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Primal Scream Exorcises Demons for Heat, James

May 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It resounded like an explosion behind closed doors. It wasn’t a statement, it wasn’t a word, it was just a scream. A primal, guttural scream. It was Lebron James. Finally, he could breath a sigh of relief. The Decision was not for naught, as he and his mates – Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh – lead the charge to overtake the big bullies on the block in the Boston Celtics.

And everything became lighter.

Whitewashed in a see of sparkling fans the Heat emerged from the 5 game series in the conference semifinals with a chance to take on the winner of the Chicago/Atlanta series. A chance to get a chance to play for the league championship. Yet, judging by the reactions, this series against the Celtics was so much more.

The Celtics were often noted for having a 3-1 advantage during the regular season against this Heat team. The Heat, meanwhile, were questioned and criticized about their abilities to close out games and win games from the half court set. They not only beat the Celtics, but they did so while playing excellent defense, overcoming obstacles and deficits, and having to shoulder most of the responsibility among the three players who joined forces to lead this team in precisely this minute.

Caught up in the moment was Lebron, who even shared an apology with fans in Cleveland about how things went down.

“I went through a lot, you know, with deciding to be here and the way it panned out, with all the friends and the family and the fans back home…I apologize for the way it happened.”

Perhaps it was the right moment to make The Apology. Some say it was. It doesn’t seem that an apology was really even necessary because Lebron calculated his decision and recognized that this was a “once in a lifetime” decision and had admitted, for the first time publicly, “I couldn’t do it by myself against that team”.

The emotions were not rehearsed, they were real. Lebron came to Miami to win. Wade invited Lebron and Bosh to Miami to win. Even Bosh, much maligned throughout the season by Heat fans and the press, got a catharsis out of this series with his gutsy performance in game 4. The celebration and elation from game 5 for this Heat team is just confirmation of not only this team’s arrival, but also the respect that this team has for the Celtics – which cannot be stressed enough.

The Heat had an enormous hole to punch through just to get to their conference finals. They even admitted that not playing Boston at some point this postseason wouldn’t have been right. They wanted the challenge. They assembled for this challenge. With Boston now gone, they have a chance to do more – live up to expectations.

The change in the media has already begun. Watching the talking heads of the major media outlets chew on crow was interesting in that they now started to note how, in some strange way, they doubted Lebron James and even Wade’s greatness. Chris Mullin called out the “haters” out there and stated that this team’s place in the league is among the elite. Even more interesting is the knee jerk reactions – on ESPN Jon Barry, Mullin, Jalen Rose, and host Stewart Scott began to debate if a James/Wade tandem matches up with Jordan/Pippen. Just having the discussion is enough.

Here are some quotes from Lebron James after last night’s closeout win:

Asked what were his thoughts as he knelt, James told reporters: “Everything went through my mind at that point. Finally getting over this hump against this team. Everything I went through this summer, with the decision and deciding to come down here…”

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Lebron Brings It Home; Changing of the Guard

May 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

For all of the talk about The Decision and the scrutiny of the entire season – this moment must feel good. To bring your team back from a tie ball game in the final minutes of game 5 with a chance to send the block’s meanest kids home, is nothing short of epic. Lebron James showed the kind of player that he is by hitting huge shot after huge shot to cement the Heat’s  97-87 win over the Celtics which ultimately decided the series.

After a Chris Bosh dunk that tied the game 87-87, Lebron James would go on to score the next four baskets for Miami, two threes, a steal which lead to a dunk, and a teardrop to put the final result etched in stone.

James would finish with 33 points on 11-20 shooting. He and Dwyane Wade (34 points) set the tone throughout the game while the Heat’s bench struggled to provide any offense and the Celtics did not go quietly leading for most of the game behind 49.3% shooting on the night.

At the end of the game, James was asked if Philadelphia was breakfast, how did lunch taste? Instead of taking the bait, James paid homage to the Boston Celtics, confessing they established the blueprint and the reason why Run DLC was formed with James teaming up with Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.

In a hard fought series, that saw the fresh-legged Heat drive and outrun the Celtics for stretches, it was the grind out possessions at the end of these past few games that determined the outcome. Critics were very skeptical of the Heat winning a game on the road, despite having an amazing road record. They also questioned whether or not the Heat could make plays down the stretch to close out games – they did this on back to back games against arguably one of the best defenses in the entire league.

The Celtics did not go quietly. Nor should they – they are proud champions who over the past few years dominated the East behind their Big Three +1. Tonight, they witnessed another Big Three overmatching them when it mattered and the Heat did it from a half court set and with Lebron James leading the way in the clutch. It would seem all the phantoms and doubts have been laid to rest – but there is another series to be had in order to represent the East in the Finals. And just getting out of the conference is not enough.

This series feels good, so wear it well Miami while the Bulls and Hawks battle for the right to be the next Heat meal. Just remember, that this was only lunch, dinner will be served and if the Heat are still hungry, they can go for dessert.

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Paul Pierce – Studio Gangster

May 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

He’s the kind of guy who would probably be the first to get his ass kicked if these games were played in the ‘hood. He’s the kind of chump player that just gets under your skin. Frankly, he’s the kind of player that makes me wonder why is he so good?

Heat fans, respect what Paul Pierce has done while in Boston. Respect the fact that he has made the most out of riding coattails with Antoine Walker in his heyday and now with the other 2 pieces in the big three. The Celtics are like the big brothers to the Heat, trying to rough them up and intimidate them even though young bucks are quicker, younger, and not scared. Guess the Celtics have yet to figure that out.

