Miami rides hot start to easy win over New Jersey
by David Dwork on Apr 4, 2011 5:00 AM EDT
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Like they have done so many times this season, the Miami Heat took care of business last night and beat a team that they were supposed to beat. For the second year in a row, Miami swept the season series against the New Jersey Nets. For the Heat, the win was their 54th of the season and it kept them a half game ahead of Boston for 2nd place in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics also won last night, beating Detroit at home, but the win was costly for the boys from Boston.
They have been thin at the center position of late, especially after dealing away Kendrick Perkins at the trade deadline, but last night things were looking up as they welcomed Shaquille O'Neal back in the lineup. Shaq had been out since straining his Achilles' tendon on February 1st and looked good in his return, for about 5½ minutes. Then early in the 2nd quarter O'Neal limped to the Celtics locker room with what they are calling a strained right calf.
The injury isn't being called serious, but Boston fans have been down that road before. When Shaq injured his Achilles' he was only expected to be out a few games, but here we are over two months later talking about his first game back. Shifting our attention back to Miami, they did something else last night that was fairly significant. Their win over New Jersey, combined with the Orlando Magic losing in Toronto, clinched the Southeast Division title for Miami.
While I'm sure that Erik Spoelstra and the rest of the Heat are pleased about claiming the division, they still have some much more important goals to work towards. Last night against the Nets you could tell that Miami showed up ready to work. They went on a 13-0 run and never looked back, jumping out to a 17-4 advantage in the games first 4:17, a lead the Heat would never relinquish.
No win ever comes easy though, and Miami fans had to endure quite a scare during that dominant 1st quarter. Dwyane Wade bruised his right thigh while defending Travis Outlaw on a fast break, pulling himself out of the game and heading straight to the locker room to treatment. Thankfully he returned for the 2nd half and played his usual amount of minutes, finishing the game with 18 points in 27 minutes of work.
GAME NOTES
- LeBron James was his usual self, almost picking up a triple double. He finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals.
- The 31 points brought his season total to 1998. When he reaches 2000, that will make him just the 7th player in NBA history to crack 2k points in 7 consecutive years.
- LeBron also turned the ball over 7 times, his highest total since a late November win over the Wizards.
- One final note on James...he now has scored in double figures in all 75 games he has played for Miami. That ties him with Alonzo Mourning for the 3rd longest streak in Heat franchise history.
- Erik Spoelstra used two centers last night and both made major contributions offensively. Big Z and Erick Dampier combined to score 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting.
- Dampier did a great job against Brook Lopez, absolutely dominating him on the boards. Damp came away with 14 rebounds while Lopez grabbed just 3.
- James Jones finished with 10 points and 4 rebounds. In his last three games, Jones is shooting 76.9% from the field and has mad 8-of-10 from downtown.
- Returning to action was Mario Chalmers after missing 6 games with a sprained right knee. He played 17 minutes, going 1-of-5 from the field and finishing with 3 points and an assist.
- The Heat improved to 26-13 away from home, the best road record in the Eastern Conference.
Miami now gets a few days off before returning home to play Milwaukee on Wednesday. Tipoff will be at 8pm as the game will be Nationally televised on ESPN.
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Couple things here ..
• The Big 3 NEED TO PLAY LESS. I almost could care less about the 2 seed if our guys are tired. Coming into this game LBJ played 17 straight 40 minute games and three straight 43+ minute games. I know our depth was small at the moment but sheesh!
• 43 point last night for non Big 3 players.
And Dave is there anything I can do here to help out? I’m not too strong in the writing department but everything else is good
** I'm No Ms. Cleo... But even a dummy can SEE that i'm a Fan Of a future DYNASTY**
by 1-THE H3ATLES-6 on Apr 4, 2011 5:37 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Yeah, I agree about getting big 3 some rest/overall health of the team is the most important thing at this point...
Wade is probably fine, but no injuries now please—second seed would be nice; get some rest Heat.
"When a hurricane damaged my father's house, my brother rushed over with a gas grill, three coolers of beer, and an enormous F**k-It Bucket - a plastic pail filled with jawbreakers and bite-size candy bars. ("When s**t brings you down, just say 'f**k it,' and eat yourself some motherf*****g candy.")"
— David Sedaris
Do you think this is an issue come playoff time?
People keep saying how the Bulls bench won’t matter in the playoffs because rotations shorten, however, is it possible for the Heat’s rotation to shorten? I mean, the Big 3 already play a TON of minutes. (Yes, I am a Bulls fan, and no, I’m not trolling, I want some good basketball talk. I’ve been thinking about this and I wanna know what you guys think. Thanks).
never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...
by wrigleyrocker12 on Apr 4, 2011 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions
The regular season is such a grind...
and I do hope the Big 3 can get some rest—I would like the Heat 2nd overall Wade getting nicked up was enough for me to think be smart about it. No back to backs in playoffs so that helps, but the Big 3 will have to lead as usual; the main thing the Heat need from the bench is to make a few shots—MM, Rio or Bibby, JJ, House, ect. In big games against the Bulls and the C’s, guys did not make them with a lot of the open.
