Ron Artest to Miami?

Talk about putting the "vice" in Miami, landing Ron Artest would certainly make this Heat team a whole lot more...complex.

The latest rumor now is that the Heat may be players in the Artest sweepstakes II. Last year, he was dealt to Sacramento for Peja Stoyakovic, who is now with the Hornets after making a pit stop in Indiana.

The deal is going to be made, according to numerous sources. That is, Artest is going to be dealt. The Kings have decided to stick with Bibby and vote Artest off the island, instead. The most likely scenario has been Artest to the Clippers for Corey Maggette. But, like the Allen Iverson deal, there is another player emerging on the block that may have a better offer - the Heat.

The Heat showed strong interest in AI and dangled several players in a possible scenario. Ultimately, the Sixers stood by the standard notion that trading within your conference is a bad idea and opted for a lesser deal with the Nuggets. Andre Miller for AI could have a positive effect on the value of Artest - at least where the Heat is concerned.

Artest is arguably one of the league's most talented players but with his off court antics (and even his on court antics) overshadowing his playing status, his value has dropped. Perhaps even more so than last season, since, again, AI netted only Andre Miller. Artest could garner less.

But could Riley really make a deal for a player like Artest, who is more Rodman than perhaps Dennis the Menace was in his post Detroit days. And Artest, lest we forget, did go after Pat Riley once.

Still, it is too tantalizing, too sexy to refuse. Ron Artest in a Heat uniform would make this team tougher, stronger, meaner and leaner. It would get hungrier and would be arguably the most dangerous team in the entire NBA.

Artest can guard any position and has actually shown a history of deferring to players in the right situation. In Miami, he would be behind Shaq and Wade in the pecking order and would have no foreseeable problem with it, since both players are champions and among the most respected players in the NBA fraternity. And Pat Riley would be there to guide them all the way to the end. Whatever end that may be.

The sexy factor would rise for Miami who would now have a player that can beat you inside, one that could beat you on the perimeter and outside, and one that could create a physical mismatch with any other player you put on the floor.

If Riley has a chance to land Ron Artest, it would prove more valuable than landing even Allen Iverson. I think the same rules apply here, too. Open up your roster and say anyone except Wade and Shaq is available. Let's see what happens.

Wade Injured; Day to Day

Dwyane Wade went down with an injury early on in the loss to the Bulls last night, believed to be caused when he was trying to get through a screen. Xrays were negative and the MRI scheduled for today was also negative.

Team doctor Ron Culp advised to hold Wade out of the game for precautionary reasons. The Heat were not able to fight off the Bulls for a win, yet played inspiring basketball considered they were without Wade and Shaq on the road in Chicago, a team that totally blasted the Heat on opening night.

''We made a heck of a comeback,'' Riley said. "We were in shock for a while without Dwyane. But it was a lot of guts. A lot of pride. We ended up losing at the end.''

Yet the injury is not without controversy, Wade injured his wrist on a screen set by Udonis Haslem when his wrist was grabbed by Kirk Hinrich.

"Hinrich grabbed his hand," Riley said late Wednesday at the United Center. "He does it all the time. Anytime Dwyane comes off screens, they always either grab his shirt or they grab his hand. It's a little bit of a tactic down below the body. The official can't see it. He had Dwyane's hand and he tried to pull his hand out of there, and I think something happened."

Wade said he felt the wrist had popped out of its socket.

The Bulls denied any intention for injury by Hinrich. Skiles added, "Pat's an expert on tactics, I'll leave it at that. There are coaches who believe you're somehow jockeying for position when you say things like that or apply pressure to the referees."

So, Wade is listed day-to-day, and there may be some extra baggage from this situation. Perhaps a small rivalry is brewing between the two franchises?

Shag Takes a Shot at Jackson

Wow, we must be bored these days. After all, isn't this supposed to be the time of year when everyone forgives and forgets? Well, not for Shaq and Phil Jackson.

Maybe it is because Riley has won a championship and has started to reclaim the greatest living coach tag. Maybe it is because Phil is just bitter than Riley made it look easy doing so with his ex-asset, Shaq.

Shaq was done, wasn't he? Isn't that what Dr. Buss and his braintrust, Phil among them, agreed? Go with Kobe, Shaq is done.

Phil couldn't resist. When asked a question about Kobe's work ethic, he remarked that the only superstar player he coached that didn't like to work hard was Shaq.

Why Phil? Why did he make this comment? To get back at Shaq for something? And what was it for?

It doesn't matter, as it lead to a "Benedict Arnold" comparison from Shaq to his old coach, Phil. If anything, this securely locks Pat Riley into Shaq's mind as the greatest coach he has and will ever play for.

Or is that what Phil is reacting to?

After all, since Riley had to listen to the "Phil Jackson-is-the-greatest" speil for years, it is now his turn. And he actually did it his way, with players he drafted and traded for. Phil has done it with what was given to him. He was given the keys to a Ferrari. All he had to do was drive it.

Pat Riley had to build his own.

Interesting to note was Riley's reaction, who quickly supported O'neal's work ethic while the Diesel has been with the Heat. And anyone watching the Heat of late would notice that Shaq is not slacking. Certainly not as much as when he played for the relaxed Phil Jackson.

Maybe Shaq didn't need a "zen master" but perhaps a drill sergeant. After all, Shaq's dad was one.

AI to Miami?

Recently, one of our very own members (and a contributor to this blog) has stated one of his sources told him that AI to Miami is a DONE deal. The deal, if this source is correct, would be AI for Haslem, Williams and Wright and possibly another player such as Earl Barron, Robert Hite or Chris Quinn. Follow the discussion HERE

If this is true, it would be a great move for Miami as it would now gain, arguably, the best backcourt in ALL of basketball - and possibly one of the best EVER.

Stay tuned - this is only speculation at this point, as stories continue to swirl about the possibilities for an Allen Iverson deal.

Bring AI to Miami

No, not that AI, the AI as in "The Answer". He would definetly be the answer to what ails this team.

The latest is Allen Iverson wants out of Philly. This time, for good and its for real. It seems the 76ers are going to move as quickly as possible to make a deal and there are going to be a very large number of suitors out there for #3.

I hope Riley is able to convince not only himself, but Mickey Arison, that the Heat could benefit from this deal.

Sure, it is highly unlikely. Allen Iverson has 3 years and $60M remaining on his contract. That is a pretty steep price to pay for any team, especially the Heat. And yes, the Heat acquiring AI is indeed a long shot.

But so was the Heat winning it all last season, right? Well, at least if you went with what the media was saying.

Still, there is a possibility for the Heat to be a player in this deal. They have Antoine Walker, whose contract was inked in 2005 for 6 years and $53M. *** Not to mention, the Heat have some attractive young pieces in Wayne Simien, Earl Barron, and especially Dorrel Wright that may entice Philly. Walker's deal could net the Sixers some cap space, adding a young player like Wright may help them in the 'now' department but most likely be used to set them up for the future with pieces like Carney, Dalembert and Hunter in place.

For the Heat, AI would be a great addition. His athleticism and speed would greatly increase the Heat's attack and his offensive firepower would help spread the floor. Not to mention, his ability to penetrate and draw contact would be a nice counter with Wade on the court. Teams would have to find a way to cancel out the attack of both Wade and Iverson, while also accounting for the gravity of Shaq's presence (when healthy).

More importantly, a move like this would shake up the champs and perhaps free them of their biggest problem - stagnancy and apathy. While this isn't entirely true of the whole team, there have been some major rumblings about Walker and Payton and even to the extent they are clashing with Riley. That will amount to a short shelf life for both players, and considering that both are playing horribly and digging themselves deeper into Riley's doghouse, a trade may be the only thing left. And the Heat did try to trade Walker this past offseason.

The main thing missing, like I alluded to earlier, is hunger. There are plenty of players that have it on this team, but some of the key players do not. This notion was on Wade's mind pretty recently:

"I don't want to turn into one of those players that come out and be jacking, trying to win the game with every shot I take. ... The team I was on the first year (2003-04), we weren't that good, but we played hard. That same effort is not being applied here. ... We understand that you go through times like this in the NBA, but to lose by 20 or so every game you lose, it's pretty tough. You get to a point where you wonder why, even though we're not at full strength. We're just not performing to our capabilities."

Adding some AI to this team may get it back to that level it was at coming into the playoffs last season. Shaq may be down, but the Heat desperately need to do something to right the ship while he is out. They will burn Wade up. Bringing in AI as a complementary player would be both the ideal role for Iverson, and for the Heat.

Sonics Whine about Wade

Bob Hill's comments about Wade's game and treatment by the officials could be more damaging to his Sonics than to Wade.

After the Heat's 90-87 victory over the Sonics the other night, Seattle's head coach had a few things to say about the loss - more specifically, about the player most responsible for handing them that loss, Dwyane Wade.

Bob Hill called the officials' treatment of Wade "unbelievable" and he asked how he could coach under such a situation? He cited as an example Wade's ability to carry the ball, palming it, and attack the basket.

Even Ray Allen agreed with Hill, saying it was "lopsided" and even commented that anytime they touched Dwyane Wade they got whistled for a foul. In fact, he said,"There was pressure up on the ball whenever I got the ball, and on the other end, we got whistled any time we touched Dwyane."

Now, not to seem a devil's advocate here, but if there was only "pressure" and no contact, that wouldn't be a foul (and Riley should be credited for teaching his players the proper way to play defense). Consequently, if the Sonics did make contact with Wade, as Allen says, then yes, they should be called for a foul.

So, I don't see the problem here. But, let's for argument's sake take the observations of Hill and Allen as valid. Let's say that Wade is getting away with palming. That shouldn't be a shock, especially if you ask a basketball fan over the age of 40 if he or she thinks players today get away with traveling, palming, etc. Just remember to stand back a few feet before they unleash their response to your question.

If anything, Wade is only getting away with what the league has allowed and has been allowing for well over a decade now, and - yes, you old timers should pay attention - it is something that even the great Jordan himself got away with. (Anyone still think Jordan didn't push off Bryon Russell in that Finals against the Jazz?)

