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This is Dwyane Wade’s Team
We saw it again last night – Dwyane Wade hits another game winning shot. And his superstar status grows a little more.
People can talk all they want about Shaq, but the Big Hamstring has not been himself to this point. Sure, he has played admirably, learning a new system and settling in with new teammates, but he has not been the Big Dominator that we expected. Not yet.
Until then, this is Wade’s team. Shaq certainly can’t deny that – since his view was the same as pretty much everyone else’s at the AAA last night. From his seat. The refs made sure of that.
But Wade has the confidence rare in players at this level. Not just confidence, but a different kind of confidence. Some call it ‘it’. It seems he may have ‘it’. Is it a coincedence that he hails from the same city Jordan had served his professional career in? (And no, the Wizard years do not count!)
Wade had 39 points last night on 12-22 shooting. But four of those points were clutch. He killed the Jazz’s chances twice last night – by hitting two free throws awarded by the refs on a touch foul from Kirilenko and by rolling the ball around the rim at the end of the first OT. That last shot was almost indicative of the Heat’s game last night – nothing would fall in and you would almost have to will it in to get it to go. Wade willed it in not allowing his team, despite its’ poor shooting performance from the line and being outrebounded, to lose. Dwyane Wade took over this team for good. And it doesnt look like he is giving it back anytime soon.
Heat need to get defensive
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You can hear it. It is a faint whisper, but a growing noise nonetheless. With every roar of the crowd and every squeak of sneaker rubbing hardwood floor, it gets louder. That is the sound of the Heat’s championship dreams becoming a reality.
But the dream has been taking a hit over these past 4 games. A blowout loss to Dallas. A close loss to San Antonio. A miracle win over Milwaukee. Another loss to Minnesota.
Each of the losses had featured some great individual performances – Nowitzki’s 41 point outburst. KG’s 25pts, 21 boards, and 8 assists tonight. Damn near “messed around and got a triple-double”.
The losses are not that troubling though, as the Heat sports a 5-3 record and is among one of the top 5 scoring teams in the league up to tonight’s game. But it is the defense that is noticeable – or lack thereof.
Defense is effort based. It is coachable. The Heat have the players with the desire and ability to play great team defense. Riley preaches it. Van Gundy will shout it from the pulpit. But it will not be until Shaq gets the hang of defending the pick and roll that this team will start to make strides. Not until the Heat stop double-teaming the forward on the perimeter and leaving the 3 point assasin time to get his feet square and leave him wide open. Not until the Heat find an answer to stop perimeter scorers from slashing to the basket and drawing fouls.
The finger has to be pointed somewhere. It just cant be fixed off in the distance towards the championship path. And if you focus on the finger, you lose seeing the way. So the Heat have to look a little closer to home, and focus on what it takes to march down that path. Triumphantly. That will begin with better defense.
And it will really begin with great defense.
Heat Beat Out Buck’s In Nailbiter.
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Game Summary
By the end of the first quarter, Miami was down by only two points- but to Milwuakee. I couldn’t help being a little worried midway through the second quarter when we were down by six. With help from Damon Jones, and Shaq- we were leading by 3 points at the half (51-48).. The third quarter was an equal battle, with the Bucks scoring 23, and our Miami Heat banking in 21 more points.
About halfway through the fourth, things looked bad- We were down by 5 points, Eddie Jones, and Shaquille O’Neal are both in foul trouble, and we are missing many open looks! Keith Van Horn is beggining to kill us, being almost automatic from behind the line late in fourth! EJ misses a shot at the end of regulation, and the score is 93-93..
You know what this means.. EXTRA MINUTES!!
At the start of overtime, Keith Van Horn comes up big for the Bucks hitting a tre.. What’s this? Former Buck Damon Jones comes right back and nails a three for the Heat.. Next Bucks possesion, who hits the long three? None other than Keith Van Horn. With the Heat down by 3, we need to stay alive, so wide open in the left corner is Damon Jones, whose three was in and out- but rebounded and slammed home by Shaq, who was fouled after the shot. You know what this means, Shaq at the line.. He misses the free throw, and Milwuakee takes it down court for the score..
Fast Forward: 3 minutes.. Heat down by 2, Rasual Butler misses the tying shot, which is rebounded by Bucks Center Joe Smith.. He takes it down court, and gives it to Sharpshooter Michael Redd, who throws the dagger in my heart by making the 15-footer..
Now, let’s do the Ms. Cleo, and read my mind, at this point I am thinking: ” Oh crap, we are screwed- Who would have thought, the Heat on a three game losing streak.. We are effed” I am contemplating on whether I should switch to ESPN and watch the Bills play the Patriots, instead of watching the final seconds tick away for this painful loss. The inbounds pass catches my eyes, so I stay tuned.. The man everyone has been dissing, EJ takes it to the hole to cut the lead to 2 points, but it is still the Bucks ball with 8 seconds on the clock.
Here is where it gets interesting- the open court pass to the red hot Keith Van Horn goes out of bounds with just 5.7 seconds on the clock. Ex-Florida Gator Udonis Haslem inbounds it to South Florida Native Keyon Dooling, who takes the ball all the way down the court for the score!!
Right now I am overtaken with emotion, yelling gleefully at my televisoin set in approval..
But in the Second Overtime, it is all Miami. Keith Van Horn goes for the last second three pointer, but misses it, and the Heat go on to win this close game! Oh, by the way- If you are still reading at this point, congratulations for staying up!
Notes: – EJ and Shaq both had 19 points for Miami.
______- Van Horn had 26 points for Milwuakee.
______- D. Jones had 44 minutes, 14 pts, and 8 assists in Wade’s absence.
______- Besides Shaq going 5/17 for FT’s, the rest of the team went 10/12
HFC’s Players Of The Game
-Miami Heat
Damon Jones
Eddie Jones
Shaquille O’Neal
Keyon Dooling
-Milwuakee Bucks
Keith Van Horn
Heat Fall to 4-2
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Despite Dwyane Wade being out with a sprained ankle, and a great effort from our bench the Heat fell to 4-2 against the San Antonio Spurs. The Heat will try to rebound on Sunday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
To stay in tune with the game, and your Miami Heat- Visit the Gameday forums at http://www.Miamiheatzone.com .
MiamiHeatWave.com
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MiamiHeatWave.com
Despite going 4-0 (W @ NJ, W vs. CLE, W @ Wash., W vs. Wash.), Your Miami Heat finally dropped a game against the Dallas Mavericks, but hope to rebound tonight (11/12) at San Antonio.
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