Heat Loss to Magic Painful

8-22 now. 14 games below .500. The Heat are facing a predicament they have not faced in almost 5 years - irrelevancy.

Ever since they landed Dwyane Wade with the 5th pick in the draft, the Heat have mattered. Yet this season the Heat haven't mattered too much at all.

"It's a little demoralizing to play my most complete game yet and to really have a feeling that we were going to win this ballgame," Wade said after the game. "To lose it in overtime, it hurts."

Pain. That is what is most real to the Heat these days. Just ask Zo as his final game, possibly, in a Heat uniform was spent writhing in it. Ask Jason Williams who keeps hearing his name swirling in trade rumors but tries to push through his share with two creaky knees. Ask Shaquille O'neal whose hips and knees are bothering him and his ego is suffering from shock as well.

The only pain Wade seems to be feeling these days is the pain of losing game after game. Since dealing with shoulder and knee problems, Wade has rushed back from rehab only to guide his team as close to winning as possible only to see his efforts go unrewarded.

But this is a team. And it takes a team to win, and a team to lose.

This latest loss shouldn't be surprising. After all, it had one of the key elements of all games this season from the Heat - a valiant last ditch effort only left to be undermined by bad defense and a double digit run by the opposing team at the end of the game.

Cook bailed out the Heat with a three to send it to overtime, but the Heat had nothing in the tank. Pain.

And now, the Heat have to pick it back up and head off to Washington to try and squeeze out a win on the road.

Heat Might Make Change Soon

Smush Parker has been invited back to Miami to rejoin the Heat. Coming out of exile, the question is, will it be to actually play for the Heat or to have an audition for a future trade? We'll know tomorrow night what the case may be but considering Jason Williams creaky knees, even with negative MRIs, and a gimpy Chris Quinn, Parker's services may be needed more so than Riley would care to admit.

Then there is the possibility of a trade with anyone on the roster - save Wade and Shaq. The team is falling apart. Some have noticed that there is frustration running so deep that even a rift between players like Wade and Udonis Haslem is noticeable.

Something is brewing. The Heat need a stable answer at PG, and they need to find another scoring option. This may be hard to do, but with Riley's ability to pull off trades seemingly overnight, who knows what tomorrow holds. But it could come sooner rather than later.

Heat In Need of Makeover

It could be cosmetic or even a bit more serious, but Miami is in need of change these days. Riley knows it, Wade knows it, and even Shaq now realizes it.

Right now, this team is confused. Jason Williams was cleared by Riley to get back to his "White Chocolate" style of playing, but has admitted it is something he is struggling to do. Why all of a sudden was Williams unleashed?

Shaq, frustrated over not getting enough touches, has now realized he has done a terrible job this season and vowed to change. Yet, recent comments have shown Shaq to have lowered his expectations.

What is going on? Miami has no identity - and Riley is not helping matters.

This team doesn't shoot particularly well, it doesn't play strong defense, doesn't have high energy, doesn't dominate the paint. It is a jack of all trades but a master of none. Their record, 13 games below .500, indicates that as well.

Also, there is a particular pattern you could almost bank on each game for the Heat. They come out sluggish, with no energy, and fall behind by double digits. Then the Heat pick it up and either tie it up or take the lead. When the 4th quarter rolls around, however, Miami slacks off defensively and gives up a double digit run. A loss at the end of the buzzer and Miami shakes its defiant and proud head.

So, even though there is no definite identity for the Heat and their players, their losses follow a particular pattern. What has Riley done to adjust? Too much.

Miami has to make changes, but they need to be changes that address the problems they are facing. Not enough energy to start games? Start the younger players like Cook and Wright. Bad defensive stretches at the ends of games? Play more active defenders - Shaq is not an option for two reasons now at the end of games, his horrible free throw shooting and his lack of defensive intensity.

Speaking of Shaq, he really is better suited to coming off the bench to maintain leads. He slows the game down and can control the pace of a game. He also is playing less minutes these days do to his age and wear-and-tear. Can you convince a massive ego like Shaq to come off the bench? You have to. Statistically, Shaq is not doing anything wrong. Yet chemically, in fitting in with the fabric of the team, he is not helping by becoming a statue on the offensive side of the ball, too.