That really isn't the point here, however. I am not trying to be a Dwyane Wade apologist - the guy attacks the basket hard and earns his fouls. If the league decided to take away this alleged palming arsenal in his attack, so many other players would be affected that the point would be moot.

But make no mistake, the NBA is to blame here. They let this wolf into the sheep's pen a long time ago. There isn't any incentive to stop it now, but it would be good for purifying the game again.

And that is the point I am trying to make. Right now, Hill has no one to blame but the NBA as a whole. They let this happen and let it get to this point, but it is a catch 22 for Hill and his Sonics team as well. Because right now, the NBA officials are allowing a game to flourish that aids teams with a perimeter oriented attack.

By allowing guys to carry, travel, et cetera, they are able to initiate their attacks to the basket. And of course, not all of these attacks utilize a foul. But another rule that is more important to look at is the interpretation of contact. As Allen was saying, Wade gets touched, he gets a foul. Allen gets pressured, there is no foul. Well, that is how it is supposed to be, thanks Ray, but to a point. Not all contact by a defender is a foul.

In fact, a lot of what has been going on in the NBA these days should not be called a foul. And by that, I invoke the Chauncey Billups rule - you cannot jump into a defender, initiating contact, and draw a foul. The offensive player is initiating contact and therefore should be called for the foul, not the defender.

If Hill is not aware of this, he should be. He is actually not only drawing attention to Wade's alleged carries, travels, and anything else he can gripe about, but also the officials' interpretation of contact.

By creating space through the conditioning of defenders not being allowed to be physical or even make contact at all with players on the perimeter, teams with perimeter offenses are finding more space to score. Teams like the Suns, Pistons, Bulls (who can't seem to score anyway), Nets and yes, the Sonics.

So Bobby Boy, you're better off complaining about Ray Allen's 5-17 night and citing that as a reason why your team lost. And not Wade's gameplay - because after all, it is the same set of benefits that is applied to your players like Allen, Lewis and even Ridnour.

But that doesn't make the front page, does it...

Wright Time

It's about time, that is all I have got to say. For three long, agonizing years - as a fan, of course - we have all sat and watched the Heat grab success on the court with Wright on the bench.

Ok, so I shouldn't act like a spoiled brat here, but how many of us can honestly say that this was the right choice back in 2004 when Riley selected Dorrell Wright with the 19th pick? And can we honestly look the other way when cross-state rival Magic have watched Jameer Nelson, available to the Heat back in that draft, blossom?

No, we can't. But we can focus on Wright and his potential - and for once, it isn't just talk for overly-positive Heat fans. We no longer have to make excuses for the kid and for Riley, and frankly, we couldn't any more anyway.

Riley has to play Wright. He has no choice. The Heat are banged up, and getting older and have very little athleticism on this team among their starters (of course, excepting Wade). This is a good thing because Riley would probably have Wright shackled to the bench still if Jason Williams was healthy. Heck, Wright wouldn't need a warm up jersey, but a set of diapers.

And so the injuries free Wright from the bench, and this is the right time to see him log some minutes.

Tonight, against the tough perimeter offense of the Supersonics, Wright was able to log 27 minutes and score 9 points on 3-6 shooting. He also grabbed 5 rebounds, dished 6 assists, had a steal and blocked 2 shots.

This kid's length and athleticism is what has drawn comparisons to Tracy McGrady, but now he is maturing into his body and his role. The expectations are there for him to produce, not just from the hopeful fans who have circled him as their sleeper picks for their respective fantasy teams, but also for his head coach who seems to be up for the challenge of entrusting a young player with a larger piece of the pie.

Several pundits have proclaimed the Heat all but dead and citing their increasing age and lack of athleticism as reasons for their demise. A player like Wright is the key component to squashing such talk as he is a skilled, yet raw, player that can help the Heat overcome certain mismatches along the perimeter.

And he is only going to stand to get better.

Wright is still raw, like a puppy that hasn't quite grown into his body yet, but he has the instincts of a pedigree NBA killer. He makes plays. His best friend on the team is Dwyane Wade, who wants to see him grow up more than anyone.

Now, is the Wright time. Time to get answers on what the Heat drafted on that fateful day back in 2004.

A Desert Rose - Jalen Rose to Phoenix

Jalen Rose has opted to play for the Phoenix Suns, according to his official blog:

Jalen Rose's blog link

It isn't surprising that he chose the Suns, they are obviously a quality team and with Amare Stoudamire coming back this season, they look to get beyond the Western Conference Finals this season. I just doubt the possibility that they will be able to get out of the West while the Heat have a better chance to get out of the East to the Finals.

That said, perhaps this will cement what needs to be done for Pat Riley. His inability to bring in a fresh, young guard to play some backup PG and provide some depth for matchups could be glaring. That is, unless he decides to give Dorrell Wright the minutes he needs to develop and prove himself. The Heat still have the option of bringing back Shandon Anderson, but at this point there doesn't seem to be much upside to that possibility.

Stay tuned - the Heat welcome the Nets to Miami tonight for game 2 of the season. It will be interesting to see how Riley manages his bench now that Rose is no longer a possibility.

Is Jalen Rose serious?

Phoenix or Miami...Phoenix or Miami...Miami or Phoenix...

C'mon Jalen, PICK ALREADY!

The choice is obvious - MIAMI!

Micheal Finley made this same mistake last year - don't you go and repeat it. Miami is the team, the place, the time. It is the sizzle in the steak, the umbrella in the pina colada. Sure, they took a butt whoopin on their season opener, but their arms were tired from trying to hold up those big ol' championship rings!

In fact, some of the Heat players complained that they couldn't see for the first half, the bling from their rings was so great it actually scolded their retinas!

So weary-armed and bleary-eyed, they took the court against a young and hungry Bulls team that was being pushed by ultra-competitive, inferior complexed and short-man syndromed Scott Skiles.

It was a recipe for disaster.

But don't think for a second that Miami has a lesser chance of contending than Phoenix. Miami has the best player in the game in Wade, and still has a two-headed dominating beast at center with Shaq and Zo. They have hall of famer Gary Payton, who can teach you a thing or two about talking trash. They have one of the hardest working big men in Udonis Haslem. They have the offensive firepower of the erratic Antoine Walker. The defense and shooting of James Posey. The magic of a healthy Jason Williams - probably the most important piece to this team's success after Wade and Shaq.

Your numbers may not improve in terms of scoring, but your efficiency will. Phoenix cannot make either guarantee. Playing with Shaq, you will have more real estate to work with than Donald Trump. Just ask #3.

You also benefit from having one of the greatest basketball minds on your bench in Pat Riley. Shaq said he would not play for anyone else at this stage of his career. And he has won, what, 4 championships now?

How many Finals appearances does Shaq have again?

And the entire Suns team?

Yeah, you think about it - as if there is anything to think about. In the meantime, I will bring the sunscreen and will be waiting for you in the Coconut Grove.

Trick - No Treat

Heat open up season with disappointment

So, we get our rings, everyone is laughing and giggling and showing off their hard fought bling and then they all went home for the night.

Maybe it was because it was Halloween. Maybe the real Heat players did go home after the ring ceremony and let imposters take the court - fans dressed up as their favorite Heatians - to take on the Bulls. The Bulls were only looking for treats and pulling tricks.

Riley had moaned and groaned about concerns about a lack of focus and intensity. Nothing big, but just enough to make the papers. I just chalked it up to coach speak.

And listen, let's not go crazy here, it is one game. But there is something alarming to take note of - this Heat team looks old and lifeless.

It isn't just Shaq, but Gary Payton looks slower and confused. Walker looks like a barrel dropped off a moving truck. Posey didn't get enough playing time. Zo looked like he was off a little.

Riley didn't make the right moves quick enough - this new NBA is built on perimeter games with lithe, quick guards who can get away with murder as long as they don't travel. And that really means, not taking more than three steps...

The Bulls got a big boost with 17 free throw attempts in the 1st quarter. Short of some sort of conspiracy, needless to say it didn't help the Heat. But they didn't exactly help themselves - the 2nd quarter on the Heat burned out. Quicker than it began.

And the Heat 'faithful' was all but gone by the 3rd quarter, emptying out quicker than if the AAA was on fire. It certainly wasn't the Heat that was lighting the place afire, but the Bulls' shooting.

On this night, it looked like the rings went to the wrong team. But it is just one game. One game, in fact, that will end up landing Jalen Rose on this roster. It isn't official, yet, but it is hard not to believe Riley is on the phone with Rose's agent finalizing this deal before Shaq gets out of the shower.

We'll see. The Heat looked lifeless, except for Wade who provided his usual big stunning, larger-than-life plays. But he can't do it alone and if he is forced to, this team's repeat will be over before it can really begin.

Heat adding Rose?

Jalen Rose was waived by the NY Knicks at a tune of $15M dollars. Another brilliant move by GM/Coach Isiah Thomas that yielded Rose after dealing away Antonio Davis, whose contract has since expired, has now decided against keeping Rose on the roster.

Yet here in south Florida, speculation has begun about the possibility of Rose landing on the Heat's roster. Riley has always seemed to like Rose's talents, and his potential for creating mis-matches on the floor.

"He's a very skilled player," Riley said. "He's still young, I think, at 33 years old. So he is capable. He's very capable, we know that. But he has to be at the right place at the right time."

Riley has been rumored to have attempted trading for Rose in the past, and has been an admirer of his skills for sometime. These comments seem to indicate that Riley not only knows of Rose's availability, but would welcome signing him. Usually, he is known to distance himself from speculation about a player, but in this instance that does not seem so.

Also of note, to possibly force connections here, Rose covered the Heat as a special reporter for Fox Sports during the Finals last season and seemed to get along very well with the team.

If anything is going to happen, it could happen as soon as Wednesday when Rose will officially be eligible to sign with any team. Signing with the Heat would make him the second ex-Knick to come on down to south Florida on Thomas' nickle. The last being Shandon Anderson, whom Thomas is still paying - $8M for this season.

Last Minute Deal in the Works?