Korver certainly had no problem—cold, right off the bench, bang. The Bulls are the team to beat in the East for sure and that bench has a lot to do with it, but the Heat lost to the Bulls by 4, 3, and 1.
I hope the Heat get Bosh in the post; they need a post presence and he is the best option even if it is not his forte. Boozer is way underrated IMO—great to the back low post scorer who can hit the midrange and get you 10 boards; there are not many guys like that in the league. Great inside out combo with him and Rose.
"When a hurricane damaged my father's house, my brother rushed over with a gas grill, three coolers of beer, and an enormous F**k-It Bucket - a plastic pail filled with jawbreakers and bite-size candy bars. ("When s**t brings you down, just say 'f**k it,' and eat yourself some motherf*****g candy.")"
— David Sedaris
by mjtig on Apr 4, 2011 11:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I will also add even though the media is down on the East
The Knicks, Sixers and Pacers will be tough outs in the first round respectively.
"When a hurricane damaged my father's house, my brother rushed over with a gas grill, three coolers of beer, and an enormous F**k-It Bucket - a plastic pail filled with jawbreakers and bite-size candy bars. ("When s**t brings you down, just say 'f**k it,' and eat yourself some motherf*****g candy.")"
— David Sedaris
by mjtig on Apr 4, 2011 11:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Good enough for me.
Is there a specific reason Eddie Houses playing time is real spotty? It seems as if he always comes up with a big shot, or is always knocking down shots. Dude scares the heck outta me, as a basketball player and as a person. lol.
never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...
by wrigleyrocker12 on Apr 5, 2011 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Lol,
He did struggle with his shot in some of those bigger games—against the C’s for sure; to his credit, he hit a big one against OKC Korver style (aside from those big shots he hit against the Heat, have no problems with him ;) and I hope he can step up.
Bibby has really shot well and I hope that continues. The scariest guys looks wise are out West I think—K-Mart, JR, Artest, Barnes; these guys have that look like they are on work release and have to get back early in the morning; all are very good players also.
"When a hurricane damaged my father's house, my brother rushed over with a gas grill, three coolers of beer, and an enormous F**k-It Bucket - a plastic pail filled with jawbreakers and bite-size candy bars. ("When s**t brings you down, just say 'f**k it,' and eat yourself some motherf*****g candy.")"
— David Sedaris
by mjtig on Apr 5, 2011 12:21 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
lol LeBron had a triple double
except the rest of the team missed at least 3 point blank shots.
Words I Never Said by Lupe Fiasco <- Please do not click this link if you are afraid of the truth.
Good but...
Good win but a lot still need to be done.
Lebron as usual was Lebron. Bosh needs to step up, he plays too soft and takes the easy way out with a lot of jumpers.He needs to know that the play-off will be a different ball game.
The bench was quite productive tonite.They need to be very consistent.
Dampier, Big Z, J.Jones played big tonite….good job folks, do not let down please.
The coach did a good job with the time -outs and starting Big Z with the back up unit.
How about Eddie house,Dwade,Bibby,Dampier,Lebron as starters and Charmers,Miller,Bosh,Anthony and Big Z as the second unit with Lebron coming in occasionally to inspire them!
Chris Bosh coming in with the second unit does not necessary mean that he is bad, rather it will be a strategy to make the second unit highly productive and formidable.It will ensure that the standard of play does not fall when the second unit comes in.It is a similar strategy that the Spurs, Lakers ,the Phoenix Sun have used with Manu Ginobli, Odom, Babaroza (before he got traded to Toronto) respectively, all these players are capable starters but play equally very significant strategic roles with the second unit.
The Heat have nothing to loose now trying this strategy in their last few games before the play-off. If anything they have more to gain now than experiment with rotations during play-off.
i wrote a Mini Fan Post
Check it out if you’d llike
** I'm No Ms. Cleo... But even a dummy can SEE that i'm a Fan Of a future DYNASTY**
Oh yeah guys, check out our very own David being interviewed on The New York Knicks Podcast here. And no you don’t have to download to listen to it, simply click the “Download Episode 52” link(trust me…or just click here.
"These are the times that try men's souls" - Thomas Paine
"Don't be limited by fixed ideas nor by some trifling common sense...break the standards!"
by The One Who Wears The Crown on Apr 5, 2011 7:21 PM EDT reply actions
"These are the times that try men's souls" - Thomas Paine
"Don't be limited by fixed ideas nor by some trifling common sense...break the standards!"
by The One Who Wears The Crown on Apr 5, 2011 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions
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