Wizards Choke, Heat Surge - Did Anyone Expect Otherwise?

I just don't get it. Call me crazy, call me arrogant, or call me the biggest "homer" of them all but I just don't get why a few weeks ago everyone was burying this Heat team.

Even before the Wade injury, there was questions about the Heat's ability to get out of the East and even to beat the Pistons. Are you serious?

Then the Wade injury happened. All of Miami went black - the beaches were abandoned, the music stopped at the clubs. I-95 was a barren stretch of concrete as everyone clamored inside their homes, in mourning of the Heat's seemingly endless streak of bad luck. Then pundits started to seriously question whether the Heat would be able to get on their horse and ride to the playoffs.

Again, are you serious?

The re-surgence of Shaq has caught most people by surprise, which surprises me. You see, Shaq is 7'2", 3,012,000 lbs. Only the Sun generates a stronger gravitational pull and orbiting around Shaq are 4 championship trophies at the moment. I see something in the distance that looks like a 5th, but it's too far away to tell at the moment.

Anywho, good ol'Shaq has reverted to the Shaq of old, yes. How couldn't he? He hasn't even played in 30 games yet this season. He spent the first half of the season coming back from knee surgery yet stayed in fantastic shape while doing so. So, the old fella has fresh legs while most of his peers are breaking down.

In fact, this was the sole reason to not doubt the Heat after Wade went down - Shaq was still Shaq and was going to demand attention from opposing defenses. Shaq is still the best center in the game, and there is no counter-balance to his presence unless you can't Yao Ming. And that would be a stretch considering Yao is now coming back from injury himself and still doesn't seem to have that mental toughness to check Shaq.

Let us not forget also the addition of Eddie Jones. This is a veteran NBA scorer who has done it everywhere he went - except Memphis and that was only due to personnel choices more than ability. EJ has provided stifling perimeter man defense, picking up for Wade while he has been out by being one of the best on-ball defenders on the team and sticking the three point shot. What makes Eddie so crucial is that he is the Heat's best post entrance passer - Riley has stated in the past how much the Heat would miss his touch. With Shaq, this makes EJ more dangerous as Shaq can kick it back out to Eddie when the double comes and EJ can shoot it or pass it or take it to the rim.

As Shaq has confessed, keeping the game simple has enabled them to win games: pass it inside to Shaq or Zo, if the double comes then kick it out.

With the Heat's talent and depth, did anyone really expect them to shut it down and hunt for lottery balls? Did anyone really see Shaq not playing the way he is playing with Wade sporting a business suit on the sidelines? Did anyone really think that adding Eddie Jones, a Florida native and heart-broken Heatian, would not contribute to this team? This is a team that he felt was good enough to win it all BEFORE he was traded away, now that he is back he can help spark them to a repeat.

In the midst of all this curious doubt are the Wizards. They are on top of the Southeastern division, the NBA equivalent to the A-10, and everyone is all excited and saying crazy things like, "Gilbert Arenas is an MVP candidate" and "Wow, Arenas isn't mental at all". Proof, once again, for entropy.

The true MVP of that Wizards team is Antawn Jamison, yet another star with a misspelled first name. Even Eddie Jordan, endlessly in over his head, stated as much when Jamison went down saying his team needed to play smarter and prepare more on defense. Agent Zero Brains, of course, took exception to that. Funny, Kobe and Jordan would probably agree in that Arenas has no concious when it comes to shot selection.

The big thing is, as the true contenders of the East - the Bulls, Pistons, Heat and, ok, fine, the Cavaliers - have all won 7 of their last 10 the Wizards are sputtering, losing 7 of their last 10. The Heat have won 6 straight while the Wizards, still trying to pull the rabbit out of the hat, have lost 3 straight.

The Wizards have some nice talent - Arenas, Jamison, Butler - but they are not a contender. They lack the dominating post presence or even the consistent defensive focus to win. They will shoot, shoot shoot. In some ways, they are reminiscent of the old Heat team of 2003-2004, Wade's first season. In place of Odom is Jamison, Butler is Butler, but Arenas is not the transcendental talent that Wade is. Never will be.

As Arenas goes, so goes the Wizards. Before last night in his last game against Miami, Arenas only had 15 points - in front of his home crowd. Last night he scored, but couldn't get over the hump. He also has an unusual chance to tie the game with free throws, thanks to questionable officiating. Yet, he did the same thing recently against the Warriors, which got Don Nelson ejected.

Nice, Gilbert, nice. Looks like you didn't choke - tonight, anyway - but your team did.

Say what you want about the Heat but always keep in mind that the ONLY time this team has been healthy and together was on Feb. 21st against Houston. Then that went to crap once Wade dislocated his shoulder trying to steal a ball from Battier. They still aren't healthy and are coming for that #1 spot in the SE.

Meanwhile, the Wizards struggle and play bad basketball. They choke. They were just keeping the Heat's seat warm for them until it mattered. Should anyone really have expected otherwise?