With Monday's 6pm deadline only a few days away, it seems Riley is playing a little roulette. There are only 2 spots left on the championship roster, but three candidates - Vincent Grier, Chris Quinn and Robert Hite. All are deserving of a spot, and Riley reflected as much in recent interviews.

Grier is a rangy, physical defender that can create turnovers and cover twos and threes in this league. He could be a Askins type defender, and since Keith is a coach on this staff, it is a good possibility he learns some tricks of the trade.

Quinn looks like a sharp PG prospect. He has excellent ball-handling skills, very good court vision and crisp passing abilities. He is quick to move the ball, and set up the offense by finding an open man or creating open looks. Several times in the game against the Rockets on Wednesday, he played a successful two man game with the Rockets' defense.

Hite looks like the second coming of Eddie House. And we all know that Riley tried to make a play for House's services this summer. He has microwave-like offense, and is uber-athletic with lots of energy. Most likely, Hite would be an offensive option inserted at the 2 or even the 1.

Yet, recent comments have forced some speculation about a possible trade in the works:

"I think all three are deserving. Between now and then maybe we can work something out with another team about doing something to open up a roster spot."

So who would Riley package in a trade? Kapono is target #1. Signed to an extension, Riley has openly praised his three point shooting and his defensive improvements. It seems like a set up. Riley is most likely trying to maximize the value he has built into Kapono in order to get something to work. But if he wants to create and open spot on the roster, he needs to deal a second player. Who would that be? Who would give Riley a commodity that could yield a trade? And who would Riley target and what position?

A PG?

A SG?

We will have to stay tuned over the weeked to see what is up Riley's sleeves.

Heat trim down roster by 2

Tonight the Heat released Antonio Burks and Daniel Horton. Which means that Vincent Grier, Chris Quinn and Robert Hite survive - if only for another night.

It seems like Quinn and Hite are going to make this final roster, as the Heat need a PG to spot Gary while Jason Williams is rehabbing his knee. Quinn is most ready for point guard duties, but Hite offers more athleticism and offense. Grier, a physical defender and slasher, is a long shot considering the Heat have enough swingmen for their needs right now.

The Heat wrap up their preseason with a game at home in Miami tonight against the Houston Rockets on ESPN.

Who hears a Horton? Heat preseason "tryouts"

Well, folks, it is that time of year again. On the eve of the final preseason matchup, where our Heat face the up-and-coming Magic in Orlando, there will be something to play for - a roster spot.

Right now, it seems that the final spot on the 15 man roster is up for grabs and there are basically three men in the race - Antonio Burks, Chris Quinn and Robert Hite.

Burks was signed away from the Grizzlies, and was expected to contend for the backup-backup PG spot the Heat need to fill (Jason Williams won't be back from knee surgery until mid-November). Yet, some serious competition arose along the way.

Quinn, the Fighting Irish alumnus is battling along with Robert Hite, the ex-Cane, for that spot that was all but assured to Burks.

Hite is displaying an electric offensive touch, scoring efficiently and effectively all preseason. He dropped 25 points on 10-14 shooting in only 25 minutes against the Grizzlies while Quinn had a solid game scoring 4 points with 5 assists and one turnover.

There was much speculation about the guys being brought in - Vincent Grier and Daniel Horton are all but forgotten now - and their possibility of making the championship squad. It will come down to a final showing against Orlando tomorrow night. Stay tuned, but it looks like Hite has emerged as the favorite, with Riley speaking very highly of him and his athleticism and quickness.

It wouldn't be the first time a Cane made the Heat's roster - Tim James and Darius Rice being others who paved the way, but neither could stick.

Heat add Antonio Burks

The Heat singed Antonio Burks, formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies, to a one-year $744K deal that is not guaranteed. He will have to make the team to earn the full worth of the contract.

But with Jason Williams estimating his return to be sometime in mid-November, and Gary Payton as the incumbent starter (at the ripe old age of 39), there will be plenty to motivate Burks besides the money including playing time at the start of the season for the defending champs as they begin the year banged up.

The six foot 195lb Burks played at Memphis in college as well, and as a pro was able to get some solid minutes at around 10 per game to display his developing skills. He is a quick, athletic point guard that seems to be able to score the ball pretty effectively at the NBA level. Per 40 minutes, based on his 2 seasons as a pro, he estimates to have a 9.4 PPG average along with 5.3ASTs to 2.4TOs.

Payton returns, but what next?

14 of 15 of the Heat players have returned to the roster, something that Pat Riley himself had called "pollyana-ish" after the championship run itself, with Gary Payton inking a one year deal with the Heat. The only player yet to re-up is Shandon Anderson, who may retire.

Although it is fun to see the fellas come back for a reunion tour, it may prove much more difficult for success the second time around. Their biggest concern? The Heat have very little room for growth on their roster.

It is vital that every year a team improves its talent pool in order to keep up with the rest of the league as the jockeying for superiority becomes the yearly ritual. The Heat have seen several teams tinker, but fortunately nothing major. Indiana has re-obtained Al Harrington in a strange and lucky series of moves, while the Pistons have let Ben Wallace go to Chicago (which immensely improves the Bulls already tough defense) and make some minor moves to change their identity (Flip Murray) to a more offensive one in the process.

The Heat? Stood pat. The question is not only can they repeat what they did last season, under a full season of Pat Riley and his playbook, but what can they do to shore up the weaknesses that will continue to exist and improve?

The Heat were criticised for not having a great perimeter defender, although they seemingly silenced the critiques on their championship run last season when facing the Bulls, Nets and Pistons. The one glaring weakness that does seem to crop up is their need for a backup PG.

Some would think that signing Gary Payton addressed that need, but at 38 and turning 39, nothing from Gary is guranteed at this point. Not to mention, Jason Williams is undergoing rehab for his knee surgery to alleviate the tendonitis that drastically affected him last season.

A need for a younger point guard to alleviate the situation is present.

The other problem is, how do the Heat find this player? There are currently rumors about Micheal Doleac being on the block, with his contract and his ability to serve a team's size needs both being very valuable. The Heat's depth at C, with Shaq, Zo and Earl Barron, even makes Doleac almost redundant. This also grants an opportunity for Barron to play, while a rumor such as this only validates Barron's ability as well. The Heat also have other expiring contracts available in Jason Kapono and Derek Anderson to throw into any deal to get what they are looking for.

Then there are the contract and cap issues. Arison has determined that he doesn't want to spend for the luxury tax and Riley has been very adamant about keeping his team at or under the cap as much as is possible. To send away a couple of expiring contracts, in say Doleac and Anderson, is to also invite one back that could have a longer term attached to it. Which means that the plan to shed some financial weight may not prove to be possible and Arison is going to have to re-think his stance in order to free up Riley to improve his team by addressing the need. There is hope in that Arison approved Zo's new contract, which does cause the Heat to spend some of their minimum level exception and push them over the threshold some.

The Heat could continue to stand pat, and sign a vet to round out the roster (Anderson) or keep one of the young undrafted players they have in camp (Gansey, Quinn, Horton, Grier). After all, three of these young players are being looked at for playing PG - both Quinn and Horton played there in college while Gansey has to quickly learn the position. Yet, neither of those options seem optimal at this point.

Forcing Dorrell Wright to play point guard is an option, but an unattractive option as well. Let alone getting him playing time in the first place with Pat Riley coaching this team.

The Heat also need more three point shooting accuracy on this team. Kapono is a one dimensional player that wont see floor time until he plays better defense. An idea to trade back for Damon Jones from the Cleveland Cavaliers has been discussed, but nothing serious seems to be cropping up.

The Heat need to improve their three point shooting and they need to acquire a young, veteran point guard that could step in and run the offense should the Heat have another injury at the PG position. They could acquire this player via a trade that has several options starting with Micheal Doleac, but until the Heat do make this move their offseason won't be complete.

The Return of Riley was Inevitable

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about Riley returning being pretty much a done deal. At least, I started to. But for some reason, my computer coughed and hacked and erased my article.

So much for speculation - because it was pointless to speculate on something that was pretty much a known factor. Of course Pat Riley was going to return to the Miami Heat's coaching helm. It was just too hard to resist.

There was no way that Riley was going to be able to walk away. Sure, he just won a championship, but he is a lifer in this coaching gig. Jerry West, his former boss and mentor, called him as much. Besides, you don't think gambling with his roster only to win a championship would be enough vindication for this man? No, he is bent on perfection and last year's team - as good as it was - is far from perfect. There is much room for growth.

That may seem like firebreathing rhetoric or just chest thumping to outsiders, but a team armed with Shaq and Dwyane Wade is only beginning to scratch the surface with simply one championship.

And Riley knows this all too well.

So, Riley's return is a pretty good indication for a windfall of sorts for this franchise. It is definetly the golden days for this once snake-bitten franchise.

Besides, last season it is well-known that Riley was only able to institute part of the playbook - about 25% by some estimates. Considering that the Heat were able to gel enough to win a championship with that little sophistication is only a testament to the talent of this team. With more experience and the unquestioned authority of Pat Riley's system in place, this team is only going to get better. Scary better.

Riley knows this. He couldn't walk away from completing what could be by the end an unfathomable masterpiece.

Heat Update: August

There is a heatwave sweeping over the country - from the West coast to the East coast. It has nothing to do with the Miami Heat, but it might as well. Ever since the Heat have taken the trophy back from the Mavericks, prying it from their overly confident hands, the team has undergone a major PR explosion - most notably for Shaq, Wade and Riley.

Shaq has actually remained somewhat quiet, considering he has pulled off probably the greatest sports promise since Broadway Joe or even the mythological Babe Ruth who pointed to center field before hitting one out of the park. A couple of late-night talk show appearances and poof, Shaq is gone from the spotlight.