But there is another side to Paul Pierce that just rubs you the wrong way. It isn’t his soft game that he seems to think is so great but the way he tries to act tough while on the court. This is the reason why Udonis Haslem, a man who grew up forged in the fires of Liberty City here in the 305, called Pierce a “studio gangster”.

Let’s review:

It all started after the Celtics beat the Heat 112-107 in Miami for the second time in a row in just about two weeks. Pierce quipped, via his Twitter account, “It’s been a pleasure to bring my talents to south beach now on to Memphis”. UD didn’t like that. His response, “Man, ain’t nobody paying them dudes no attention, man. You know what studio gangster is? Look up that, look up the definition of studio gangster. I’m here to play basketball. First of all, I don’t tweet. So I wouldn’t know what he tweeted if you guys didn’t tell me.”

True, Udonis isn’t into tweeting. Not really his style. But that is the point – Pierce is the kind of guy who talks tough when he has his boys around. But on his own? His game has to be told, because it can’t be sold on its own. Again, look at what he did before KG and Ray Allen showed up. Nothing.

So most think that Pierce’s ejection was unwarranted on Sunday. They’d be wrong. The evidence is in the tape – the Celtics were far more aggressive physically against the Heat than the Heatles were with the Green. James Jones foul? Hardly anything out of line there. On a subsequent play, Wade tosses an ally to James for a dunk – and guess who was there? Paul Pierce. Watch the replay as James stares down Pierce afterwards.

What happens next? Pierce sets a cheap, hard screen on Wade as he cuts down the baseline trying to chase after Ray Allen (whose entire offensive game consists of shooting threes off of screens). Pierce lays into Wade, tries to flex his feeble arms like he was going to do something and balls up his fists, then apparently says something to Wade that would not be suitable for a family show like this (something along the lines of making a reference to Wade’s mom and Lebron James’ mom with Delonte West). Tech #2, gone.

Pierce is soft and is a dog whose bark is only loud when he has backup. He is what Udonis Haslem described. Now, the Heat just have to finish off the Celtics and end this budding rivalry.

Follow Paul Pierce’s Twitter feed and see what he posts now.

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Heat Pierce Celtics in Game One

May 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Heat did something they were unable to do all season: win two games in a row against team green.

The keys for the Heat in this series are going to be playing their hallmark team defense while creating as many fast break opportunities as possible. Getting higher percentage shots helps the Heat’s defense as they get set into their half court formation.

Well, things aren’t that simple. The Heat and the Celtics each had 10 fast break points. They each had 39 total rebounds and each team has 26 points in the paint. They even had similar turnover rates, the Heat has 16 while the Celtics had 13. Both teams also shit around 50% from the land of three, too.

The Heat did earn more trips to the free throw line. The Heat had 32 to the Celtics 18.

All these stats don’t really tell the story though. Dwayne Wade came out about three hours early so that he would be ready for the game. He has faced a lot of criticism over his performances against Boston. Maybe this is the story of this game?

Or maybe it was James Jones hitting his three point shots to give the Heat an initial offensive lift? The bench scoring for the Heat is another source of criticism.

Or will it be the toss of Paul Pierce? Boston fans will surely cite this as the reason why the Celtics couldn’t steal the game back. Truth be told, Pierce brought it on himself. After his attempt to make out with James Jones after a hard foul, Pierce proceeded to get dunked on by Lebron James on an ally oop from Dwyane Wade. Then, in frustration set a hard baseline screen on Wade. After which he proceeded to flex his scrawny arms as if to send a message to Wade. He tried to taunt him and send a message. And that was your story for this game. Right there in the feeble attempt of the Celtics to try to intimidate the Heat with their physical presence.

I’ve got news for you – you can’t intimidate guys like Wade and James. These guys have faced adversity before and all you are likely going to do is get them angry.

The Celtics better embrace for a longer fight. The Heat are better and perform better behind Wade’s leadership. Even Lebron followed; the reason he took his talents to South Beach was to team up with someone who he could work and win with.

Yet this series is far from decided. The Heat have to win game 2 just to hold serve. If Boston wins game 2 the momentum would shift. Let’s see what kind of mettle this Heat team is composed of.

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Heat V Celtics: Round 2

May 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

And so it begins. Is there any better way to start the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs for the Heat than to face off against the reigning Eastern Conference champs? The team they have been compared to all season – and a team the Heat has come up short against. Or so the critics continue to remind the NBA audience.

Yes, the Heat are 1-3 against the Celtics. And yest the Celtics swept their first round opponent, the Knicks, while the Heat kind of teetered around with their first round opponent the Sixers. Most say the Celtics are the favorites, and they have had a week off to rest while the Heat played one extra game over that span to put away their opponent.

So how will this series unfold? Will the Heat finally show they are ready and play this series like the 4th game of the regular season? Or will the Heat fall prey to early lethargy and have to spend the rest of their games trying to catch up to the Celtics?

Or will the Celtics age finally show, much like the Spurs in their first round series? Will Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce finally show cracks that their experience can’t fix? Sure, they are without Kendrick Perkins now, but for two games of the regular season series the Celtics were without him, too. The result was 1-1.

Right now, the Celtics should be considered the favorites. They have the experience, and they have the rest while the Heat had to fight for their advancement. Still, one cannot say that sitting around for a week is actually better than playing in live games during that span. All of these concerns won’t matter once the tipoff goes down at 3:30 this afternoon. It will come down to can the Heat prove themselves finally, once and for all. Can they get into the paint, can they get out and run? The Heat will win games when they score higher percentage baskets and set up their defense into half court sets. The Celtics will win games if they outrebound and force the Heat to become a jump shooting team.

Get ready for blood. Hide the kids. It’s going to be a great series.

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