael Beasley's all-around effort (12 pts, 9 rebounds) and how he's starting to get it. That said, no issues with taking him out for UD in crunch time. Expect that to continue in games where the Heat need 4th quarter defensive stops.
-There's a significant difference between Mario Chalmers and Carlos Arroyo. Which was not the case in the preseason.
-One negative: Daequan Cook's injured shoulder hampered his shooting(1-9 FG). Cook's motion seemed to be much less fluid.
Next up: Chicago on Sunday. Tune into Countdown to Tipoff at 5 PM on 940 WINZ, the Sports Animal. And e-mail questions/comments to jmp@ccmiami.com.
What's Happened to James Jones?
Thursday 10-29-2009 8:46pm ET
The drafting of Michael Beasley and the acquiring of Mario Chalmers draft rights in June 2008 may have been the first sign of the Heat's rebuilding project. The first major free agent signal to me came shortly thereafter, when Pat Riley inked former UM sharpshooter James Jones to a 5-year deal. It looked like the Heat had their pure long-distance threat absent since the departure of Jason Kapono.
For much of last season, it didn't work out that way. At least on a first glance of the stats. JJ missed nearly half of the season with a fractured wrist, and shot just 37 percent from the field and a pedestrian 34 percent from 3, averaging only 4 points per contest. But examining the numbers more closely, Jones knocked down 42 percent of his treys in March and April, around the time where he said his wrist was finally close to 100 percent. And he may have been the second best Heat player in the Atlanta series, going 11 of 22 from deep en route to 9.6 points per game.
Yet the idea of pairing Dwyane Wade with a healed and once again lethal marksman has seemingly gone by the waste-side, at least early in the season. James Jones did not make coach Erik Spoelstra's rotation, receiving only 2 token minutes at the end of the Knicks game. And today, Spoelstra announced that Jones won't travel to Indiana due to flu-like symptoms(something the NBA is cracking down on).
So why the lack of PT for double-deuce?
Part of it may have to do with Jones and new starter Quentin Richardson's similar skill sets. Both are serviceable but not lockdown defenders. Both rely heavily on the 3, with Jones the better shooter. But Q-Rich has a better all-around game, especially minus 25 pounds. And for now, most of the remaining small forward minutes will be consumed by Michael Beasley, when he isn't playing at the 4.
So it appears, at least early, that James Jones has become an afterthought for the Miami Heat, and possibly could be trade bait if they make an in-season move. But I've always been a James Jones fan since his days at the "U". And I still think he could be a valuable cog for this Heat team.
-Make sure to catch Countdown to Tipoff at 7 PM Friday night before the Heat-Pacers on 940 WINZ The Sports Animal. Among other things, Jermaine O'Neal joins us and gives an interesting answer on why the Heat haven't won in Indiana since New Years Eve 2001.
And we field your questions/comments at jmp@ccmiami.com
|
© 2012
