Banged Up and Short-Handed, the Heat Still Take Down the Hawks

Yikes! LeBron and Josh Smith bang knees.

The Big Four were down to the Big Three again as D Wade was held out with “a cold”.  But with Bosh, Allen, and LBJ scoring the last 10, the Miami Heat downed the Atlanta Hawks 95-89. 

In a test of size/length (Horford, Smith, Pachulia) versus speed/heart (Battier, Bosh, and Haslem), it was basically a draw.  And that is all the Heat need when the play bigger teams because their “smalls” are so much better than everyone else’s. 

Amazing how Wade’s absence seemed to really affect the flow offensively and defensively.  But the Heat kept true to their rotation and kept Allen on the bench at the start, instead favoring Miller to fill in for wade.

Nice defense by Battier two sets in a row….. “Jeopardy Shane” outplayed Josh Smith early. 

Anthony Morrow is another one that got away.  Kid can score.

A pretty good game by Cole.  4 assists and no TOs.  Had some good penetration for scores and others for dishes.  Disruptive a bit.  Only bad play was passing up an open three and forcing LBJ to throw the ball up with the shot clock expiring.  Otherwise, Cole was a positive influence tonight.  

Twice, LeBron took Smith off the dribble for layups.  People actually thought Smith would be a LeBron Stopper?

I wish “charges taken” were officially published…. UD would have to be the per-minute leader.

Free throw attempts are really down so far this year.  After being third in 2010 and eighth last year, they are 23^rd so far this season.  An effect of better passing/shooting (and saving themselves for the playoffs???).

Josh Smith is the worst free throw shooter in the league today.  Wow.  He air-balled  one and clunked another in (off the backboard) in one trip to the line.  Horrible.  

LBJ’s day-to-day after going knee-to-knee with Josh Smith. Scary!

Jeff Teague had a nice game.  Can penetrate. 

Zaza v UD….. Love it.  Each using their best greco wrestling moves when covering each other.

In the third, with Wade out, Ray in foul trouble, and Bosh battling Atlanta’s height, it was Rashard with seven points when the Heat needed some offense outside of LBJ.  Continues to contribute in big ways for the Heat.

Heat got a lot of calls tonight.  Atlanta should be mad at the refs.

 

LBJ scoring over Stevenson with 13 seconds left to put the Heat up by four.  LeBron will never let that get old.  (I hate that guy.)

Another almost-trip-dub for James. 

A nice way to start a six-game road trip for the Heat. 

5-1.