Written By:

Bran Faurschou

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.

Florida Flame Roster Review

In honor of Dorrell Wright and Earl Barron’s assignment to the NBDL, here is a review of the Flame’s roster, which was done prior to their season…

Point Guards
Andre Barrett: The 1st round draft pick of the Florida Flame and 1st pick overall in the 2005 NBDL draft, the 5-11, 175-pound guard played 38 games, 27 with the Houston Rockets and 11 with the Orlando Magic, during the 2004-05 season. He had an eFG% of 42% and a true shooting percentage of 45% while averaging 3.1 points, 1.8 assists, and 0.7 steals in 12.7 minutes per game. Barrett shot 27% from behind the arc and had an assists to turnover ratio of 2.57.

In 2003-04, his final season in college with the Seton Hall Pirates, Barrett averaged 17.3 points, 5.9 assists, and 3.9 rebounds in 36.1 minutes per game (19.2 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per 40 minutes). He had a strong eFG% of 54% and a true shooting percentage of 58% while shooting 38% from 3-point range. His assists to turnover ratio was only 2.3 and he did commit 2.6 turnovers per game (2.9 turnovers per 40 minutes). But Barrett shot 76% from the foul line in 3.8 attempts per game (4.2 attempts per 40 minutes).

Look for Barrett to make the team and start at point guard. He needs to improve his ballhandling and passing to succeed in the NBDL, since it’s unlikely he will start at shooting guard because of his size.

E.J. Rowland: The Flame’s 6th round draft pick in the 2005 draft, the 6-2, 190-pound guard is coming from St. Mary’s University in California, where he played 4 seasons for the Gaels.

In 2004-05, Rowland averaged 11.0 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game while also averaging 3.0 turnovers in 33.1 minutes per game (13.3 points, 4.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.6 turnovers per 40 minutes). He had an eFG% of 43% and a true shooting percentage of 50% while shooting 31% behind the arc. He had an assists to turnover ratio of only 1.30 and shot only 69% from the free throw line while taking 4.6 free throws per game (5.5 per 40 minutes).

Rowland had much more success in the 2003-04 season, when he had an eFG% of 49% and a true shooting percentage of 54% while shooting 31% from 3-point range. His assists to turnover ratio that year was 1.35 and he averaged 13.3 points per game (16.1 per 40 minutes). Rowland only shot 64% from the foul line that year, however, on 5.7 attempts per game (6.9 per 40 minutes).

If Rowland makes the team, look for him to back up Barrett and Bailey. He needs to improve every aspect of his game to have success in the NBDL. Rowland likes to penetrate and is a playmaker, but he must to cut down on his turnovers and bring his shooting up to 2003-04 levels. His free throw shooting needs to improve as well.

Shooting Guards
Bracey Wright: The 2nd round draft pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves (47th overall) in the 2005 NBA draft, the 6-3, 210-pound guard was sent to the Flame along with teammate Dwayne Jones on November 4. Wright played college ball with the Indiana Hoosiers for 3 seasons prior to being drafted.

In 2004-05, his final season with the Hoosiers, Wright averaged 18.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.6 turnovers in 35.3 minutes per game (20.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.9 turnovers per 40 minutes). He had an eFG% of only 48%, but had a true shooting percentage of 55%. However, Wright only shot 33% behind the arc and had an assists to turnover ratio of only 1.03. He did shoot 78% from the line on 6.2 attempts per game (7.0 per 40 minutes).

Look for Wright to start for the Flame at shooting guard next season. He needs to improve his ballhandling and passing to succeed in the NBDL.

Ricky Shields: The 2nd round draft pick of the Flame in the 2005 draft, 6-4, 190-pound guard is coming from Rutgers, where he played 4 seasons for the Scarlet Knights.

In 2004-05, Shields averaged averaged 13.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 turnovers in 31.6 minutes per game (16.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.2 turnovers per 40 minutes). He had an eFG% of 46% and a true shooting percentage of 50% while shooting 34% behind the arc. However, Shields had an assists to turnover ratio of only 1.50. He shot 77% from the free throw line on 2.5 attempts per game (3.2 per 40 minutes).

Expect Shields to make the team and back up Wright at shooting guard since Chris Brooks and Torrian Jones have been cut. He needs to improve his shooting, ballhandling, and passing to make it in the NBDL.