Same goes for Pat Riley who joins Shaq as fulfilled in the championship dream/prophecy category. He, too, made a late-night appearance, with Jay Leno, and then went on safari in Africa - probably to escape the media and get some R&R in peace. His impending coaching decision - will it be the coach who decides or the team president? - is upcoming in mid-August but stop the presses: it has already been made. Indications are that Riley has already made his decision and is just waiting to put the final touches on the details. It is pretty certain he will be back - otherwise, why wait so long to find a coach when training camp will be starting up very soon. There isn't an assistant he would turn the team over - unless Stan Van Gundy is making some kind of improbable comeback. Mike Fratello has been mentioned as a possibility, but that is also unlikely since he is very much entrenched in Memphis for the time being. The life of Riley will continue...

And then there is Dwyane Wade. Now, finally and officially, vaulted to the level of superstar, all he is doing is playing a little summer ball on the international level with team USA as they take on the world at the FIBA World Championships in Japan this summer. The buzz is already surrounding the young American team that has a ridiculous amount of athletic talent and is lined with basketball greatness. Wade is not only expected to be one of the leaders of that team - along with LeBron James and a re-emerging Carmelo Anthony - but is the promotional leader for Gatorade's Asia campaign. The Finals MVP is now becoming a recognized icon on other continents as he promotes Gatorade and Converse along the way.

But what about the team? Well, everyone is doing their offseason thing but most importantly Jason Williams is undergoing his crucial knee surgery to alleviate his knee tendonitis. And the rumors swirl about the Heat signing a backup PG - the likes of an Eddie House return increase. Riley has had interest in getting House back for a couple of seasons now and House also has the same agent as James Posey and Antoine Walker. The Heat's signing of Robert Hite (UM), Chris Quinn (Notre Dame), Mike Gansey (WVU) and Daniel Horton (Michigan) has only solidified the youth pool from which the competition will come from. None have really stood out in any way, but it is enough to make Gary Payton very nervous since he wants to come back but it is looking more and more like the Heat are going to opt for youth this season.

Which brings us to Dorrell Wright and Earl Barron. Both have wowed coaches, peers and fans in the Orlando Pepsi Summer Pro League this past month. Both players were named to the tourny's all-tournament team, provoking what possibilities they will have in the near future - and all indications seem that there will be a mini-youth movement within the Heat. The timing couldn;t be more perfect - if this team is going to grow into a dynasty, it has to expand the window by expanding the talent pool. And having a core of talented young players like Wade and Udonis Haslem already established to go along with the talents of Wayne Simien, Wright and Barron could prove up to the task of such a vision. Yet, they need to play now and get into the rotation of this team. Indications are Riley realizes that and is willing to go that route insofar as it does an apt job of supporting Shaq.

Other than that, not much else to report at the moment...enjoy the Heatwave...

'Wading' for bigger deal and the future fiscal bomb

The Miami Heat reportedly offered Dwyane Wade the maximum contract they could, under the current collective bargaining agreement, which equated to a 5 year deal worth upwards of $80 million dollars. Dwyane Wade was ready to ink the deal and make it official - today, as the moratorium ends for signing players - but something else caught his attention: Lebron James.

James had been offered the same deal by the Cleveland Cavaliers, and his potential lack of a signature has become a story as well as made many Cavs fans (most of them, of the newfound ilk) have sleepless nights.

But James got smart, he figured why sign for 5 years and only a measley $80 million when he could get more money in that same timespan by waiting a few more years? So, he pushed for a 3 year deal with a 4th year option. Why? Because the current CBA will only run for 3 more years - which creates an opportunity for James to possibly sign for more money when that new agreement falls into place.

And Wade, talking with his buddy, figured he would follow suit. After all, both James and Wade are better players than Carmelo and Bosh, but would be getting the same money. A slap in the face? Hardly.

What is at fault here is the economic system of the NBA. I have always said that the best system in place in MLB's. Yes, Major League Baseball. No, it isn't because of Selig - but rather, in spite of him. The owners and the player's association have tried to grapple with their shares of the money, but owners just couldn't display the same 'fiscal discipline' that their colleagues in other major sports have been able to. In baseball, there is no cap - only a luxury tax. But that threshold is so ridiculously high, very few will ever have to realistically pay it.

But the fact of the matter is, you wouldn't have this mess in MLB. If a team had a franchise player, in effect, a player of historic proportions, they would be allowed to re-sign him to whatever deal they saw fit. $100M? $200M? Any amount. It is pure, uncalculated capitalism.

So, what stands to be gained here for our young players Wade and James? The world. They can very feasibly affect the negotiation of the next CBA because their franchises, Cleveland and Miami, will have a vested interest in keeping them around. And the other teams, the potential suitors, will be lining up to keep things competitive so they could land their services for their clubs. This could create a schism within the owners' camp of the NBA. It will be interesting to see how these two young superstars careers not only affect the way the game is marketed over the next few years, but also be the pulse behind the financial heartbeat of the NBA itself.

It will be a bloody mess. At least, potentially in a few years when the new CBA comes to be negotiated.

Defending the Crown: Summer League Preview

Well, there has been much written about the Heat's championship run. I do not wish to bore anyone with my thoughts on the subject, but instead understand that I feel like most other die-hard Heat fans out there - it is all still too surreal. Still trying to take it all in.

That said, there is work to be done. The one thing about winning a championship is that there is very little time off. The turnaround is quick. And it starts now - with some brief practices this weekend and the Summer Pro League kicking off Monday, July 10th.

The Heat have not slacked - they have compiled a group of 19 players to come into camp in Orlando to battle for a spot on their championship roster. The head coach spot will be manned by assistant Erik Spoelstra and his task will be simple - to teach and to run the Heat's offensive and defensive schemes.

Now, the Heat have to be able to take these young guys and mold them into competing for a spot on the 15 man roster - and possibly form a part of the rotation Riley will launch in order to defend the title. No one is guaranteed anything.

Here is a list of the 19 prospects brought into camp - some already on the Heat roster, such as Dorrell Wright and Earl Barron - the rest are hopefuls. And there are some names that jump out immediately: Pittsnogle, Gansey, Dunn, Horton, Forte. Let's take a look at each one.

Earl Barron

The agile seven footer spent most of his time on the Heat's inactive roster last season, but he did see action in 8 games. He got some time with the Florida Flame, proving he was ready for the NBA, but nothing significant enough to break into the world champions' rotation. He has a very nice outside touch with range around the 17' mark and can rebound extremely well, showing good technique and fundamentals, as well as display very good shot blocking skills. Right now, he is working on getting a renewed contract, and the Heat have some more time to decide on him. In his way is Alonzo Mourning and Michael Dolead - for the moment. He looks to grab that backup C role at best.

Cameron Bennerman

The 6'4 guard from NC State showed some ability, averaging 14.1 points per game on .470% shooting. His three point shot dropped from .393 to .338 in his senior year, but still believed to be an above average shooter from outside. Regardless, he has excellent athleticism and leaping ability which make him a very interesting prospect with the ability to finish at the rim.

Tierre Brown

A solid PG prospect, but at 27 don't expect too much. He has played for 4 NBA teams (Houston, Cleveland, New Orleans and LA Lakers), scoring a career high 27 against the Hawks on 2/7/05. Probably going to be just a filler for the summer squad, but his NBA experience may prove crucial for the interim.

Joeseph Forte

A highly touted prospect coming out of high school, he went on to UNC for 2 college years and then left early and was drafted #21 by the Boston Celtics. He has a nice past: 2000 ACC Rookie of the Year and in 2001 was co-ACC player of the year while averaging 20.9 points per game for the Tarheels. His collegiate star was rising, but it never seemed to translate to the NBA level, as he was eventually traded from the Celtics to the Supersonics, who waived him. His biggest problem wasn't a lack of talent, but a very bad work ethic and poor attitude. If he shows that he has grown up, and can also show that he can flat out play - once being compared to Michael Jordan - he may earn himself a spot on the Heat's roster. Having seen him play back in his UNC days, I am hoping he does progress and who maturity and grabs a spot on the Heat's bench.

Torrin Francis

He and Chris Quinn played together at Notre Dame, so that at least should make for some interesting chemistry. How much will Francis get to display? Who knows. He was thought of as lottery worthy at one time, and Earl Barron wasn't knocking down scouts when he came into camp last season. So, you never know. But he has a similar game as Barron, just a bit shorter. He has a lot of agility and runs the floor well, as well as having a decent jumper that he seems to be most comfortable with popping at the foul line. Has a nice, high release which will help him create space for his shot. An NBA ready physique and a smart player, but does need to get more consistent with his jump shot as well as work on his footwork and defensive positioning - things Camp Riley can take to another level. A very interesting prospect.

Mike Gansey

Signed with the Heat, so he will get guarateed money, but not necessarily a guaranteed spot (see Matt Walsh). He is probably one of the best three point shooters coming out of college (.429 last season, Reddick shot .421 for some comparison) but is not extremely athletic and seems to be an effort player more than pure physical talent. Seems to compare favorably to Fred Hoiberg - an undersized SG that can shoot lights out and play smart basketball. Has a very good shot at nailing down a spot on the final roster.

Vincent Grier

Known mostly at one time for his Pollyana-ish locks, the SG from Minnesota is a physical freak and highly athletic. He can finish at the rim and has a strong drive to the basket. However, he has very little outside shot at all. Defense can be learned, but he didn't seem too keen on it while in college. Physically ready for the NBA, but may not have enough overall game to warrant a spot on the Heat's roster.

Eric Hicks

A very gifted athlete that seems to be a Keith Askins in the making - but with more offensive explosiveness. He is 6'7" but has a gift for blocking shots and grabbing offensive rebounds. Scouts like his ability as a complementary player in that he doesn't need to have plays run for him, but can clean up and can create for himself when needed. Most of his shots came around the rim, which is why he shot a high percentage throughout most of his career (.479 last season, .519 and .590 the previous seasons) but also worked on improving his outside shooting and free throws. Don't be fooled, he is not going to be taking many perimeter shots.

Robert Hite

Played college ball here in Miami and seems to be the only reason he is in camp - as a courtesy. Had a solid college career - made all-ACC third team and 5th on UM's all-time scoring list. Fans of the U will know him, but in all honesty, can't expect him to crack open anything with the Heat. Solid PG prospect, but there are better ones available.

