Heat beginning to assert itself?

Miami squares off tonight against the Dallas Mavericks, a team which embarassed the Heat - at their house - last time these two teams met. In fact, other than the first quarter against the Suns, the Heat have never been blow out all season.

The Heat, coming off a very strong team showing against the Rockets, may be starting to right the ship after a bumpy January. They have won 6 of their last 10 and have been doing it with a hobbling, beat up Wade, a sick Eddie Jones, an injured Laettner and Allen, and a Houdini-like Damon Jones who has been performing his disappearing act at each game. Until recently, anyway. Throw in a little finger pointing in the press and some frustration over team performance and philosophy, and you have a 'debacle'. But, the Heat seem to be emerging, and none too soon.

What about the other powers in the East? It seems the Heat are not doing all that bad in comparison. Detroit has won 6 of their last 10 and like Miami, has won 3 in a row. But with their team underperforming and Larry Brown doing his best imitation of a classic Clash song, "Should I stay or should I go", what can be expected of this team? They are the world champs and have yet to perform up to the level they are capable. As for the Heat, now is the perfect time to begin a run and avoid Detroit's run - should they be able to make one.

Then there is Indiana. A team that came into Miami and beat a Heat team that just kept finding ways to take itself out of the game. Still, the Pacers won with great efforts from Tinsley and Jermaine O'neal. Then, they got Stephen Jackson back. Now, they have lost 5 in a row and are currently 20-23 and on the outside looking into the playoffs (currently at #9). The Cavs are playing very well - without LeBron James - which does not bode well for the Pacers. Without Artest and in the midst of a losing streak, will this team start to fold in on itself and all too conveniently start making excuses?

Time will tell. As for the Heat, a win tonight will keep them on the right path. This team just needs to continue to grow and assert itself on each game it plays. The effort level is up and the team is playing more and more like a team as it deals with various injuries, foul troubles, and shooting droughts. Starting to perform like a champion? Not yet, but the heat is definetly on.