Small Forwards
Jonathan Moore: The 4th round pick of the Flame in the 2005 draft, the 6-8, 220-pound small forward is coming from college, where he played 2 seasons for East Carolina before transferring to North Carolina Central and playing his final 2 collegiate seasons there.

In 2004-05, Moore averaged 19.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.1 steals in 36.1 minutes per game (21.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per 40 minutes). 27% of his rebounds were offensive boards and 73% of his rebounds were defensive boards. Moore had an eFG% of 51% and a true shooting percentage of 55%, though he only shot 33% from 3-point range. He only averaged 2.1 assists per game last season (2.4 per 40 minutes) and had an assists to turnover ratio of only 0.67, so don’t expect him to be handling the ball much this season. Moore shot only 67% from the free throw line, though he did take 5.5 attempts per game last season (6.1 per 40 minutes).

Expect Moore to start at small forward this season unless Dorell Wright or Gerald Green are sent down to the NBDL from their respective teams. Moore needs to improve his free throw shooting, ballhandling and passing while continuing to shoot and rebound the ball well to succeed in the NBDL.

Josh Gross: The 9th round pick of the Flame in the 2005 draft, the 6-5, 190-pound Gross is coming from college, where he played for UNC-Greensboro.

In 2004-05, Gross averaged 9.7 points and 5.4 rebounds in 25.2 minutes per game (15.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per 40 minutes). Gross had an eFG% of 56% and a true shooting percentage of 58% while shooting a very strong 41% from 3-point range. However, Gross had an assists to turnover ratio of only 0.30 (he averaged 1.9 turnovers-3.0 per 40 minutes- and only 0.6 assists-1.0 per 40 minutes last season). He also only shot 68% from the free throw line on 1.9 attempts per game (3.0 per 40 minutes) despite shooting 86% from the line in 2003-04.

Expect Gross to back up Moore and Beck at small forward this season, if he even makes the team at all. If Dorell and/or Green are sent down to the NBDL, he may have to play elsewhere. His shooting is excellent, but he must improve his free throw shooting, ballhandling, passing, and size to make it long-term with the Flame.

Power Forwards
Theron Smith: One of the Flame’s allocation players, the 6-8, 230-pound forward played 33 games for the Charlotte Bobcats last season. He played college ball at Ball State University and had a strong 2001-02 campaign before tearing his ACL in a workout for the Toronto Raptors during the summer of 2002. Recurring tendinitis caused him to miss all but 3 games of the 2002-03 season and as a result, he went undrafted.

In 2004-05, Smith averaged 2.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game with the Bobcats in 33 games (7.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per 40 minutes). He had an eFG% of just 33% and a very poor true shooting percentage of just 37%. When he was on the court, he rebounded 22% of his team’s offensive rebounds and 24% of their defensive rebounds. Though he shot 88% from the free throw line, Smith only took 0.5 free throws per game (1.3 per 40 minutes).

In his junior year at Ball State in 2001-02, Smith averaged 19.6 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while shooting 51% from the field, 38% behind the arc, and 74% from the free throw line. He led the MAC in double-doubles that season with 23 and was a candidate for the Wooden Award (given to the most outstanding men’s a
nd women’s college basketball players) in 2002-03 before the recurring tendinitis ended his season after just 3 games.

Expect Smith to start at power forward this season if Jones is started at center. He needs to improve his shooting and size, but he was good enough to play in the NBA last season. Hard to go wrong with that. However, there is the possibility of a better option being sent down from an NBA team.

Hiram Fuller: One of the holdovers from last season’s Flame, the 6-9, 240-pound forward/center played college ball at Fresno State before leaving in 2003.

In the 2004-05 season with the Flame, Fuller averaged 13.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 30.1 minutes per game (18.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per 40 minutes). 35% of his rebounds were offensive boards and 65% of his rebounds were defensive boards. Fuller had an eFG% of 49% and a true shooting percentage of 55%. He shot 72% from the free throw line on 5.7 attempts per game (7.5 per 40 minutes).

Expect Fuller to back up Jones (if he is played at power forward) and Smith. Fuller seems to be too undersized to play center. He is an efficient shooter, gets to the line, and rebounds the ball well, but just isn’t as talented as Jones and Smith. Fuller also needs to improve his offensive rebounding.

