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Double the Pleasure! Heat Beats Pistons; Double Win Total
Tonight Wade’s performance would not be washed out. Coming off his 50 point performance in the loss to the Magic, Dwyane Wade scored 31 points and dished out 16 assists in a win over the Detroit Pistons, who were looking to climb back up the playoff totem pole.
With a combined 81 points, Wade became the first Heat player since 1992 to score more than 80 points in back to back games.
More importantly, with the win tonight, the Heat doubled last seaso’s win total of 15 and are looking to solidify their spot in the playoff race. In fact, the Heat crept a little closer to idle Atlanta who is now only 2 games ahead of Miami for the 4th spot in the Eastern Conference.
Along with Wade’s impressive scoring was a more balanced Heat offensive attack. Jamario Moon, Daequan Cook, Jermaine O’neal, Udonis Haslem and Michael Beasley all scored double digits as the Heat rolled to a 103-91 victory. It was the Heat’s 22-8 run in the third quarter that provided the seperation they were looking for to secure the win at home.
Heat Slide Past Sixers; Looking for Magic Today
The scene was starting to look eerily familiar yesterday as the Heat hosted the Philadelphia 76ers in an afternoon game dedicated to celebrating Heat mascot Burnie’s 21st “birthday”. The Sixers almost spoiled the party.
The Heat are sitting in the 5th spot on the playoff totem pole and are looking to climb up. The Sixers, despite losing Elton Brand for the remainder of the season, are playing fast-paced basketball and staying in the race sitting a notch below the Heat at the 6th spot. They were looking to inch closer to the Heat and steal a game.
Much like the February 18th contest against the Timberwolves, the Heat jumped out to an early lead but struggled defensively through the 2nd quarter letting the Sixers not only catch up but take the lead. Alarmed, the Heat decided not for a repeat result and came out in the 3rd and 4th quarters more efficient on offense. Interestingly, the Heat’s offense was not solely provided by Dwyane Wade, but augmented by the new guys in the clutch – Jamario Moon and Jermaine O’neal combined to score 10 points in the final quarter.
Despite the Heat shooting over 50% from the field (.514%), and the Sixers struggling to find baskets (.371%), the Heat were unable to pull away. In fact, they were down by three with just under three minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. The Heat mounted an 8-0 run to take over the game and bring home the win. Udonis Haslem characterized the game as a “must-win situation”. O’neal remarked that he felt more comfortable and Moon looked more comfortable after airballing a shot but finishing with several dunks on passes from Wade.
“I’ve been working hard and we feel like we have a chance to keep building from here,” O’neal said. The Heat will face a tough test today, at 5:30pm on ESPN, as the Heat will have in-state rival Orlando coming to town. O’neal will have to find a way to get to Dwight Howard and limit the league’s best center. Last time the Heat played the Magic Howard was tossed in the final minutes due to technical fouls.
The Heat were able to successfully defend Andre Iguodala, who was just 4/16 from the field but were unable to stop Andre Miller who dropped 30 points on the Heat despite possibly being scratched from the game with a calf strain. If this is any indication of what the Heat are going to do defensively today, then they will have to focus on stopping newly acquired Rafer “Skip to my Lou” Alston who will looking to have a big game against his former team. Alston was acquired to fill the void for Jameer Nelson, who is most likely out for the remainder of the season.
Jermaine O’neal and Jamario Moon Make Their Heat Debut
Tonight the Heat take on the Timberwolves who are dealing with the aftermath of the Al Jefferson injury. Out for the season, Jefferson will be sidelined while watching the Heat utilize their newest acquisisiotns, Jermaine O’neal and Jamario Moon. Both players were acquired from the Raptors on February 13th.
The Heat are coming off a dramatic win over the Bulls that was aided by the final bucket fro Shawn Marion. Follow the game tonight along with us and talk about the new Heat players debuts.
Expect Jamario Moon to come off the bench while Jermaine O’neal should find his way in the starting lineup although playing limited minutes.
Daequan Cook Makes a Splash by Winning Three Point Shootout
Some questioned why he was here and if he could supplant ex-Heater Jason Kapono, the two time champion. Well, all Daequan Cook did was win the first round and hit his final four shots to tie the final with Rashard Lewis in dramatic fashion.
And how often have Heat fans seen Cook hit a shot in the clutch?
Now, the rest of the NBA galaxy has, too.
Rashard Lewis ran out of steam in the shootout for the crown, hitting only 7 points of a possible 30. Cook, however, came up to the rack full of smiles, with Dwyane Wade cheering him on from the sidelines, salivating for his chance at glory and hit 19 points to bring the title back to South Beach. It was a satisfying win, watching a Heat player derail Kapono for the crown.
That is what makes this kid special, in my opinion. Daequan Cook has an ability to hit the big shots and has no fear. In a situation like last night, in front of millions, he had the chance to choke as Rashard Lewis could only must 7 points. Cook didn’t flinch. He didn’t shrink from the chance but instead embraced it.
Now, Daequan Cook joins two other Heat three point champions – Jason Kapono in 2007 (who would then win last year as a member of the Raptors) and Glen Rice back in 1995. Rice won his title right here in the very same place Cook did – in Phoenix, Arizona.
In fact, much like Cook did, Rice had to halt a two time three point champion in Mark Price, who had won in 1993 and 1994.
More interestingly, the Miami Heat have the most three point champions (three) among the NBA teams in the contest’s 23 year history. The next nearest team is Chicago, with two victors (Craig Hodges ‘90-92 and current Suns GM Steve Kerr in 1997).
Closing the Book on Rumors
There were a lot of rumors about who the Heat would be trading with coming down to the February 19th deadline – which we have addressed here in the past.
Interestingly, Ira Winderman laid out some of the last minute scenarios that may have gone down. Glad to see the Vince Carter deal didn’t go through as “half-man, half-lazy” would have been a good thing on paper alone. It would drive me – and probably Dwyane Wade crazy – watching his see-saw game night in and night out as he hoisted up threes one night and started ball-hogging the next.
I still think the Kings scenario, with Brad Miller and Kenny Thomas, would have been a pretty good deal – except they weren’t willing to take on Marcus Banks’ contract. The Heat would have gotten an adequate center, but clearly in Jermaine O’neal they get a more dynamic offensive weapon. The only question is his health.
At any rate, this is a deal the Heat needed to make. The Heat are among the worst in the league in getting production from the center position. When you have a carousel of Jamal Magloire, Joel Anthony and Mark Blount, that is to be expected. And the term “three headed monster” more than likely implies disastrous effects for the Heat than their opposition.
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