Heat getting complacent?

I know that this is practically an impossibility, with Riley coaching this team, but the Heat seemed to be playing under-inspired of late.

Just a general observation - and sure, they haven't had Shaq for a spell here (hyper-extended left knee - which I want to suggest is not a coincedence coming AFTER another bout with the Pacers. Tell me the last two times Shaq has missed games and I will point to the last team he played in both those recent incidents was in fact the Pacers. America's Dirtiest Team? Probably another topic for another time...).

3-3 over their last six and an underwhelming performance against the highly inspired, overly confident and re-surging New Jersey Nets on Sunday was what made me worry. Vince Carter continued to dominate the Heat whenever he plays them. Why? I have no clue.

Sure, we don't have Zo right now. And yes, we didn't have Shaq for two of those games (a win over the Raptors and a loss to the Cavs). But still, you get the feeling this team has kind of hit a wall at this point and needs to get back on track. They were completely overmatched against New Jersey.

And now, the Bucks lay in wait for the Heat. The same Bucks who are in the playoff hunt and are looking to make a statement. At least this game will be in Miami, where the Heat can get a little home cooking (mmmm, arepas...) and can hopefully find their swerve again.

The Heat have arguably one of the best benches in the NBA. But without Zo, they don't seem to be faring as well. Simien has performed very admirably in Zo's stead, however. We'll see what kind of signal Miami sends to the rest of the NBA - who is watching NJ gain ground on that #2 seed.

The Talented Mr. Anderson

Before you proceed reading this, let's get one thing straight here - this is about Shandon Anderson, not the recently acquired Derek. Although he is very talented as well, it is the re-emergence of Shandon that seems to be benefitting the Heat very much as of late.

A sigh of relief can be heard from the Heat faithful nowadays. Why?

Defensive intensity is starting to return to fashion for this team. Most especially, perimeter defense.

Shandon Anderson was out for most of the season with lower back spasms. He couldn't seem to get healthy enough to work his way back off the Heat bench. The Heat were in desperate need of another perimeter defender as James Posey seemed to be the only player capable of defending a slasher on the wing. Of course, such a dilemma could only mean more penetration against the Heat and foul trouble for Shaq at the pivot. Witness the January 6th game against Phoenix.

Anderson played then, for 30 painful minutes. In fact, he had some activity on the floor during spurts in December and even for a few game in early January, but since Feb. 2nd, it seems his return is permanent. And he doesn't look likely to go anywhere else except deep into the playoffs with the Heat.

Over his last five games, he is averaging 14.7 minutes and getting 5.0 points per game on 62.5 FG% and even grabbing 2.2 rebounds during is minutes. Highly efficient from the field, he is also helping the Heat defense force opponents into becoming much less efficient on their scoring chances, too.

Coming into last night's game, Paul Pierce was on fire. He has had two straight 30+ point performances (37 and 39) and was shooting over 50% in both games. He was able to get 38 against the Heat, but he was more human (10-22 45%) in his performance. He even shot 2-6 from 3 point range and got a bulk of his points from the free throw line, 16 (16-18). Mr. Anderson had a say in that, but also put on a little offensive show of his own. Playing his second highest minute total on the season (23:07), he was able to score 15 points on 71% shooting (5-7) while grabbing 6 rebounds and 1 assist.

Ever since the embarrassing loss to Dallas on February 9th, the Heat have won 7 straight. Anderson has seen his share of minutes during that span, getting over 11 minutes in each contest - each team presenting its share of perimeter threats: Ray Allen (6-20), Morris Peterson (7-16) and Mike James (10-19), Stephon Marbury (2-11), Jamal Crawford (3-8), Jalen Rose (2-8) and Quentin Richardson (6-11), Rip Hamilton (10-17), Tashaun Prince (2-12) and Chauncey Billups (10-20).

Every one Anderson has seen and in his limited minutes and has given the Heat a defensive boost on the perimeter that has helped push them over the top onto the 7 game win streak.

Perhaps this was the little spark that the Heat needed.

Sho: Heat's two headed beast at center

Shaq was named to the East's starting squad for the all-star game in Houston, but early on in the season, when Shaq was out, Alonzo Mourning could have made a case to start.

In fact, you could make a case to start both centers - after all, that is how the Heat are envisioning their big men in the paint being utilized.

Shaq is the offensive juggernaut. He is averaging 19.3 points per game in just 29.4 minutes. He is shooting 56.4 from the field, which leads the NBA, and it looks like even that number will rise (last season, Shaq shot 60% from the field). As Shaq gets healthy, and regains that agility and that scoring touch, his minutes will increase as his fouls decrease.

And then there is Zo, the fiery defensive presence who changes games. In limited minutes, averaging 21.3 per game on the year - but closer to 14 with Shaq back and healthy. A modern day Bill Russell, Zo is in prime form and proves his worth by altering an opposing team's offensive approach. This may also be the best situation for him, after coming back from a rare kidney disease. His defense is only matched by his intensity, rejecting 3 shots a game and leading the NBA in blocks with 134. Oh, and he had 5 tonight, putting him up to 139 on the year.

Shaq is the offense. Zo is the defense. Together, they make "Sho" - the ultimate center in the NBA.

Let's look at an example. In 35 minutes tonight against the Cavaliers, they grabbed 14 rebounds, had 7 blocks, scored 27 points on 11-16 from the field combined. This is the kind of production that Pat Riley envisioned with Shaq and Zo, and finally, with both healthy, the rewards are starting to present themselves.

Potentially, this is the kind of production you can expect on a normal night from "Sho": 48 minutes of pure hell. The Heat have an anchor in the paint, a post-forward position to attack their opponents which will afford them many options: a strong half court game, a post presence on both offense and defense.