Delonte Holland

Part of that 2004 player pool eligible for the draft, Holland has seen time overseas; most recently in Italy this past season (in fact, the best source I had on him was in Italian, which I had to translate personally in order to get anything of note on him!). He is an athletic wing forward, with a very good ability at getting to the rim. He seems to have developed more physically since his senior season at De Paul, back in '04. His overseas experience will not handicap him at all, considering the Heat have Udonis Haslem, another undrafted player that had to cut his teeth overseas on their roster - and a vital player to boot. If Holland shows his ability to score and can stand out, he may get invited back for training camp. Has the athleticism and length the Heat are looking for.

Daniel Horton

Big on promise but short on results. He was a highly touted prospect at Michigan, but failed to build on his progress. Still, seen as a combo guard more than a true PG or SG. He has a pretty decent mid range shot and can break down defenders and get to the rim - invaluable in the NBA. He does need to improve on his wildness, his assist/turnover ratio is fairly average. Will provide for some interesting competition in summer league with Dunn having already inked a deal with Miami.

Brad Oleson

Well, I honestly dont know much about him - came from UAF up in Alaska and was one of the better PG prospects in Div. II. Was not drafted, and went overseas to Spain (and played with Todd Fuller). Noted to have a pretty good outside shot, has some height, and some quickness. We'll definetly learn more about him over the coming week.

Kevin Pittsnogle

Big man that can shoot, but has very bad footspeed and cannot be relied upon for defense. Basically, a taller version of Jason Kapono. Not much else to say. I like his ability to pass and play smart basketball and he was instrumental in WVU's run of success. Who knows?

Chris Quinn

Already signed with the Heat, which means he will get money out of this - like Gansey - but not much else. Still has to earn a spot and I think he will. He seems to be a Steven Blake clone - a solid PG that doesn't do too much, runs the offense smooth and can stick the outside shot from downtown. He can penetrate as he is deceptively quick, but his shot selection and intelligence is what will make him his money. Possibly, just what the Heat need at backup PG - if Gary retires.

Michael Southall

Believe in 9 lives? Well, Southall can answer that for you, getting a second chance after having been busted and served some time in jail - which interupted his Ragin' Cajun career. Still, a change in attitude with the birth of his son may have set him free from his past - and he is a solid center prospect, too. He will definetly have the hunger to excel, and getting a big shot here with the Miami Heat there may be fewer that will display that hunger more in summer camp.

Joah Tucker

Known mostly for his 32 points against Illinois in the '05 tourny, which prompted his coach to call him the best player in the tournament no one knows about, the prospects for Tucker have not dried up yet. He is a 'tweener, but since he is only 6'5", that puts him on the short side of things. He has a pretty good handle and can stick the outside shot with enough consistency to warrant defensive attention. He can also post up and finish. An interesting prospect that will certainly get a good look from the Heat brass.

Jackson Vroman

Drafted by the Suns in '04, he ended up playing in New Orleans the last two seasons. A solid big man with some professional skills. Not too much to talk about here - could be the second coming of Doleac, but we already have the genuine article.

Lamayn Wilson

The former star at Troy State averaged over 20 points a game and has been in exile in Germany playing basketball over there for the last 4 years. And he has excelled over there, grabbing all-star berths and noted for his high scoring outputs. He feels ready to play now and could be the best German appropriated export since David Hasselhoff. At least, I hope so.

Dorrel Wright

We all know this kid has loads of potential. We all know that Shaq told us to remember his name at the champioship parade and we also know that he and DWade are 'tight'. What we don't know is how his game will translate onto the NBA stage. We are practically foaming at the mouth to watch this kid's game and if his progress, as reported by Heat scouts and coaches, is any where near truthful, he is going to be the next TMac - but with a good back and great attitude.

That is it for now. Don't forget that you can WATCH SUMMER LEAGUE GAMES LIVE over at the Magic's web site. And the defense of the crown is under way.

Defending Shaq

I have been doing a lot of defending Shaq lately: from my girlfriend, my friends, my mailman, even some of the guys down at the bar. Ridiculous. Everyone has to bitch about something - his free throw shooting, he's old, he's got no outside shot...even my own father said he was the 'biggest con-man in the NBA' for fooling everyone into getting paid $20 million a year.

I can almost here Dr. Evil say that sum of money.

In fact, I used to say the same things - when Shaq didn't play on my team, of course. From the time he was first drafted to the Magic (at which time I was a fan of the Heat and didn't like my cross state rival getting noveau-riche because of one player) to the Lakers, where I scoffed at Phil Jackson's claims that Shaq didn't get enough foul calls.

Then Shaq limps on over to the Heat, and instantly all my ignorance was lifted. For I certainly was blind.

I am not going to go off and describe how Shaq's effect on the game is so important that he is the real MVP in the NBA every season. I could fortify this with stats, notably the success of players like Penny, Kobe and Wade, that could show how Shaq has elevated the stakes for not only himself, but for his teammates as well. But that is boring and has been done before.

And frankly, if you don't get it by now, you just ain't gonna get it. Not today, not ever.

Instead, I am going to put it all out there - on Shaq. I am going to let the Big Fella do the talking once and for all.

In tonight's game 6, the stage is set. The Heat have rolled off three straight wins in Miami and are poised to take the series tonight. Mark Cuban and his Dallas Bitchers have done a fair share of whining and complaining that will most certainly have an effect on how this game will be called. You can expect some calls to go the Mavs way, since they will be at home, but after the amount of complaining - something I haven't seen outside of the French media - you got to feel like the Heat have no chance.

But they do - and it will all come down to Shaq. It is all on his broad shoulders. Everyone is complaining, now, that he is too much of a physical freak. Shaq relies too much on his ability to outmuscle his opponents. That somehow, being bigger, stronger and faster does not have any place in sports.

Fools. Sure, it is not a skill that can be taught - which is PRECISELY why Shaq is so important.

Tonight, he has to get it done. Tonight, he has to abuse Dampier and Diop like they are wookies. Tonight, he has to answer all the doubters, all the haters, and bring that championship trophy back to Miami - to the team that actually fights to win, as opposed to bitching about officiating and making outlandish conspiracy theories.

Tonight, it all falls on Shaq. When he arrived in Miami, July 14th 2004, he said, "I'm going to bring a championship to Miami." Well, he has a chance to deliver on that; and not since the Babe have we ever seen a more bold gesture predicted and delivered, if pulled off. And seeing as how high the stakes already are, it can only validate how big his game truly is.

Spare the wine and cheese

Heat win fair and square, no need to blame the refs
Written by Brandman316


When all was said and done, viewers of Game 5 of the NBA Finals had just watched one of the best NBA Finals games of all time. And although Maverick fans accross the nation will be watching slow-motion video over and over and over again trying to find exactly where a foul occured, they still won't realize why they lost Game 5. Instead of focusing on the parts of the game the Mavericks could control, they will be focusing on a play where the Dallas Mavericks put their life on the line in the hands of three old men who in most careers would be retired.

The biggest question from Game 5 shouldn't be "Was that a foul on Wade?", rather it should be "How could Josh Howard screw things up so bad?"

With 0:54 seconds left in overtime, Josh Howard gets fouled and goes to the line to shoot two. At this point, Howard had been 9-9 from the charity stripe and was having an all-around good game. Instead of continuing that success, Howard misses both free-throws short, hitting the front rim and allowing Miami to steal the game, something the Mavericks have done twice in the three game homestand in Miami.

Then with 1.9 seconds to go, Avery Johnson tells Howard to call a timeout after the second freethrow, only Howard miss-reads the signs and calls a timeout after the first freethrow, giving Dallas an almost impossible chance at winning the game.

The fact of the matter is, as Dallas travels back home they have nobody to blame for being down 2-3 but themselves. Dallas had two great chances to get a win in Miami, and both times crumbled under pressure with poor decision making and critical free-throw misses.

If the Dallas Mavericks want to win a NBA Championship, they can not put their destiny in the hands of referees and hope a foul is not called. They need to fight back and show the same determination Miami has shown to get back in this series.

What's even more unfortunate is how Wade's brilliant performance may be somewhat forgotten, with Maverick fans positive that there is a conspiracy against their team. Foul or no foul, Wade hit two clutch free-throws to give Miami the lead and was able to have another stellar night, scoring 42 point and making a franchise high 21 freethrows.

To put it quite simple, the Miami Heat took care of business in Miami and captured the series lead to 3-2. Instead of focusing on aspects of the game they can't control, the officiating by the referees, they instead focused on their on court play and won games 3 and 5 by simple determination. As the series continues, it is starting to become obvious which team has all the veterans on it who have never won a NBA Championship before.

The Miami Heat won Game 5. Period. They weren't given a gift, or bailed out by the referees. Don't the blame the referees if you're a Dallas fan, blame your team for not being able to close out a game. Blame your team for missing key free-throws. Last time I checked, the referees had nothing to do with Dwyane Wade making clutch shot after clutch shot, or Gary Payton making the lay up over Dampier in the final moments, or Howard's two missed free-throws...

Miami did what they had to do, and that's win. The Heat are a determined team, and determination is what NBA Championship teams are all about.

Whitewashed

Well, well, well.

There are a lot of people who never thought they would see this day. They were writing off the Heat, saying this eastern power was no match for the juggernaut from the west in Dallas.

Yet, the Finals is now tied, 2-2 and it becomes a race to win 2 out of the next 3 games. Suddenly, the Heat look more likely to pull of such a feat, with Dallas looking like the joke.

24 point differential in scoring in the 4th game of the Finals. Only 7 points scored for the Mavericks in the 4th quarter, a new record for the Finals for fewest points scored in a quarter, while the Heat poured on the rout.

The Mavs showed life in the third quarter, scoring 23 points while the Heat scored 24. Even ending the quarter on an 8-0 run, but there were several questionable calls that gave life to the Mavericks.

Even these calls, including not hitting Stack with a flagrant and ejection, could not stop the Heat. The Heat showed their depth, going deeper into the rotation then ever before in this series bringin Shandon Anderson into the game. All Mr. Anderson did was get 2 points (on a back door cut for a layup) and 5 rebounds: at least according to the box score. He outhustled everyone on the floor, getting to key loose balls and playing strong, pesky defense.

