Heat Dominate Fourth Quarter to Sweep Season Series vs. Pistons.

                        

There was a time when the above headline would have meant something. But alas, this is not 2005 and these Pistons have been in disarray all season. Players have been in open mutiny and refer to head coach John Keuster as Sean Penn (in honor of the 1995 film "Dead Man Walking") None of this seemed to matter, however, for the first three quarters of tonight's game at the Palace. Miami was playing sloppy and looked markedly uninspired in Mike Bibby's first start at point guard for the Heat. Detroit took advantage by shooting the ball very effectively: over 60% in the first half. 

Despite the overal lackluster play of the Heat in the first two quarters, Mike Bibby's three point shot right before half-time cut the Pistons' lead to only two at 55-53. Detroit was able to extend the lead to 11 midway through the third quarter and it looked like maybe Miami may have taken the troubled Pistons squad for lightweights. At the end of three, Detroit led by 8.

This is where the fun began. The Heat opened the fourth quarter on an unbelievable 15-0 run. Detroit did not, in fact, even score until the 6:25 mark on a Tracey McGrady jump shot. When the dust had settled, Miami had won their sixth game in the last seven by a margin of 100-94. Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Lebron James had a "mediocre" night: 19 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and Bosh chipped in 23 points and 7 boards. The win helps Miami move closer to the Celtics in the race for the number two seed in the Eastern Conference as Boston lost to Memphis.

Though many have written off Miami's chances at rising above a #3 seed, Boston has not played well since trading Perkins and Chicago has to cool off at some point, don't they? The point being: don't count out any team with the two-time reigning MVP and an NBA Finals MVP/NBA All-Star Game MVP playing side by side. That would seem foolish. 

Mario Chalmers minutes were distributed to Eddie House and James Jones and perhaps the Heat felt his absense more than would have been expected. However, role players have been contributing less and less as the season has progressed. Tonight was no exception as, outside the Big 3, only Mike Miller scored in double figures.

Detroit outrebounded Miami 37-34. They were led in scoring by Rip Hamilton with 27.

Ben Wallace was out with a sore knee.

The Heat are 28th in the league in assists. Why? Maybe because they are tied for 1st in FG%.

Miami is 13-0 when the Big 3 all shoot at least 50% from the field.

Next up: Friday night vs. the Sixers.