Today's Heat Links

Uplifting effort from Wade
Heat make it 13
Heat triple doubles
Piston's strategy, Man vs Shaq

Heat win record 13th in a Row.

Your Miami Heat won their franchise record, 12th straight game on Monday, against the Atlanta Hawks. Since the Miami Heat lost at Denver on December 4th, they have beat:
Utah (100-80)....Milwuakee (101-96)....Memphis (92-84)....Toronto (106-98)....Washington (106-83)....Washington (98-93)....Denver (107-100)....Orlando (117-107)....Boston (108-100)....Sacramento (109-107)....Los Angeles Lakers (104-102)....Atlanta (116-102).Detroit(89-78)

On New years day, the Miami Heat face Charlotte Bobcatts . You can keep track of this game by going to the Gameday Forum at MiamiHeatZone.Com!

Is the dream becoming real?

Several years ago, Pat Riley was welcomed here in South Florida among the pomp and circumstance that a befits an NBA coach. Well, one that is a high-profile, Armani suit-wearing, motivational speaker such as Riley. And during his address to the crowd, he proclaimed his dream: a parade for a world champion Miami Heat team running throughout downtown Miami while the ticker tapes fell from the sky in celebration.

Thunder Dan rained threes. Keith Askins played tough defense off the bench. Alonzo Mourning's intensity ignited the crowd and powered the team to win after win. But all came and went. Even Timmy Hardaway's heart wasnt enough to loft the trophy out of Riley's mind.

But he we are again. After a terrific young team climbed its way out of the cellar to the playoffs taking on the world as it went. After the promise of that season, another was made and wrapped in sacrifice. He we are again, on the verge of realizing Riley's dream. The architect, in order to realize his dream, had to make a deal that he couldn't have imagined in his wildest dreams.

Armed with Diesel Power in Shaq and a top-flight talent in Dwyane Wade, this new Heat team has the look, the feel of a champion. And they are only getting better. Ask journey man Damon Jones. Or ask Christian Laettner, a former college great that hasnt had the chance to shine - until now. Or ask Eddie Jones - the much maligned team captain that has only begun to rediscover his game while the Heat have discovered winning.

This Heat team plays poised. Never panics. And the media is starting to notice. Mark Jackson made his proclamation in support of the Heat on ESPN. Others are falling in line. But is the dream becoming real? Does this Heat team - with its mix of young talent and heady veterans - have the ability to win it all? Can this be the team Riley dreamed of?

Let's find out...

Heat Win Franchise Record 12th Straight.

Your Miami Heat won their franchise record, 12th straight game on Monday, against the Atlanta Hawks. Since the Miami Heat lost at Denver on December 4th, they have beat:
Utah (100-80)....Milwuakee (101-96)....Memphis (92-84)....Toronto (106-98)....Washington (106-83)....Washington (98-93)....Denver (107-100)....Orlando (117-107)....Boston (108-100)....Sacramento (109-107)....Los Angeles (L) (104-102)....Atlanta (116-102).

Tonight, the Miami Heat face NBA Champion Detroit Pistons. You can keep track of this game by going to the Gameday Forums at MiamiHeatZone.Com!

Forget the Hype, get ready for Sac-town.

Kobe-Shaq,Shaq-Kobe,Kobe-Shaq,Shaq-Kobe,CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Hype is sports, without hype what would the point of sports be?Exactly, while we all like to speculate what will happen in the next "big game" you have to finish off the games before the big one goes down. So it comes down to Sac-town. The heat need Shaq to be there to keep sacromento's Bibby and Webber from getting dunks and layups, otherwise the Kings will be penetrating at will. Bibby will not be able to hold down Wade(who will get 25+, and you can hold me to that), but Wade need's to stop Biiby as well. Udonis haslems defensive ability will be tested vs one of the top forwards of the leauge.
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Game Key
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Eddie Jones has to contiue his hot shooting vs the king's, he should get plenty of open shot's even if shaq plays or not since Peja will be on him. If EJ gets 20 we should be able to win again.