Alonzo Mourning arrived in this game, too. Several key, poster-worthy blocks that changed the face of this game and built up the Heat's momentum. And it was crucial, Shaq drew two early fouls and only played 4 minutes in the first quarter. The best backup center in the entire NBA answered the call.

There was also James Posey, who grabbed 10 rebounds and scored 15 points. Posey, as usual, took on the tough perimeter defensive assignments and was very effective against Howard, Terry, and Nowitzki.

Let's talk about Hasselhoff's biggest fan. He had an awful night shooting 2-14 on the night, and getting most of his points from the FT line (11-13). Dirk also landed on Shaq's foot on a three point attempt, twisting his ankle. But even that could not be used as an excuse, as he was blanketed by the Heat defense for most of the night - forcing Dirk to shoot off rythmn.

This series is far from over. The Heat put on a dominating performance from start to finish. There was a few hiccups along the way, mostly due to some questionable officiating which bordered on laughable. Still, there will be some fallout from this game - Stackhouse could face a suspension for his blantant hack on Shaq, which brought the Big Fella out of the air and crashing into the front row. And Dirk's ankle. And the Mavericks' collective psyche - which is smarting from the Game 3 shocker still.

The Heat outrebounded the Mavericks, outshot the Mavericks and amassed more turnovers than their opponents but managed to win. Not bad for a team that was given no chance in this series.

In fact, several things were witnessed we didn't expect: Shaq getting knocked down by Stackhouse and shaking it off without an incident. Oh yeah, Jason Kapono and Michael Doleac logging minutes in the 4th quarter of the NBA Finals.

And a 2-2 tie as the Heat hold serve on their home court. Still, 2 more to go.

Playin' with Fire

With under 6 minutes to go, the Heat's season looked to be getting blacker. Everything was starting to collapse. The Heat was being stifled of valuable oxygen, what it needed to combust - and the culprit was mostly themselves.

Then Dwyane Wade happened.

Faced with 5 fouls and a banged up left knee, after a collision with Alonzo Mourning, Wade took his entire Heat team and the city of Miami on his shoulders and ripped out the heart of the Mavericks. He did this because that was what was needed to be done. It was the only way for the Heat to win this game.

The Heat were reeling. They had 20 turnovers. They were missing shots and misfiring, once again, on offense. This time, it was a little longer till the Heat collapse - it came after the half - but the collapse did come. Up by 9 after the half, the Mavericks came out in the 3rd quarter and dropped 34 on the Heat, who answered with a meek 16 points.

And like that, the Miami fans were silent and the Mavs were getting ready for their coronation ceremony. Yet, as quick as it went from a series of 3-0 it went to 2-1. Wade's 42 points, when the smoke cleared, had everything to do with it.

Wade was the only one who could lift this team up. He may be the only one in this series capable of taking over multiple times.

It was the type of performance that evoked old #23 for Chicago. In fact, his teammate, #33, said after the game that this was eerily similar to an MJ performance. Wade gave it all he had, Scottie - that is for sure.

What was particularly amazing about the Heat's rally behind Wade was how it changed the Heat within the game. They outscored the Mavericks 30-19 in the fourth, answering for their third quarter disappointment. They got amazing performances from unlikely places, too.

Shaq hit both free throws at a crucial stretch - earning the nickname, The Big Freethrow.

Haslem, with a blown up shoulder hurting each time he lifts his arms over his head, sank both of his free throws after missing all of his previous attempts.

Posey hit a key three pointer and even drew some free throw attempts from a defensive foul on the Mavericks.

Gary Payton, perhaps forgotten in this series, finally decided to show up and make some noise. He faked a three and stepped within the line to hit a jumper from the wing to put the Heat up 97-95.

The Heat made their amazing comeback with the lineup of Williams, Wade, Posey, Haslem and Shaq. They focused on defense and getting defensive stops. They got the ball to Wade who lead the charge scoring 15 points in the 4th quarter - half of the Heat's total points in that time frame.

Not exactly what was meant by 15 strong, but we'll take it.

The Heat played with fire. Dwyane Wade drew his 5th foul with just under 11 minutes to play in the fourth quarter. They amassed 20 turnovers. Dwyane Wade, on his free throw shots at the end of the game, looked like he missed the second on purpose - in the hopes of securing the rebound with 1.3 seconds left. That lead to the Mavericks inbound where they tossed up a lob pass for Josh Howard to catch in front of the rim - but Wade was there to out leap Howard and tip the pass away to secure the win.

And the series may not look the same again. In less than 6 minutes, everything changed. The Heat gave themselves a win and lots of hope.

Shaq's Free Throw Troubles: Enough

Let's stop the insanity, ok?

I mean, this isn't something new - it has been going on since the early 90's, when Shaq first stepped out into the NBA spotlight. Here was this physical anomaly, a seven footer with the agility of a gazelle. He could muscle you inside and dunk on you. And just to add insult to injury, he would tear down your goal post.

But destruction would also tend to fall from the skies whenever O'neal was at the free throw line. Small childern were unable to get out of the way, crying, running for shelter whenever he shot free throws. It got so bad at one point that the Lakers decided to put up netting used in field goal attempts for football games behind the baskets to protect the fans. I mean, LA wasn't using anything football related anyway, right?

Fine - I embellished a little there. But the fact is Shaq has ALWAYS been a bad free throw shooter. So, why all of the sudden is everyone so uptight about it?

I was watching Game 1 of the Finals at the AAA - seeing as that was the closest I was going to get to actually GOING to a Finals game. Every time Shaq would go to shoot free throws, people would get upset when he missed. Visibly, too.

Clank; growl. Brick; moan. I mean, I thought it was a little ridiculous when people started taking shots every time he hit a free throw. And starting wagering on each attempt. (I got $20 - thanks Shaq for hitting that last free throw attempt!)

What people don't seem to get though is that it really isn't about whether or not Shaq makes his free throws, but that he gets FTAs (free throw attempts).

Why is this significant? Because someone has to foul Shaq to put him on the line.

The Mavs have two guys they are going to defend Shaq with - Diop and Dampier. That means, they have 12 fouls to give, and that is it. If Shaq gets 10 FTAs, that is 5 fouls right there. Only 7 more to give.

Yet, that isn't even the whole story. If the Mavs are fouling Shaq, they are edging ever closer to getting their team into the penalty - which means the Heat get FTAs every time the Mavs foul.

So a Wade drive to the basket? FTAs. A Gary Payton post up move? FTAs. Jason Williams crossover? FTAs. Antoine Walker's patented barrel move with results in catapult action layup? FTAs.

It doesn't even matter if they make those shots. All that matters is that Shaq sets the tone inside, the Mavs have to foul him to put him on the line and prevent him from getting easy baskets. The Mavericks get into the penalty with their indulgence in fouling, and the Heat players then benefit. They just have to drive towards the basket, draw contact, and they are shooting free throws.

Of course, the Heat have to make them. But this also enables the Heat opportunities to score without the clock moving, without worrying about turning the ball over, without injury.

This is the key to the Heat's offensive engine - driving into the painted area and scoring. If they don't score, at least draw fouls in order to put them on the line.

Shaq is the key. It isn't about whether or not Shaq makes his free throws. It is about him setting up his teammates to make theirs.

An Ironic Finish to the Eastern Conference Finals

Written by Brandman316

When all was said and done, the Miami Heat could obviously thank Shaq for his performance in the sixth game of the Eastern Conference Finals, but it was their star guard who they could thank the most for the win. Shooting 83% from the field and ending up with 21 points, 6 assists, and just 1 turnover, and making big shot after bigger shot to stop any run from Detroit in the second half of the game, he was "the man" last night. Leading many fastbreaks and getting his teamates involved and playing good enough defense to allow C. Billups to just 9 points, he was the MVP in Game 6 for the Miami Heat. But this guard didn't have anything to do with a Flash, and his name isn't Dwyane Wade. His name is Jason Williams, and without him, the Heat may have been heading up to Detroit today for a Game 7.

In an ironic finish to Game 6 on Friday, the Miami Heat could thank J-Dub and all of the other "mistake" players on the Miami Heat for getting them to the finals. These "mistake" players, made up of James Posey, Williams, Antoine Walker, and Gary Payton were the exact players basketball "experts" said were a mistake to bring to Miami.

These "experts" said these new players would never get along, too much egos, certainly not enough basketballs, and would never be able to take a backseat to the ride Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal were going to lead.

But they did.

Egos were checked at the door and all of these players, who could still be starters on most teams - and be one of the go-to guys on any team - decided winning a championship was more important than being the star on a team or putting up 20 points a night.

Consider this, these "mistake" players combined for 41 points last night on 55% shooting. That's more than Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, and Lindsey Hunter, COMBINED.

What NBA fans are starting to learn about the Miami Heat is that this guy name Pat Riley does indeed know what he is doing. He blew up last years team and carefully placed the right pieces at each position for the exact reason for what happend last night - being able to win a game, a BIG game for that matter, without a great performance by Dwyane Wade, something the Heat would NEVER be able to do a season ago.

And you could see it in Pat Riley's eyes. When he held up that Eastern Conference Trophy at half-court, and raised it in the air looking at a sell-out crowd of over 20,000 White Hot Heat Fans, a fan base he created with the trade of the century to bring Shaq to Miami, a great ability to bring in young players like Haslem and Wade, and envision a team of stars who would play like one, you could see in his mind he was saying to himself:

"I don't make mistakes. I make championships."

Where There is a JWill, There is a Way

Game 6, American Airlines Arena, Miami.

The Heat held the series to a 3-2 advantage, and they never looked back. They shot 55% from the field, and kept the pace open to a double digit lead for most of the game.

Shaq dominated. 28 points on 12-14 shooting, 16 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. So many key plays to lift his team and continue to pound the Pistons inside, taking the paint away from them. Shaq even became a much better defender in this series, consistently getting out on high screen and rolls to defend the ball carrier, using his agility to create a giant wall to block off any attack.

