With the win tonight over the Milwaukee Bucks the Heat improve to 39-34 on the season. It is a critical win for the Heat as they also put some distance between themselves and the Philadelphia 76ers – expanding their lead for the 5th spot to 1.5 games.
This is also critical as the Heat are scrapping to win games with only 9 left in the season. The Bulls are hot, the Pistons are not, and the Sixers are hanging tough despite losing Elton Brand for the remainder of the season.
The Heat want to get at least a 5th spot so that they can avoid a possible first round matchup with the Orlando Magic or Boston Celtics – neither team would be a good matchup for the Heat out of the gate. Then again, a series against the Hawks could swing either way, too.
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Shaq’s Back
Tonight will be a strange night of sorts for Heat fans because it was a little over a year ago that the Heat unpacked major heat by dealing Shaq to the Suns for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.
And neither player the Heat acquired in that deal is here. Instead, another O’neal is manning the middle in Miami.
Trading Shaq had to be done. He was costing the Heat $20M per season and he really wasn’t providing the Heat much in terms of production. He was oft-injured, grumpy and showing signs of wear. Yet now, in Phoenix, he is showing signs of rejuvenation on a team that badly needs him to be productive.
As for Miami, the Heat have turned things around since sending Shaq packing. The Heat finished with the worst record in the NBA last season, and tied their franchise low 15 win season, and managed to get the #2 pick in the draft. Now, the Heat are sitting 5th in the Eastern Conference playoff race with Dwyane Wade playing like an MVP candidate. The recent trade of Marion and Banks to Toronto for Jermaine O’neal and Jamario Moon is expected to help the Heat bolster their depth and their front court.
It is undeniable though that Shaq raised the level of this franchise upon his arrival in the summer of 2004. Jumping out of a big, black semi with water guns, he proceeded to promise the people of Miami a championship. Pat Riley had envisioned one when he came here, too. In 2006 both men realized this vision and it was brought to life by the stellar play of Finals MVP Dwyane Wade.
Wade’s reaction tonight to Shaq will be interesting to note. There isn’t any bad blood between the two players, like Shaq and Kobe had. There certainly isn’t the whisper of who needed who, as with Penny Hardaway once Shaq left. The Heat is Wade’s team now, and it arguably always was looking back. Shaq, however, made the Heat matter and it is through his efforts the Heat managed to hang its lone championship banner. We should remember Shaq for the good times, not the sour, grumpy, whiny bad ones he left behind.
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