The reason Zo's injury is such a big loss is because he can change a game with his defensive play - one ferocious blocked shot would result in a Heat fast break opportunity. Shaq does not have that ability - or at least, doesn't demonstrate that desire to do so.

Miami must begin games faster and with more energy. Insert Cook, Wright and Wade. Put Barron at PF and plug in Joel Anthony, a shot blocking defensive dynamo, at center to start. Hey, we are 13 games under .500, why not try something completely different? All these players will defer to Wade who will manage the ball anyway. Cook provides vitality and a scoring threat from anywhere on the floor. Wright gives the Heat rebounding intensity and an athletic presence on the wing that works well with Wade. Barron can spread the floor with his jumper, but also provides a bit of a downside in regards to rebounding - but Haslem has peaked himself and it doesn't seem like the Heat lose too much with him off the court to start games. Anthony can provide a shot blocking presence that will force teams to think twice about playing in the low block.

This allows the Heat to substitute immediately Shaq at center, if they want to hold the lead or even build on one, and Haslem can come off the bench to provide a further calming influence on the game. You could even slide Barron back and forth between center and power forward.

The Heat have to make a commitment. Based on the patterns in their losses, the Heat are looking at some tough changes or their season will be lost.

Miami Getting a New Gift?

Is the Heat on the verge of a major shakeup? And just before Christmas?

There are rumors fluttering around about possible deals and Miami is very active with several teams. Here are some possibilities:

Mickeal Pietrus is not getting any playing time in Golden State and signed a contract this offseason because he didn't have enough leverage to find a new team. His interest in playing in Miami, however, is well documented. That doesn't mean that there is a deal in place for Golden State, or even incentive, but with Smush Parker basically done it might be a decent fit for Golden State in trading Pietrus for Smush. Then again, they may feel he has more value.

Mike Bibby and Ron Artest - long rumored to be heading to Miami, but the trigger does not seem to exist. Still, there is interest and other outlets keep insisting Miami is talking to Sacramento and the deal seems to be starting with Udonis Haslem and might also need a Jason Williams reunion tour.

Rafer Alston and Shane Battier - supposedly the Rockets are interested in Jason Williams. He has an expiring contract so that makes him an attractive asset for teams wanting to clear up space for this offseason. Alston is just another PG on the Rockets' roster. Battier is a solid defender that the Heat might also inquire about if they are going to deal Udonis. A long shot either way.

Mike Miller and Stromile Swift - this is mostly speculation, but could be an interesting trade. The Heat would acquire a relatively unknown star in Miller who would provide scoring, shooting and hustle and he could potentially vault over Shaq in terms of scoring priority. Swift is getting some playing time to showcase his abilities a bit, but is not in the plans for the Grizzlies. Riley has always liked Swift's potential, so it could be another possibility to replace a departing Udonis Haslem or serve as a backup for Shaq now that Zo is done.

Luke Ridnour - Current Heatian Luke Jackson's old college buddy could be a strong pickup for Miami, too. It might just cost them Smush Parker and if that is the case, Ridnour could easily be the starter at PG by season's end. His addition along with Jason Williams would give the Heat an excellent, uptempo option at PG.

Larry Hughes is being shopped by the Cavs, but it is less likely any deal will be made with the Heat since they are Eastern Conference rivals.

There is also the option of signing players like Earl Boykins or Ruben Patterson to shore up any needs left by trades.

Heat Bounce Past Jazz

This was probably the most impressive win this year for the Heat. Yes, it is only the regular season and only December at that, but still, gotta start somewhere.

The losses to Boston were impressive considering where Miami was during those two matchups - but they could have easily been wins, too. This game, however, was almost snatched away from Miami - but not by the players on the opposing team, but by the officials.

I was at the game in person tonight (sec. 110, row 15 seat 1) - shout out to my friend Kristen and her sister Kelly and her boyfriend. Anywho, despite the usual people watching, I was able to tune into the game and watch the boys on the floor. Here are some of the things I observed:

Riley is finally getting it with Barron. The guy has great range and can be a Jermaine O'neal type PF in that he can shoot the ball and spread the floor. He won't ever be a great shot blocker and will probably be just above average as a rebounder, but at PF the guy can create problems. His versatility as a PF/C can be utilized when Shaq comes off. Still, I think Joel Anthony is the answer at backup C. (Fantasy owners, running after Barron is a bit premature, although if you are in deep leagues the guy can get you some genius points...)