This two-headed monster will allow the Heat to slow the game down to grind down their opponents, crucial in the fourth quarter and for creating more opportunities for the Heat to shoot free throws as opposing teams begin to foul "Sho" and become plagued by foul trouble themselves.

It is like blood in the water. Coupled with the Heat's backcourt, consisting of Wade, Williams and Payton, they have the ability to penetrate and draw fouls which will also create more free throw attempts for these perimeter players. The breakdown of an opposing team begins to fracture inside and becomes total once the Heat's perimeter players attack the weakened defense.

And it all starts with "Sho", the beast of a center which will be the foundation for this Heat team's run.

Shaq abducted by aliens

What the hell is going on with Shaq?

I mean, it isn't just the Kobe Bryant handshake, hug, and make out session BEFORE the game. It isn't even the voices in his head that he claims to be responding to - such voices as Pat Riley and Bill Russell. What is bothering me is the apathetic style of his game.

Sure, he dunked pretty nasty off a rebound rim-shattering put-back on Bynum. And with one look, it is priceless. But what happens next? Bynum spins off of Shaq in the post to get a wide open dunk - and thunderous applause from the Laker faithful. Dr. Buss, meanwhile, is yelling 'I told you so' from his seat.

It isn't his stats, either. Shaq continues to be efficient from the field, shooting 54% and grabbing 9.8 rebounds in 28.3 minutes. The latter two stats are down versus his career, but seeing as the Big Fella is at the tail end of his career, and has probably the best backup of all time behind him in Zo, that is to be expected.

What it is that does bother me, and lead me on this investigative path, is his lack of ferocity. Shaq just doesn't get the great positioning he used to get. Some will cite the recent NBA rule changes that allow for a 'pre-doubling', as Riley calls it - where post players can be doubled before the entrance pass is made by loitering defenders. Shaq isn't getting the spacing to work.

That isn't it though either. Shaq is just not getting deep into the post and is letting the likes of Danny Fortson, Robert Swift, Chris Mihm and even Greg Ostertag give him fits. You could see it on his face tonight: getting pushed - the audacity! - by a jumpy Andrew Bynum. Frustration set in and he tossed a mighty elbow into Bynum. Double techs ensued, and the dust settled.

There can only be one conclusion, since Shaq has gotten the team he wants, the players he wants, and the coach he wants: the real Shaq has been abducted by aliens. It must have happened sometime before the playoffs last season. Sure, he supposedly had a bruised thigh that never healed fully for him going into the playoffs. I think, maybe, it was the clone inserted in his place by the aliens that wanted to see a Pistons/Spurs finals. That Ben Wallace is quite a sex symbol on Mars, believe it or not. Or so Bill Russell has told me.

But seriously, the pundits will start second guessing things now and the path must get ever tougher for Riley and Co. The old Shaq is not here, but replaced with, well, an old Shaq. Maybe it wasn't aliens after all. Maybe Shaq is done? Maybe it is like when the Berlin Wall fell (and soon after the Soviet Union), the U.S. as the lone superpower and hegemon, had no equal to counter. Or like when Carthage fell (Cartago delenda est!) leaving Rome alone in the Mediterranean. So, Shaq is somewhat bored, with no one to counter him and drive him; no one to push him but himself because he is in a league by himself.

Nah, must be the aliens.

Dont Panic

The Heat lose to the Suns, convincingly, and all of the sudden, the sky is falling.

Why?

I guess amnesia is running rampant among the Heat nation these days. People seem to have forgotten, what we just witnessed last night was a re-run. Almost identical to last season's matchup with the Suns in Phoenix. Only, that game was played on the 11th of January, as opposed to the 6th. And the Suns tallied 40 points in the first quarter instead of 47.

The first quarter blowout in both games was achieved almost identically though - on hot shooting. The Suns were 9-11 from three point range in that first quarter last night. You could almost say that God didn't want the Heat to win last night, faced with those kind of odds. But the same thing happened last year, as the Suns blistered the Heat with a first quarter that saw a very high percentage of shots go in the basket (1-4 from 3 point range, but 16-26 from the field).

So, all the apologists and hordes of fans filled with hindsight about last year's team being better, well, better lay off.

The fact is, the Heat didn't have Wade and Williams for this round, and managed to only lose by 18 (111-93) while last year they lost by 15 (122-107) at full strength. And you might as well pretend Shaq didn't show up last night, too, seeing as he only played 23 minutes in a disappearing act.

Funny how a 7'1" 330lb man can disappear on center court. But, that is another story.

So, what is all this panic about? The Heat would go on to struggle last season as they probably will during this road trip as well. They would even venture on to an OT loss to the Clips last season on that same road trip. It was tough, but that team was growing - as this team is, too. They are in the midst of a slump, and still trying to bang out with healthy bodies and adjust to Riley's coaching presence and substitutions. They will most likely struggle on this trip, too.

Just keep in mind, that we have seen this before. This is the forge from which champions are created. The tempers will flare, the inconsistencies will rear their ugly heads. The team will unravel. But then something marvelous happens - they start to get it.

The team will adjust. They have been built to win and with the talent and the coaching they have, they will get the opportunity. It wont come straight away, it will come with growing pains, with struggle, with adversity.

So let Detroit flex its muscle. Let San Antonio continue to sharpen. But keep your eyes on your own test. This team must focus on itself and tune out the rest of the world, the rest of the the NBA.

Panic is not the call for the day. Let the dust settle. I am reminded, how does muddy water become clear again? By letting itself settle.

Let the muddy water lay still. Be patient. This is a work in progress.