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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.
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