A Heat December Recap

Wake the Heat when December is over.

Been a lot going on the personal family front lately.  Birthdays, holidays, pregnant wife, new house.  With all this, I had to take some time off from blogging.  Here's a recap of the last few weeks....

The Heat's defense is coming around. They are closing out better against threes.  Norris Cole, Joel Anthony, and Udonis Haslem playing more means more defense, and with the Big Four, the offense was never a problem.

Cole has developed into a positive off the bench.  His offensive game is still not above average, but his defensive pressure on opposing PGs has helped the Heat regain some defensive footing.

Haslem is starting again, and his shot going in a tiny bit more. Defensive skills are still there.

Chris Bosh is really, really good, but still not pronounced during every game.

Ray Allen is a really bad defensive player.

Dwyane Wade is still great.  But he now treats his skills like fine wine; he only breaks them out on special occasions (which is just fine, since the playoffs are always special occasions).

LBJ is still the best on the planet.  Regardless of Durant "continuing to develop", and Melo "finally playing team basketball".   LeBron is the King.

The Heat are really good.  They are clearly biding their time.  They play to their competition, which makes the early season very frustrating for Heat fans.

And now for the games:

106-90 win home vs NO: Not compelling.  Coming off the Knicks game, they did nothing but what they were supposed to do; beat a bad team badly.

101-92 win home vs Atlanta: Nice win over a good team that was surging.

97-95 loss home vs Golden State:  In retrospect, the Warriors are a pretty darn good team.... not shocking the Heat would play too down to a surprisingly good opponent and lose.

102-72 win home vs Washington: Another sign that the Heat play when they want to... a crushing, avenging win against a bad team that had beat them days before.

103-92 win home vs Minn: Heat's lack of size exposed again (by getting smashed on the boards 53-24), but their talent won out (and overall athleticism apparent by out-blocking the bigger Wolves 14-1).

110-65 win @ Dallas:  The Mavs are not the team that beat Miami in the Finals two years ago.... Nice to see Cuban's poor planning result in a poor product.

105-89 win home vs Utah.  Bosh out sick, but the remaining Big Two are too much.

105-97 win home vs OKC.  The biggest game of the season, the biggest win of the season.  Proving the Heat are the best and play when they feel like it.

105-92 win @ Charlotte.  Too close a game against a bad team on a back-to-back after the Christmas Day emotional win vs OKC, but you take it and move on.

109-99 loss @ Detroit.  Really?  Back to driving you crazy by not showing up.

104-85 loss @ Milwaukee.  And why not make it bad two losses in a row because it's December.

20-8

"Let's Go New York" Chanted at a Knicks Game.... In Miami

How does this guy keep beating the Heat?

If Tuesday was horrible, tonight was whatever-word-is-worst-than-horrible.

Of all teams.

Of all places.

At all times.

To lose to the Knick???

By 20.

W.

T.

F.

Steve Novak?

18-43 from three?

Why don't the Heat shoot 43 threes?

I hate the Knicks.

A double alley-oop; wasted.  One of LBJs most powerful dunks I've seen; wasted.  Playing the Knicks without Melo; wasted.

After losing to the Wiz on Tuesday, Thursday was supposed to be a make-good night.  Supposed to show everyone that the Heat could turn it on as needed.

Instead, Thursday stands as a night that allows for those that question the Heat's defense, effort, and concentration to say "I told you so".

Let's just hope that those saying "It's a long season" turn out to be right, because right now, it looks like it could be a long season.

12-5

To Play Hard Or Not To Play Hard

A better celeb friend, and then this.

The tale of two teams.

Not the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat; the low-energy Heat and the high-energy Heat.

Miami continued their In-Game Maintenance Program for the first 2.5 quarters of tonight's match.  Brooklyn built a double-digit lead, and the defending champs looked like they were sleep walking.

Then, just like that, the Heat decided they couldn't wait till late in the fourth to wake up.  They turned up the intensity level on both sides of the ball and closed with a 16-37 run, beating the Nets 89-102.

On this night, LeBron took a back seat to D Wade as the latter showed his nagging knee and ankle injuries won't be affecting him every game.  He scored a season high 34 points, with many throw-back type Wade drives.  His high-light play coming off a slightly-higher than needed alley-oop from Ray Allen (over Kris Kardashian).  His best since Game 6 in the Indy series last year.

Is Andre Blatche (another) one that got away???  He could have been had with a minimum contract.  And I don't buy the possible "locker room issues"; not with this team of champs and vets.  Not to mention trying him out to "see how it goes" and dumping as needed is pretty effortless.  Especially with his upside (and the Heat's size limitations).

Bosh has a horrible night, not scoring in the first half.  Finishing with as many rebounds as Norris Cole (2).

UD came up big in the second half with six second-half rebounds and good defensive effort (+17 for the game).  Heart, defense, rebounding.  If only his jumper could make its way back.

Cole was a nice spark off the bench.

The Nets strategy to trap at the end pretty much didn't work.  The Heat busting it with fun stuff like a James layup and Allen three.

The Heat have played the toughest schedule in the league (by winning percentage), and are tied for the best record.

12-3

Groundhog Day In The 305

The only thing missing was Bill Murray

The story line replays itself again... Again!!!!

The Heat play an over-matched opponent and win 100-105, thanks to another late-game comeback by LBJ and Ray Ray.

[Since the Miami Heat showed up for 10 percent of the game (figuratively), and the six-best San Antonio Spurs players didn't show at all (literally), this post'll be 80 percent shorter than usual (sadly).]

This cycle must stop.

Ray Allen with ANOTHER game-winning three to put the Heat up within the last 30 seconds. 