Wade is back. Despite being saddled with foul trouble, his game is there and his conditioning are probably about 98% there. Just a few ticks but he looks amazing out there and is the offensive catalyst de facto.

Shaq doesn't move enough. He put in a better effort tonight, but he falls into a bad habit of planting and waiting. This is not only his doing, however, as I saw Jason Williams do the same thing when the call is to give Wade the ball. Williams runs to a corner and stands there. Might as well be 4 on 5 at that point - these guys (and their coach!) have got to learn to keep moving. If you can't you're outta shape and need to get off the floor anyway. Go try shuffle board.

Shaq did earn two standing ovations though - one on the hustle play after a loose ball that dropped him headlong into the scorers' table; the other when he fouled out on yet, another BS call.

Speaking of BS foul calls, how did the Jazz end up with 43 FTAs (free throw attempts, for those of you who don't read this blog often enough) to our 23 FTAs? When you got a force like Shaq getting fouled on every touch and a jet engine incarnated in the form of Wade, how is the other team getting the advantage? Not coincedentally, most of the FTAs came at the end of the game - 15 FTAs in the final 7:38, to be exact.

Still, as hard as the officials seem to be trying to hand Miami their third straight loss, you could feel like this game was never really under threat. The Heat quietly built up a lead in the third quarter and maintained it for a while, except for the fact that 35% of the Jazz FTAs came in the final 7:38 of the game. Sure, Miami got some FTAs too, but it wasn't the bulk of their offense.

Miami played much harder tonight. They need to continue to battle to push through this horrendous start. Next up Cleveland on Christmas - probably one of the most overrated teams in the NBA. Miami could be one of the most underrated.

Zo Done

Well, I was obviously waiting to post this article on Zo's possible career ending injury because I wanted to believe the basketball gods would not allow him to exit like this. They would not allow a warrior like Zo to leave the game for good wincing in pain, being helped off the court with what turned out to be a torn tendon. Still, in typical Zo fashion, he would not allowed himself to be carted off.

Then again, how else would Zo be able to leave the game for good unless forced out? It had to be taken from him.

Further Reading:
Sun-Sentinel: Mourning Injury Worse Than Thought
Miami Herald: Heat's Mourning to have surgery Thursday

If Zo doesn't come back, we can't look at how he left but how he continued to play the game and was a contributor even well after his kidney surgery. He defied the odds, and helped build this franchise into a champion. His roar and flexing biceps will continue to be an icon for Heat fans, and his intensity will be missed.

Easily, the most recognizable Heat player his shot blocking, defensive intensity and beautiful hook shot made the Heat a formidable team in the mid-90's. And Zo, both figuratively and literally, was at the center of it all.

Now, there will be mourning for Mourning's game. We will miss him, and perhaps his retirement came too soon.

Then again, how about "uno mas"?

To Rebound Shaq Must Rebound

All this talk about Shaq is kind of getting old. No, he isn't the 23 year old man-child he once was, tearing down goals in enemy arenas. But he isn't done, either.

Much has been made about Shaq's demise, and as they say it is much ado about nothing. Shaq's minutes have decreased but there is good reason for that, too. He isn't as productive as he once was, but that is not to say he can't be a force in every game he sets his giant foot on the court.

He must re-think his game, re-formulate his identity and what his goals are on the court.

I have said this before, Shaq is so large and massive there is no reason why he cannot be the best pure rebounder on the court. His size has not diminished, and you can't teach strength. What Shaq has never really had was heart - by that, I mean the kind of heart a guy like Udonis Haslem has.

For Shaq, the game has always come very easy. His combination of size and strength seem almost unnatural. In fact, that is the biggest difference between Shaq and any other player in the NBA - but that is obvious. Yet, this is the source of his greatest frustration, his biggest obstacle is the massive ego that blots out the sun in his mind. The recent comments which show Shaq is starting to acknowledge his decline are indicative of an important shift: Shaq must realize that he is not as quick as he once was and does not have the same lift. After this, he can start to formulate a change, he can start to adapt his game to suit his age and skill set.

The biggest breakthrough has yet to come. Riley has already started to limit Shaq's playing time - this isn't done for punishment, but rather because Shaq is clogging the lane and slowing the game down. Wade has admitted publicly that several of his turnovers are coming from him trying to force the ball into Shaq. Defenses are defending him differently - they are now fronting him whereas before he would just spin and catch an ally. Or he was more mobile and physical and would force teams to double down or foul. Now, he plants in the lane and waits.

