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Heat Make Lineup Changes
Riley pulled Jason Williams and Ricky Davis out of the starting lineup and inserted Chris Quinn and Anfernee Hardaway. The results, although early, look pretty good.
The Heat are showing a much more active defensive presence and are opening up the game a bit more on the offensive side of things. The Bobcats look befuddled, for a change, as the Heat’s adjust may have them off a bit. We’ll see…
Update:
Heat up 55-43 at the half, despite a clear goal tend from Jason Richardson on Ricky Davis’ final second shot. Got to like the way the Heat are playing tonight, although you have to wonder if this change is permanent or an experiment or just a knee jerk reaction. One thing is for sure – Riley is using his bench tonight, going like 10 deep. The team looks much more active on both ends of the floor. Only one more half to go…
Up-Update:
After three, Heat running things. Closed out the 3rd quarter with a 17-3 run. Wow. Not looking old tonight. Maybe Riley found something by bringing JWill and Ricky Ticky off the bench? Oh, and playing Cook and AJ isn’t hurting either.
Now…where is that DWright kid…
Final:
Heat end up scoring 110 and holding the Bobs to 90. 20 point win. A win, more importantly, but it looks like the Riley gimmick worked tonight. Let’s hope he sticks with it.
Stephon Marbury, Andre Miller or Mike Bibby?
There are some rumors swirling about that involve the Heat – and it can be somewhat scandalous.
The Heat are currently in the midst of getting the team to gel – Wade has returned and dropped 31 points on the Rockets to seal up the win. ‘Bout time, that is what the Heat were missing.
Or is it?
Seems that Riley is willing to give the team a few more weeks of experimentation and then the verdict on whether or not Andre Miller, Mike Bibby or Stephon Marbury could end up on Biscayne.
There are rumors already starting about each player being linked to the Heat.
Further Reading:
Andre Miller to Miami?
Stephon Marbury to Miami?
If the Knicks decide to keep Isiah, it could happen. If the 76ers decide that the new direction they were going in after shipping off AI isn’t working, then another new direction might require Miller time be in Miami.
Jason Williams is just not providing Riley with what he wants – an offensive threat. Williams looks much better, quicker and healthier, but his scoring drive is not there and his big play ability still seems somewhat diminished. Sure, he is a more mature player than ever before but the Heat just need more from him. Shooting under 40% on the season, and uner 30% from three point range is not helping matters. His FGAs per game remain at 9.3 – exactly the same as last season. Yet last season he hit 41% with chronic knee pain and this season he is shooting worse with supposedly healthy knees!
Riley has criticized JWill for his lack of agressiveness at times, opting instead to defer than take the shot. Williams needs to show a healthy dose of self interest at times and needs to initiate the offense at times by looking for his own shot.
If this trend continues, the Heat most definitely will be looking for a new starting PG. With Williams in his final year of his contract, he could be an attractive option to another team looking to clear up space whereas Miami is in win now mode.
And we’re back…
This time, it’s for real.
Miamiheatwave.com is back online – still working out a few kinks, but we are here! Go to the boards again, talk Heat all you want all the time – we are back and here for good.
Soon, we’ll have the main portal back online and the WIKI will be back up soon.
It has been a while, but we have been able to free ourselves from our old host and will now get back to talkin’ Heat all the time. There is a game tonight against Houston at 8pm! Go Heat!
MiamiHeatwave.com Making a Comeback
Well, we have left our old host (because they are a-holes, quite frankly) and starting up again.
Everythign, pretty much, has to be rebuilt – including the forums.
For now, check out the progress by either typing in MiamiHeatzone.com or by clicking on this link which will take you to the front end of the site – which is, of course, being rebuilt. Yet again.
Hang in there everyone, things will be returning to normal soon.
Riley Finally Realizes This Team Needs a Change
Riley’s comments are a bit too late.
He started to blast the team for underperforming against the Bobcats and now the Sonics, who had the Heat down by 20 at home. And Wade was making his debut.
Um, yeah. Now you noticed?
This team hasn’t gelled yet. Sure. And certainly this team is not full of lazy players who don’t want to win – that is coachspeak to help motivate the players. Hold them accountable in the media, and get them fired up.
But there are real problems here, too. It starts with Riley’s choices.
Letting Kapono go was not the worst thing that happened. He was just outpriced, overvalued. Bye. He’s overrated. The problem is that Riley didn’t replace him. Right now, teams are just forcing Miami to shoot and not giving them much to work with. That is, before Wade came back whose ability as a playmaker will help enhance the Heat’s offense.
What it really comes down to is Miami can’t shoot. Riley chose to keep Penny Hardaway and instead let a young shooter like Jeremy Richardson go. He also is not playing Dorell Wright or Daequan Cook – which means by keeping Penny, you also opted to put these young players back on the bench.
Now, it isn’t Penny’s fault – he is playing very well right now. But he isn’t breaking any zone defenses – which Cook, Wright and even a Jeremy Richardson could help do.
The other problem, which is bigger, is that Shaq is not a starter anymore. He is not even the best center on this team – that would be Zo. Then Joel Anthony. Then Shaq.
Shaq just doesn’t get it. You can’t absorb passes in the pivot and hold on the ball – it won’t score on its own. You have to put the ball in the hoop. Shaq just doesn’t have the lift anymore, and as a result he fouls a lot on his way to the basket. Everything is slow and predictable. If he had a hook shot, he could fake it better and keep his defenders off balance. But he doesn’t.
Shaq could use his excellent passing ability to keep defenders honest, but that would require his teammates to make shots – which they haven’t been.
Riley has some tough decisions to make – and it really should come down to benching Shaq and going against what Riley feels comfortable doing – playing the young players.
That means start Dorell Wright and don’t give him such a short lease – the kid can flat out play. You just have to give him a chance. Same goes for Cook, who just needs time and experience. Heck, you already have one of the worst records in the NBA. On the positive side, Wade is just getting back and this team has not played together much yet. Then again, the same could have been said about last year’s team, and even the year before that.
Riley has to start changing things, but he needs to point the finger at himself and get over his age-old bias of experience over youth.
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