The bench did their job, they contributed to a high level of play. Po-Z had 11 rebounds in only 24 minutes. Payton provided a nice transition when Jason Williams went down with foul trouble, handling the ball and pushing the offense getting 6 points and 2 assists along with a steal in 18 minutes. And while Payton gets to return to the Finals, with Shaq, Posey gets there for the first time.

Then there was the story of the night - Dwyane Wade, with the flu, leading his team past the Pistons towards the franchise's first ever Finals appearance. Well, the story did not turn out exactly as it was set up - it was supposed to be the coronation of a new rising legend with Dwyane Wade, but instead it settled for a light sizzle like the pop of a soda. Wade did need all the hydration he could get, and he was able enough to quench the Heat's thirst for a win as he muscled in 14 points on 6-15 shooting, closing out the third quarter in a flurry. But he also contributed to the Heat's win by becoming play maker, dishing out 10 assists.

Then there was Jason Williams - the quiet enigma of a player that has refined his game and stripped it down in order to help fit into a team's identity instead of trying to become the team identity. Known for his flashy play, Williams has been quietly working to better his game through sacrifice even while with the Memphis Grizzlies. And playing with chronic knee tendonitis, Jwill was able to keep pushing for this team and helping them assert their playoff demands on every game night - no matter what pain he went through.

And last night was the culmination for him. We all knew Williams could play. We all knew he had big time ability - he just demonstrated it for us. And it couldn't have come at a better time. "I thought you saw his game tonight," Riley said, "it came at the right time." Words couldn't ring more true.

Because you can talk about all the strengths of this Heat team, how much deeper they are, how much more talented they are than their opponents or even of any other Heat team for that matter. But it comes down to guys making plays and Jason Williams stepped up on a night when the Heat needed someone to. Dwyane Wade had been carrying this team for most of the season and most of their resurgence in the playoffs. Shaq has been the big stabilizer, too. But for once, it came down to will, of not letting the other team take from you what you have worked so hard to gain. Jason Williams demonstrated that, too. He came out ablaze, hitting his first 10 shots in a row.

The Heat never looked back. They kept attacking.

And now, they are going to the NBA Finals for the first time in their franchise history.

The Heat is on

Forgive me if I am not panicking over the Game 5 loss to the Pistons. Forgive me if I am rolling my eyes every time I hear how 'resilient' or how 'tough' this Pistons team is. Or I stick my finger in my throat when someone starts to spout off about how many times they have come back from being down in a series.

Enough.

Plain and simple, the Pistons did what they were supposed to do - win a game at home. Finally. Yeah. Bang your thundersticks, keep replaying your 'Detroit Basketballllll' announcement over your PA's all you want. But the fact is, Detroit was the favorite in this series and they were supposed to win EVERY home game. But they didn't. And as it stands, the Heat will have to take the series on their own home courts instead of doing the dance in enemy territory.

Sure, the Pistons got it done last year on Miami's home floor. And yes, I wanted to see the Heat do it last night on Detroit's home floor just for poetic justice. But it didn't come to fruition.

And sure, I am all the more pissed for it because it just shows that the Heat are a very good team and not entirely a great team.

At least, not yet.

They have to close the deal first and make no mistake, the heat is on the Heat. Detroit, with their arrogance and cockiness have creaked open the door a little further. Their fans are starting to breath again, after going on life support.

I say we slam the door on their fingers for good. Right in their faces tomorrow night. And the Heat will get it done.

Why?

Because the Pistons will be overmatched by a Heat team faced with home cooking and smelling history. This team is poised for greater things, and beating Detroit is just on that path. Detroit doesn't have the firepower to keep up with Miami. Detroit blew their load and tried all their tricks in their desperation for a win last night: they crowded Shaq. Even if he passed out of the tendrils that surrounded him, Shaq's supporting cast wasn't up for the challenge - most notably Udonis Haslem who was missing open looks from midrange. Something that UD does well is hit his midrange shots.

So, what is more likely to happen, the Heat have another mediocre game in this series or the Pistons struggle to keep up with the firepower of the Heat?

Exactly.

The heat is on the Heat, but they will take Game 6. Because if they don't, they might as well not even waste the gas flying up to Detroit for Game 7.

On the Edge of History

For the Detroit Pistons, the end is nigh. The death knell has rung and mimics the tempo of a heartbeat. The Heat have their hands tightly around the defending Eastern Conference champions necks.

All they have to do is squeeze.

Time to end the reign of the Pistons. Time for the rise of a new power in the East, the Miami Heat.

Heat fans have been in such situations before - but none quite as sweet as this. They witnessed heartbreak last season in the playoffs, as a hobbled Heat team couldn't close the door on the Pistons. They even sat with jaws dropped back in '98 at the fatal Allan Houston shot that pushed the Knicks passed the Heat - in Game 5.

But this year is different. The Heat are healthier and have more talent than any other Heat team in their 18 year history. And they have potential hall of famers in Shaq, Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton.

And they have Dwyane Wade.

Pat Riley has been noted as taking a softer, more laid back approach. Gone are the harsh tactics for motivation and excruciating practices. Yet, for all the reduction in his methods, Riley is having his finest coaching season in years.

Most did not foresee the mighty Heat being so mighty. They re-tooled their roster for this moment. And in obtaining this depth, they were chastised for tinkering with the chemistry of a #1 seeded team last season. The Heat also saw a coaching change, in mid-season, with Stan Van Gundy stepping down in order for Pat Riley to take over. Riley, with tears in his eyes, grabbed back the reins of this powerful chariot and steered it back on course.

Tonight, we get to see if all of this was worth it. Tonight, we get to see if all of the turmoil, sacrifice and substance will be able to cash in on destiny.

The Heat take a 3-1 lead to Detroit tonight and are looking to end their season. They have to kill the beast, slay the dragon. To do that, there has to be total annihilation.

What awaits, is the first ever appearance in the Finals for the Miami Heat. And quite possibly, the fruition of a dream, a simple parade, which has been promised over 10 years ago.

On the edge of history, there is simply a promise. Will it come to be? Tune in and find out, tonight.

X-men to the Rescue

In a post game interview of Game 5 against the Nets, Shaq was asked about Antoine Walker's performance and the possibility of a coming out party for the Heat's bench. Shaq made the obvious comment about the dependency of a team's success on its bench and depth, and noted that the Heat bench played a vital role in winning that game, let alone taking the series. (He also announced that he made history for being called for the first ever ass-fensive foul in NBA history on Jason Collins...)

But he referred to his teammates who were brought in this summer as 'the X-men', specifically Payton, Walker, Williams and Posey.

And the X-men came to the rescue in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

It looked bad. The Pistons were able to wiggle out a small run and take the lead, for the first time in the game. Wade picked up his 4th foul on a drive towards the rim - a charge drawn by Ben Wallace. That was with 7:14 left to go in the third. And the Heat struggled, missing jump shots from Haslem and a Shaq turnover. But they hung in there - and at 4:36 in the 3rd, the Heat made their run. Walker made one of two free thows; Payton hits a floater, then a Walker three followed by a Posey three.

And the Heat bench started to assert themselves physically. With just over a minute left, Tayshaun Prince drives baseline and runs into Zo, who sends him to the ground. Words exchanged (possibly over recipes or something cordial like that) but the damage was done. Posey's ferocious physical D. Zo's rebounds and blocks. And when Posey got a flagrant, Shandon Anderson hit the floor demonstrating the Heat's depth.

Despite Hubie Brown's constant showers of praise for the Pistons, the Heat kept asserting themselves and playing better basketball. The bench, with a smattering of playing time from Wade and Shaq on the bench, was able to build a 10 point lead midway into the 4th quarter.

Performance?

14 points from Gary Payton. (Nightstalker?)

5 points, 2 assists and 5 rebounds from James Posey. (Colossus?)

6 points, 2 blocks and 4 rebounds for Zo. (Wolverine?)

Antoine Walker, another one of the Xmen (probably Beast), dropped in huge 3 point bombs and had a 17 point 7 rebound performance. Jason Williams (Gambit) contributed 10 points on 5-7 shooting, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

An impressive win for the Heat. They got a big lift on the road from their bench. The Pistons missed shots, but so did the Heat. And they didn't get over 30 minutes from either Wade or Shaq.

There is room for improvement. Let's see if the other superheroes on this team will show up.

Heat/Pistons: A Primer

The Heat are all set to take on the Pistons tonight, at 8pm on ESPN, for Game 1 in the 2006 Eastern Conference Finals.

But this will not be a replay of last year.

Both teams bring a different look to the series. The Pistons have Flip Saunders at the helm, in place of Larry Brown who seemed to overstay his welcome. Flip has been able to retool the Pistons offense which bore fruit in his inaugural season. They had the best record in the entire NBA, going 64-18. The #2 record was the Spurs, who are now watching this game at home. A good regular season record does not necessarily translate in the playoffs.

Other than that, there is not much difference in the Pistons' team that won the East last year. They have a strong, cohesive unit that has been able to adapt through adversity and come back in series in which they were down. The recent recovery against the Cavaliers being just another example. As such, the Pistons tend to get awarded with such adjectives as 'tough', 'clutch' and even with the superior noun of 'championship poise'.

These will all be tested by the Miami Heat, who have yet to display those traits. At least, according to a very critical media following.

The Heat have made drastic changes. They have a new coach, or a return of an old coach in Pat Riley. Damon Jones, Eddie Jones, Rasual Butler, and Keyon Dooling were scrapped in favor of Jason Williams, James Posey, Antoine Walker and Gary Payton. The Heat also picked up Derek Anderson to give more offensive depth.

With the new changes, the Heat struggled in the early going, but were able to string together enough wins to grab the #2 seed.

And that is the other difference in this series - last year, the Heat held the #1 seed and home court advantage over the Pistons. That and the Heat are actually healthy this time around.

So, it will be Detroit's perimeter-oriented offense and sticky, physical defense going up against the Heat's dynamic offense and loose perimeter defense.