Shaq has to move more.

More importantly, he needs to use his assets. He needs to use that giant frame to box out and fight for the ball. This is where the heart of Udonis Haslem would benefit Shaq - since the game is easy for him, he never really had to battle and scrape and fight. He just had to flick his switch and let his will be done. Haslem, one of the smaller power forwards in the game, always gets himself into position and has great anticipation. Shaq, on the other hand, seems to not be able (or want) to get into a good position. He allows himself to be taken out of the play all too often.

If Shaq can work on getting himself into position, and stop trying to set up the post so much, he could find a way to reinvent himself. He would also generate more shot attempts. ''More than 10, so I can get into my game,'' he said. ``My son can't even get into the game with seven shots.'' But your son isn't waiting in the post for a pass, either. In fact, how many set plays are run for Zo? About as many as Chris Quinn gets. Yet Zo finds ways to get involved in the game and be a factor.

Once Shaq understands that he can no longer rely on waiting for the ball to come to him, he will be on his way to mattering once again. The longer it takes, however, is the longer it takes for this team to turn things around. If Shaq can get his rebounds over 10 a game, a feat that he should do in his sleep, but has only done 6 times in 24 games this season. He used to do it all season long.

Smush Out; Jackson Debut

Heat look like they are going to lose this game to the Wiz, which is unfortunate because they are a better team without Gilbert. They just had to rely on an injury to him in order to discover what pretty much any half wit watching basketball knew. Its true because I have noticed this too!

That said, there were some bright spots. Quinn looks a bit more confident and seems to start to believe he can play at this level. He was bombing away from the three point line, being really the only consistent offensive threat at the end of the game.

Luke Jackson played some extensive minutes at the end of the game, and looked ready to fit in. He is athletic and seems to be able to find open spots on the floor - if only Miami can find him. Then again, their offense just looked dreadful in comparison to how well they played on the road.

7 losses out of 9 at home. Riley warned that the Heat come out sluggish and it showed.

Speaking of slugs, where is Smush you might be wondering? Legal problems have basically ended his tenure in Miami. He is being shopped and it is looking like Miami might be targeting a PG from Seattle, either Luke Ridnour, Luke Jackson's teammate at Oregon, or Earl Watson. Now, it is probably not likely that Smush would be enough to net something like that in return, but who knows? Smush is also the reason why Jackson was added as the Heat need more offense and can't afford to wait for Penny to get his shot back.

Heat miss out on a way to kick things back into high gear, but that is the Heat for you. They underdeliver and overpromise it seems.

Heatflashes: Jackson Replacing Kapono, Heat Beat LA

So the Heat are going to land Luke Jackson, but is he the replacement the Heat were looking for when Kapono left quickly with fists full of cash? Yeah, he is.

Let's face it, Kapono had a great shot and happened to be 6'7" and could move, somewhat, better than a much shorter and more brash talent in Damon Jones. That was his job. Can Jackson do that? You bet. He is more athletic than Kapono, with a pretty good shot to boot. Even if he is not graded as highly as Kapono, which Toronto seems to think, he is a much more affordable risk to take in regards to acquiring some consistent outside shooting. Kap'n is getting $6M per season, while Jackson won't be making anything close to that. Toronto, who had Jackson on their roster last season and in camp this season, thought Kapono was a much better option and paid for it. The Heat, however, developed Kapono where none had previously seen an asset of any kind.

So bet on Riley & Co. getting Jackson in camp and at least squeezing some threes out of him from time to time. Yet, also remember another Kapono isn't necessarily needed - Ricky Davis is already providing some deft shooting while Daequan Cook looks to be the real deal, too. Getting some time on the floor with Shaq will definitely make Jackson a viable shooting option.