Centers
Dwayne Jones: Undrafted out of St. Joseph’s, the 6-11, 250-pound forward/center was signed by the Timberwolves as a free agent on August 26. He played 3 seasons of college ball for the Hawks before declaring for the draft.

In 2004-05, he averaged 10.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks in 34.8 minutes per game for the Hawks (11.6 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per 40 minutes). 38% of his rebounds were offensive boards while 63% of his rebounds were defensive boards. He had an eFG% of 51% and a true shooting percentage of 54%. Jones shot a poor 54% from the free throw line, but took 6.9 attempts per game (7.9 per 40 minutes).

Expect Jones to start at power forward or center this season (most likely center so that Smith is able to start at power forward) unless Earl Barron is sent down from the Miami Heat. Jones is very athletic for his size and plays his game mostly in the paint. He needs to improve his offensive rebounding to an extent and his man-to-man defense. His problem may be that he declared for the draft a year too early.

George Leach: The Flame’s 5th round pick in the 2005 draft, the 6-11, 245-pound center played college ball at the University of Indiana before graduating in 2004 and playing with the Gulf Coast Bandits of the World Basketball Association in 2005.

In 2005 with the Bandits, Leach averaged 7.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 18 games. 38% of his rebounds were offensive boards and 62% of his rebounds were defensive boards. He had an eFG% of 50% and a true shooting percentage of 55%. He took 3.2 free throws per game, but only hit 65% of them.

In 20 games in 2004 with the Hoosiers, Leach averaged 9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in 25.6 minutes per game (14.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per 40 minutes). 35% of his rebounds were offensive boards and 65% of his rebounds were defensive boards. He had an eFG% of 49% and a true shooting percentage of 53%. However, he only took 3.1 free throws per game (4.8 per 40 minutes) and hit only 69% of them.

Expect Leach to back up Jones at center if he makes the team. If Barron is sent down, Leach could struggle for minutes as 3rd string center. However, his shooting and shot blocking gives him the nod. However, he needs to improve his rebounding and free throw shooting.

Possibilities for the Flame
Dorell Wright: Wright got virtually no playing time last season, playing in only 3 games (in two of those games, he played garbage time minutes). He had an eFG% of 27.3% and a true shooting percentage of 61.2%. He averaged 1.33 steals and 1.0 turnover in 9 minutes per game (5.9 steals and 4.4 turnovers per 40 minutes). Nothing can be taken from these numbers considering the very small sample size. In the 2005-06 preseason, Wright had an eFG% of 47.8% and a true shooting percentage of 50.6% in 7 games. He averaged 1.37 steals and 3.62 turnovers per 40 minutes. However, nothing can be taken from these numbers either since they came in only 7 games.

If Wright is sent down, expect him to start at shooting guard or small forward and refine his skills. He has unbelievable athleticism and speed, but needs to improve his shooting and fundamentals in general.

Earl Barron: He had an eFG% of 49.9% last season in the NBDL for the Huntsville Flight. Barron’s true shooting percentage for the Flight was an above average 56.1%. He shot 81% from the foul line and took 5.7 free throws per 40 minutes. He averaged 8.8 rebounds per 48 minutes but most importantly, 42% of his rebounds were offensive boards (3.7 offensive boards per 40 minutes). He wasn’t much of a shot blocker (0.97 blocks per 40 minutes) despite his height, but he didn’t turn the ball over much either (2.1 turnovers per 40 minutes).

Expect Barron to start at center if he is sent down to the NBDL from the Heat. He is a very good shooter and free throw shooter. However, he needs to improve his rebounding. 8.8 boards per 48 minutes isn’t enough from a 7-0 center.

Gerald Green: The 6-8, 195-pound shooting guard is coming from Gulf Shores High School in Texas. He has excellent athleticism and is a good penetrator who can shoot the mid-range jumper. He is tall enough to create mismatches at the shooting guard position, though he needs to get bigger. He was arguably the best athlete in the NBA Draft.

Expect Green to start at shooting guard (with Wright starting at small forward) if sent down from the Boston Celtics. He needs to get bigger to make it in the NBA. The fact that he is very coachable can only help with his progress.