The Heat are better than the Spurs at resting their stars during the regular season. Instead of openly sending their stars home, they tell them to rest DURING the game. That has to be what is going on here.

LBJ is the best.  This night's highlight a killer eurostep against Splitter with minutes remaining.  Wow.

11-3

Going To The Well One More Time; Heat Come From Behind To Win Again

Ray Allen breaks Sideshow's heart.

What the heck was that?  Did it really need to be that hard?  Scoring the last nine points to come back from seven down with 1:50 left to win 108-110 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.  

The story lines remain the same in this one.  No-name kid has career game (Omri Casspi).  Turnovers hunt the Heat (18 this time).  The other team team kills it from three (14-31).  And the Heat still find a way to come around at the end to win (this time it was Ray Ray with 15 in the 4th).  

Any talent gap that exists coming into a game is made up for by the opposing team playing up to the Heat and Miami playing down to the competition   I hope all of this means they'll be that more fresh for the playoffs.  

Shane Battier continues the hot hand, shooting 3-5 from deep.  But then went out in the third with a knee sprain.  We'll need to keep an eye on this.

Mike Miller shows up in the first quarter again.  He's healthy and talented.  But he passed two open threes; that is not why he's here.  

Pathetic second period for the Heat. 

You wouldn't know that Cleveland is coming off the back-to-back.  Heart goes a long way in the NBA.

Allen was actually off early, but it didn't matter by the end.  Cold blooded when it counts.  

I'm not sure if it's because he's smart and knows that you need to make a foul count, or if it's because he's smaller than the bigs he covers, but whatever it is, Shane Battier is an excellent hard-fouler (there is typically no plus-one opportunities .  

Miller getting to loose balls in the third that started getting Miami back into the game.  

With Battier out, why no Rashard Lewis?  

For 10 years, Wade has given the Heat much happiness and much frustrations.  You need to live with it with him bacause you don't want him to alter his game, but the two fouls on long shots (a three and a two with-a-foot-on-the-line) drives you crazy.   He still came up big, tho, with a block on the final attempt to win the game for the Cavs. 

At the end, Allen gets wide open because Wade passes to James in the elbow.  He then gets triple teamed and finds Allen.  Such is life for the Heat.

Miami now has five days to figure out how to limit the mistakes, close out on threes, and play a complete game.  Otherwise, on Thursday, all of these will be exposed by the team tied with Miami for the second best record in the league, the San Antonio Spurs.  

10-3

Heat down Bucks in OT

A reason to celebrate for UD.

On the night that Udonis Haslem moved atop the Heat all time rebound record, the Heat moved past the Bucks, 106-113 in OT.

Haslem has to be on the top of any Heat fan's list.  The heart and grit are off the charts.  He still remains co-team captain in year three of the The Big Three based on the respect he has from his teammates.  He should be a model for every kid that isn't the most talented.  My favorite Haslem moment:  The come back against the Chicago Bulls in the '11 playoffs.... he was tring to dunk on everyone.

Came into the game thinking it would be tough covering two quicker one guards.  Ellis and Jennings finished with a combined 28 points on 13 for 41 shooting.  Interesting.

Different rotations for the Heat in this one.  Mike Miller in the game early, a Joel Anthony showing, and no Rashard Lewis.  More defense than offense from the subs.  You can do that when your 4 top plays put up 97 points for you.

Sam Dalembert???? Really?????  His first three of his career, and a SportCenter Top Play with his through-the-legs pass?????  

Norris Cole did well.  Pressure on the ball.  Nice finds on a Bosh three, UD slip, and Bosh dunk.  Ended with a season high 6 dimes (a number he surpassed only one time his career).

The game started with the Heat hot and Bucks cold.  Then things went 180 degrees.

When scoring was tough for Miami, I found myself wishing the heat would go to  Bosh more.  He ended with 24 points and 18 rebounds.  Big game!

John Henson?  Another career high for someone playing the Heat this year.  Amazing.

More missed free throws.... Ended 23 for 33.

Amazing how a team this talented constantly leans on LBJ when they need someone to do something.  Then he gets everyone else involved and things get back on track.

In the fourth and OT, the Heat really did put it in another gear.  The Big Four were in full affect, scoring the last 33 for Miami.  It's nice to have these guys.


Reminder: Heat fans get Philly's first round pick this year.  They need to lose.

9-3

LeBron Feeling Hot in Phoenix

This guy sick is still better than your guy healthy.

A feverish James.  No Wade.  Banged up Chalmers.  No threes from Allen. Sixth straight road game.  And the Heat still win 97-88 against the Pheonix Suns.

(Writing this type of intro is getting redundant, but better than using the issues as an excuse for a lose.)

The Big Four were the Big One Point Five tonight.

Bosh providing the Big One, shooting 9-11 while going for 24, nine rebounds, three assists, a steal and two blocks (along with 5 turnovers).

LeBron James supplied the Point Five while playing sick with flu symptoms. He left the game temporarily in the first quarter due to sickness.  Had only one jumper fall in the second half.  But he still managed 41 minutes played, 21 points, seven rebounds, and a huge layup at the end.  A Big Point Five is better than most Regular-Sized Ones.

Ray Allen played pedestrian tonight   Not a three attempted, three turnovers, and his shaky D persists.

Shane Battier continued his hot shooting, going 4-8 from downtown.  Only if this can be maintained for the whole season!

Before thinking UD's done, look at his per minute rebounds, shooting percentage, and scoring efficiency.  In these terms, he's having one of his better seasons.  And this isn't counting his heart, which is a key Heat stat.

Not much to see here, folks.  Another nice win for the Heat considering the circumstances.  They now head home for some deserved rest after going 4-2 on their longest road trip of the season.

Next game: Wednesday vs the Bucks.

8-3