The only question is, who is going to be waived to make room? I don't want to see Anthony go, and I don't want to see Anfernee go, so that leaves a guy who has long been a project and doesn't have anything resembling an "Anthony" in his name, Earl Barron. The Red Barron is a nice power forward, but Riley already has Udonis and Alexander Johnson in his way. And if you want to play Barron at C, you don't get the shot blocking skill you value with your defense which Joel Anthony has a'plenty (and a great rebounder, too). Not to mention Shaq and Zo are in the way.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

The Heat are 5-15. Finally got that fifth win. I didn't catch the game last night because I was driving back from the West coast - of Florida. Still, to come home and see us win a game, with a diminished Shaq in the process, makes me happy and curious. What is Riley doing with Shaq? Is he trying to break him down some after that explosion in practice? Because frankly, Shaq should shut up and listen to what Riley wants - he controls Shaq's fate. Whether he likes it or not, Riley could be so bold as to dwindle his minutes down to garbage time and even to none at all. Riley controls Shaq's contract as he is also the Prez of the Heat, too. Besides, it isn't like the Heat are winning anyway with Shaq out there...and if they can win without him, that doesn't bode well for the big Aristotle. He needs to focus on rebounding anyway and stop whining about his offensive touches.

That said, Miami's best offense has been when Shaq has controlled the game and the flow of the offense goes through him. So, you have to wonder what is the lesson here?

Heat Acquire Luke Jackson

The Miami Heat have recently acquired Luke Jackson from the Idaho Stampede of the DLeague.

In need of shooting, the Heat decided to give Jackson a shot himself and called up the 3 year NBA veteran who was drafted 10th overall in the 2004 NBA draft out of Oregon, where he played alongside Seattle's Luke Ridnour.

What really turned the Heat's heads was Jackson's 30 point performance in his first game in the DLeague this season - shooting 5-6 from beyond three point range.

Jackson now offers a strong outside shooter which the Heat lacked since Kapono left this offseason. Daequan Cook has been providing a very nice scoring presence off the bench for the Heat as a rookie, but Miami feels it needs more shooters to complement Shaq's game and help spread the defense. It would be a step in the right direction for the 4-15 Heat who seem to be unable to break through and get consistent wins. How quickly, and how often, Jackson can get out on the floor for Miami will remain to be seen.

Jackson has athletic ability and a very good stroke from outside. He could provide the shooting presence the Heat are missing and given the Heat's history of finding assets where previously regarded to be none, Jackson could be the next Jason Kapono - incidentally, the two squared off against one another in college.

Is Daequan Cook Ray Allen's Mirror?

There is one thing observation that I cannot stop making and last night didn't help. We all have those comparisons - the kind where we wonder what it would be like to watch one athlete play against another from a different era. We call them throwbacks, sometimes. Like watching a rerun, we stop to wonder if a player of the present would matchup well with a great from the past. We wonder would Barry Bonds one-up the Babe? Would Shaq dunk on the Stilt?

Well, I know that this isn't quite on that level, but isn't eerie how similar Daequan Cook's game is to Ray Allen's? Or it it just me?

Well, maybe some people are getting it. This little dialog was found in the Sun-Sentinel - although Skolnick doesn't seem to be making an apparent comparison (I'll do that instead):

"I love his game," Cook said of Boston's Ray Allen.

Allen has honed his offensive game over 12 seasons, and that savvy showed even when Cook defended the six-time All-Star well. Once, Allen went right, then left, then ballfaked, getting Cook into the air, getting the foul. But Cook also played some part in Allen missing 12 straight shots.

"I like his game," Allen said. "He's solid, he can shoot the ball, he's strong. It's going to be about his work ethic, and how he attacks the game. He's got to want it more than somebody else wants it. I like, so far, his makeup."

I just can't help but think of this as a "pot and kettle" situation. Both players have similar shots - just watch their mechanics. They have quick releases and need very little space (and time) to shoot. They also are adept at creating offense without the ball - they can move without the ball and create scoring opportunities. Cook even has, get this!, an affinity for the finger roll! Sure, he can dunk (see the game in Boston where he dunked over Po-Z) and so can Ray Allen - just neither prefer to (although you get the sense Cook has a bit more flair).

The draft day trade of Jason Smith for Daequan Cook has been, so far, one of the few things that has gone right for the Heat this offseason. Riley has to play Cook because, well, no one else can shoot the ball. With Cook, he has a guy who is not afraid to shoot at all, and is pretty darned good at it. He can help spread out the defense and can come off the bench. His game is improving each time out and his defense is becoming pretty good - it is early.

So I wonder, what would Ray Allen say if you asked him, point blank, if he saw any of himself in this rookie. I feel certain he would say, 'yes'.