It is going to be an interesting series. Will Shaq be able to play and sustain a high level of basketball? Will Wade continue to be a problem for the Pistons' defense? Will the time off help or hurt the Heat? Will the Pistons offense get back in stride against a more formidable opponent?

Many questions. Now, we will finally have answers. Getting back to where we started.

Wish Granted

Eastern Conference Finals, here we come. Destination? Detroit.

Silently, the Heat and their fans have been hoping for Detroit. Yes, Detroit. Sure, it would have been easier to face the Cleveland Cavaliers - that isn't to discredit what they have done, but they are a young naive team. They weren't supposed to give mighty Detroit a scare, but they did. And they did so because the Pistons didn't respect them. They didn't respect their game and the Cavs made the Pistons pay by taking them to the limit.

The margin of error is so slim in the playoffs. Almost as skinny as Tayshaun Prince's arms. DEETROOOYYYTTT BASKETBALLLL!

Let the annoyances begin. Let those feelings of annoyance begin to take hold. Detroit's lack of depth. Their dirty defensive game. Rasheed's antics. Rip's face mask. The constant whining after every call. Chauncey Billups' horse like expressions and his redundant nickname.

And DEEEETRRROOOYYYYTTT BASKETBALLLLLL!!!!

This is what we have wanted. This is what the Heat have been designed for. Pat Riley was criticized heavily for overhauling the team that lost to the Pistons in the ECF last year. He noted that the Heat needed to get deeper and more athletic. They did. And this was precipitated not by losing to the Pistons, but by having a few key injuries prevent the Heat from bringing their best game to the arena. Wade was shackled not by Detroit's defense, but by a freak rib injury. Shaq was shut down not by the Wallaces, but by another O'Neal - the Jermaine type - by getting his thighs obliterated.

And here we are again, same place as last year. Except it is the Pistons who hold the home court advantage. They are the clear favorites with their stunning regular season record and returning to the ECF for the third year in a row.

The mission is the same for the Heat - take out the Pistons on their way to the Finals. That is the destination for greatness. But first, Detroit.

Let the games begin. The bell has rung.

Let the hordes be crazed at the actions of the few. And let the Heat be the last team standing.

The Heat Rest While the Rest are in Heat

Raise your hand if you picked the Heat to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

Raise your hand if you picked the Heat to be the first team from this year's playoff pool to reach their conference finals.

Still got your hand up? Well, raise your hand if you picked the Cavs/Pistons series to last at least 6 games and possibly go 7.

That should leave no one with an arm raised. Not even among the Heat faithful would anyone have realistically picked this scenario.

At best, I saw the Heat beating the Nets in 6 games and going to Detroit to face a Pistons team that was ready after dispatching their young opponents in 5 games. Got that wrong, didn't I?

The major media outlets have totally overlooked the Heat. They have discounted their talent and questioned not only Pat Riley's moves, but even the integrity of the new guys on occasion. The X-men, as Shaq refers to them, have been able to face the fire and prove themselves. They have become tempered by the playoff pressure and have risen.

And now, the Heat can breathe easier. They got back to the ECF, the main goal for this franchise since they lost game 7 last season, mostly due to some key injuries. Riley reshuffled the deck. He upped the ante. He got more depth for this team, because by his estimation that was the missing ingredient from last season.

And Riley was right. Want more proof?

Look at this Cavs/Pistons series. Most will cite this as an upset. Most will point out that the Cavs are just too young and inexperienced to beat the Pistons. And most of these detractors haven't gotten it. They didn't watch the '03 Marlins play without abandon for their opponents. They played without fear. So do the Cavaliers.

But let's not go abstract on this. Let's take a hard look. The Cavaliers have a lot of depth - in the front court they have Gooden, Ilgauskas, Varejao, Marshall. Guards? James, Jones (from last year's Heat squad), Murray, Hughes, Snow. That is nine players that are key to this team's success. Alan Henderson and Ira Newble can easily fill in on any given night.

The Pistons? They have relied on the Wallaces, Billups, Rip, Prince, McDyess and Lindsey Hunter for the last three seasons. 7 deep, if you want to count Hunter. But all season they relied on the health of their starters and played them around the 40 minute night EVERY night.

You don't think they are a little bit gassed right now?

And don't blame Flip. His job is to coach this team. He doesn't have a very strong bench at all. Who is he supposed to play, Delfino? Evans? Kelvin Cato - who couldn't cut it in Orlando? Darko? Oh, wait...they traded him. They have Tony Delk, but they also have Hunter - both do the same basic thing, be defensive pests.

Whether or not the Pistons come out of this series, the key thing to notice is that they are a tired team. They played all season at a high level, but they did it themselves with the core of this team getting most of the minutes. Impressive, but they don't have the depth to also survive the harsh reality of a playoff run.

And this brings us back to the Heat. They lost DJ and EJ, let Dooling sign elsewhere and traded Rasual Butler away. They got back Antoine Walker, James Posey, Jason Williams and Gary Payton. They re-signed Zo and let him get healthy. They scooped Derek Anderson off of the scrap heap. Shandon Anderson is ready to go.

This series with the Nets showed the Heat's depth as they were forced to help carry the load and win games for the Heat. Walker supplied fireworks. Posey sucked the life out of the opposing offense. GP played tough perimeter D and stuck the open three like an assasin. Williams propelled the offense into a higher gear.

And because of the changes, because Riley gambled, the Heat dispatched their second round opponents, the Nets, for the second year in a row.

And the Heat rest. While the Pistons struggle.

Heat get a C+ for Round 1 with Bulls

The Heat finally dispatched the Bulls in Game 6 on Thursday and although the Heat are moving on, they have some kinks they must still work out.

With Pat Riley's harsh system which grades individual players on offense and defense, the Heat were average. Defensively, the graded out around the mid 60's and 70's. And that is why I am granting them a C+ for the first round.

The Bulls played tough, and raised their level of play. They never quit - not even when the Heat had built up a lead on them. In games 5 and 6, the Heat did raise their defensive play, but they were also fortunate that the Bulls missed some good looks, too.

The pundits prognosticated how the perimeter-driven offense for the Bulls would give the Heat problems defensively, as the Heat have not shown an ability to rotate and stay on their assignments consistently throughout the year. In this series, the Heat held the Bulls to a 44.5% from the field, right about even with their in-season performance. Most notably, the Heat made a better showing in the final 2 games, when the Heat had their entire roster back (Haslem was suspended for Game 2 and Posey for Game 4 while Zo, just returning from injury, was forced to play in Game 3 due to Shaq's foul trouble). In Game 5, the Bulls shot 34% while in Game 6 they shot 41%. A large part of that was the Heat's ability to adapt and rotate to the Bulls shooters, closing out and denying the ball as well as defending screens better. Yet, over the first 4 games, the Bulls were able to shoot 45%, 53%, 46% and 45%, respectively.

The biggest difference seems to be how the Heat responded after Game 3. Game 4, they struggled offensively, but also the Bulls were given 31 free throw attempts to the Heat's 5 and they were able to hang around. It seemed that the Bulls were going to win Game 4 no matter what happened and disgruntled by the way that game was called, the Heat went back to Miami to take mastery over this series by not becoming reliant upon the officiating. They did so with better intensity, energy and defensive effort - all was noticeable in Game 5 and it rolled over into Game 6.

Offensively, the Heat were pretty much allowed to do whatever they wanted, save Game 3 when Shaq got into early and frequent foul trouble. Despite the Bulls being the #1 defense in the NBA in field goal percentage allowed (42%), the Heat were able to shoot 46% for the series. The most notable struggles were Wade (43%) and Walker (37%) and the Heat's three point shooting was inconsistent as it topped out at 33% for the series.

Over the final 2 games, the Heat played better basketball and looked closer to the style of basketball they had set out to play on the season: a fast paced offense that is highly dynamic along with a solid defense that will out rebound and out hustle you. If the Heat can continue to build upon this identity and keep playing this kind of basketball, they will have a better time against the New Jersey Nets.

Posey is microcosm of Heat's Game 5

So, the Heat have taken the lead in the series with a Game 5 win over the Bulls in Miami. And things are back to somewhat normal in Heat Nation.

How did the Heat do it? With improved defensive intensity and by attacking the Bulls offensively.

The best illustration of this was James Posey - who played 34 minutes, the most he has played in this entire series. He also tied his series high in scoring, with 12 points and also grabbed 8 rebounds.

What is interesting is that Posey was 5-11 from the field, but only 2-7 from behind the arc. This reflects the Heat's offensive production as a team, as the Heat shot 45%, a respectable number, but shot only 17.4% (2-23) from three point range. In order for the Heat to win game 6, which will witness the Bulls greatest effort as they will be trying to save their season, the Heat have got to demonstrate better shot selection and not just waste shots.

But it wasn't just the offensive boost that Posey provided to the Heat that helped, it was mostly his defensive presence that contributed to this win. Hinrich shot 3-13 and Ben Gordon was cooled to a 3-16 performance. Even Luol Deng struggled, shooting 2-8. The Heat as a team did a better job limiting the looks of the Bulls perimeter players, most notably Hinrich and Gordon.

The Bulls offensive attack is based upon their perimeter shooting, using screen and rolls to get open looks. The Heat did a much better job meeting their assignments and rotating, and Posey was a big factor in helping stablize the Heat's perimeter defense. His absence in Game 4 was noticeable, as the Bulls seemed to dominate the game from the perimeter.

At the start of the season, it was slated that Posey would fulfill the role Eddie Jones played with the Heat - the go to perimeter defender who would stick open threes and do the dirty work to push this offense into high gear. It has been a mixed bag this season for Posey, his first as a member of the Heat, illustrated by his shoulder blow on Hinrich and subsequent suspension for Game 4. All Posey did was vent his frustration and it boiled over to the rest of the team in Game 3 and it got him tossed. Then, Posey collects himself and puts in his best performance for Game 5 and the Heat return to form for another playoff win.

The Heat will need another great effort from Posey for Game 6 in order to end the running of the Bulls. Posey will also help stabilize the Heat's defensive presence and open up the game for the rest of his Heat's teammates.