[Week 7]Birdman's Point Differential Leaderboard

1.[+283)-Phonix]
2.[+254)-San Antonio]
3.[+147)-Seattle]
4.[+113)-Miami]
5.[+94)-Minnosota]
6.[+84)-Dallas]
7.[+77)-LA Clippers]
8.[+71)-Clevland]
9.[+48-)Washington]
10.[+46)-Sacromento]
11.[+44)-Boston]
12.[+18)-LA Lakers]
13.[+9)-Orlando]
14.[+9)-Detroit]
15.[-9)-Denver]
16.[-23)-New York]
17.[-28)-Memphis]
18.[-31)-Indiana]
19.[-37)-Portland]
20.[-38)-Utah]
21.[-39)-Houston]
22.[-57)-Milwaukee]
23.[-65)-Toronto]
24.[-88)-Phily]
25.[-105)-Charlotte]
26.[-111)-Chicago]
27.[-147)-New Jersey]
28.[-158)-New Orleans]
29.[-177)-Golden State]
30.[-250)-Atlanta]

Wright or Wrong?

19th Effect
By:Birdman

Dorell Wright a 6-7 Small Forward out of the High School of South Kent Prep where he Averaged just above 29 points per game. Recently Drafted with the 19th pick by the Miami Heat straigh out of high school. While most players who go into the NBA have been playing most of there lives Wright has only been on the basketball scene for slightly over three years.

After the pick the Miami Heat made they traded for the Most Dominant player in the Nba, Shaq, But in the process lost Caron Butler and Lamar Odom who had a Breakout season after His Clipperitus had worn-off. Also in the trade they lost the old and deerorating Brian Grant who also had a horrible contract. But the loss of the Miami Heat's future Shooting Forward Caron Butler is what made them look slim, sure Rasual Butler was productive off the Bench last season, but Starter Material?No.

Which Brings up this question, Can Wright Produce this season?The heat Front Office thinks so. In his first Summer Leauge game of the summer[and only one] Wright Had 30 points and 22 in the second half but Hurt his leg. Pat Riley wanted him to rest, resulting in his his only summer leauge game to be his last. Dorrel Wright was listed in High School at 6-7 190, No question not big enough for the Nba, but told the media he was going to work all summber on beefing up, and looks like he is keeping to his word as in todays release of the Training Camp roster he is listed at 210 pounds, More than heat players Rasual Butler[SF],Eddie Jones[Sg} and Wesley Person[SF].

Scout's have compared him to TMAC, only the future can tell what effect he will have on the HEAT.

Perimeter Play Plagues Heat

Wesley Person got the start last night against the Raptors. Butler, who has been terrible of late, got bumped to the bench. It isn't a shock that a change came, just that it came packaged as it did.

The basic debate, at least among the Heat intelligentsia, is why Butler and not Eddie Jones? Butler has a 35.5% while EJ is shooting 34.7% right now. Maybe, we should start calling him Eddie Ones. So, why, coach, Butler instead of EJ?

Here is what Van Gundy said in an article found in the Sun-Sentinel:

"I think two things sort of led to the decision," the Heat coach said. "No. 1, I'm hoping at some level it will help Rasual. I think he's been pressing a little bit. I think we need contributions from him. And the second thing is trying to sort of balance shooting and offensive stuff with defense. Our two best shooters have been Damon and Wes. So you've got one of them in the lineup and one off the bench. And our two best perimeter defenders have been Eddie and Shandon, so you've got one of 'em in the lineup and one of them off the bench."

"The difference there is that Eddie has been, in my opinion, our best perimeter defender," Van Gundy said. "I have a comfort level with him that gives him a little bit longer rope in terms of lack of offensive production."

So, it seems EJ has more 'cred' with the coach at this point. That is fair. We all know EJ is more of a proven commodity than Butler is. At least at this point. Person is a vet, too, and it confirms what we can suspect about Van Gundy - he is looking for some sign of consistency.

It seems though that some of the best play is also coming from a source not familiar to the Heat - Keyon Dooling. He has been putting together some defensive highlights as well as maximizing the minutes he plays. He is pressing for more minutes with every outing.

This begs the question, what is going to happen? Something has to give. The Heat needs a third scoring option. Eddie Jones is there most marketable commodity to net a player of worth in return. But his contract is big and he is struggling right now with his offense. If he wasnt, the Heat would not be in the perdicament they are currently in. And that is the conundrum.

So, with EJ, Butler, Person, Damon Jones, Keyon Dooling, the Heat has to be able to extrapolate some kind of rotation where they can get consistency from their perimeter play. How that happens, is anyone's guess at this point.