That surprsing outcome to the Bulls in Game 1 of the second round wasn't a complete waste, according to LeBron James.
James said the Heat’s unexpected loss in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinals provided an important experience going
into Wednesday’s Game 1.
“It set us up the right way,” James said. “We were off for a
while and Chicago came in off a seven-game series and they were just on top of
their game still and we weren’t. We had eight days off, so I think that gave us
a good wake up call and we needed it.”
SMALL MARKET OR LARGE MARKET?
—One interesting subplot of the conference finals is the rise
of the little guy. Indiana, San Antonio and Memphis are considers small-market franchises,
while the Heat is generally consider a large-market team. Heat coach Erik
Spoelstra noted on Monday that perception regarding the Heat has changed since
the Big 3 arrived in Miami.
“You know what’s interesting…and Micky [Arison] has always
talked about this, Miami was never considered a big-market team until we put
together this team, so it shows you can change perspective by the personnel you
have and the type of team you put together,” Spoelstra said. “If you build it,
they will come.”
Is the Heat a large-market team? In terms of perception, I'd say, yes, the Heat is large-market team. In terms of cold-hard numbers, Arison would still argue that the Heat is small-market. Of course, Arison doesn't want to share his profits with other owners around the league, so his position on the subject is understandable.
Remember that girl who asked Dwyane Wade to the senior prom at Miami Archbishop Carroll? CLICK ME!
Well, the girl's wish came true tonight. Wade surprised Nicole Muxo on her big night. CBS4 Miami has the story. CLICK ME!
Good thing for Muxo the Heat defeated the Bulls in five games and now are waiting patiently for the Eastern Conference finals to begin. Wade arrived in one of his casual tuxedos and danced with Muxo and then later met her family.
Sports Illustrated estimates that LeBron James will earn $56.5 million in 2013, which places his second in earnings this year among athletes. Here's the top 10 in SI's Fortunate 50:
Dwyane Wade is 11th on the list with esimated total earnings of $28.682 M. Bosh is 47th on the list, making an estimated $18.545 M in 2013. Here's the complete list. CLICK ME!
The Heat's defense has allowed the fewest number of points per game this postseason (83.9), and on Monday nearly set a franchise record for fewest points by an opponent in a playoff game.
With the Bulls running on empty in Game 4, the Heat held Chicago to 65 points, which ranked as the third fewest points by an opponent in a playoff game in franchise history. The record is 63 set by New Orleans in 2004.
The Heat's opponents have contributed to the low numbers, obviously. Miami has had arguably the easiest road through the playoffs of any other team. But the Heat's defense has adjusted well to its opponents and individual matchups in its first two playoff series. A few examples:
-Monta Ellis scored 22 points in Game 1 against the Heat, only to produce back-to-back seven-point performances in Games 2 and 3.
-Brandon Jennings averaged 21.4 percent from three-point range in four games against the Heat and averaged 13.3 points per game. In the regular season, Jennings averaged 23.8 points per game against the Heat.
-Ersan Ilyasova, always a problem for the Heat, scored two points in Game 1 of the first round.
-After scoring 27 points in Game 1 of the second round, Bulls guard Nate Robinson managed just 28 points over the next two. In Game 4, Robinson went 0 of 12, which was a historically poor effort for a playoff game. Since 1991-92, only one other player has attempted more field goals without making a shot. Ray Allen went 0 of 13 against the Lakers in 2010.
-Carlos Boozer mostly has been a non-factor in the second round. After averaging, 17.4 points and 7.9 rebounds against the Nets, Boozer has averaged 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds against the Heat.
-While Dwyane Wade has struggled offensively, he's been getting it done on the defensive end. In Round 2, Wade has a plus/minus of 12.5, which is the best on the team. Defensive stalwart Shane Battier has a plus/minus of 12.3.
-Chris Bosh is leading the Heat in rebounds with 9.0 per game.
-Both Bosh and Chris Andersen are averaging 2.3 blocks per game in the second round.
During the regular season, Chris Bosh's rebounding numbers dipped dramatically after the All-Star break. In the final 27 games of the regular season, he averaged 5.7 rebounds and recorded just one double-digit rebounding game (10 boards against Orlando on March 6).
In the current playoff series against the Bulls, Bosh had six rebounds in Game 1 and five rebounds in Game 2. So, it begs the question: What happened in Game 3 for Bosh to pull down 19 rebounds, a career postseason high?
Bosh said on Monday after shootaround that much of his effort in the post during the regular season was focused on boxing out opponents, which allowed his teammates to grab rebounds. In Game 3 against the Bulls, Bosh's strategy shifted. With everyone crashing the boards, securing rebounds became his primary objective.
“Boxing out, there’s a bunch of different techniques you can use and everything," Bosh said. "I’ve really been searching this season to find what works best for me and a lot of times I’m in situations where people only pay attention to numbers. I never really got caught up in that.
"I just wanted to do whatever it took to help this team win. I think now, with a little more urgency being felt, I feel more of a responsibility to do a better job of actually securing the rebound, because everyone is boxing out. Especially against this team where everybody is crashing the boards, so everybody has got to put a body on somebody and as long as we come up with the rebound, that’s what’s most important.
Bosh's is taking the same approach for tonight's Game 4, so expect another upswing in his rebounding numbers.
“He played a very good basketball game in Game 2, so he
knows he has to do certain things for us to be successful and we’re looking
forward to seeing that consistency," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
BULLS INJURY UPDATE
Loul Deng has lost about 15 pounds due to complications related to his spinal tap and Kirk Hinrich is still having trouble with his calf. As a result, both players are likely out for tonight's Game 4. Deng and Hinrich have missed every game of the series.
Veteran NBA referee Joey Crawford will be the lead official for Friday night's Game 3 between the Heat and Bulls.
Known for his no-nonsense style, Crawford arrives in Chicago two days after Game 2 of the series featured nine technical fouls. In his last game, Crawford issued seven technical fouls in Game 6 of the first-round series between the Clippers and Grizzlies. Chris Paul and Zach Randolph were ejected from the game.
Udonis Haslem's reaction to learning Crawford was calling Friday's game was telling.
"Oh, really," Haslem said. "Wow."
Haslem then went on to say, "We're not focused on that. We're going to come out and play our game and be aggressive on both ends of the floor. We're going to do our jobs and, obviously, the officials are going to have to do their job."
Crawford will officiate the game with officials David Guthrie Derrick Stafford.
-The Bulls will be without forward Loul Deng and guards Kirk Hinrich and Derrick Rose for Game 3 against the Heat, Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau announced after Friday's morning's shootaround.
Veteran NBA referee Joey Crawford will be the lead official for Friday night's Game 3 between the Heat and Bulls.
Known for his no-nonsense style, Crawford arrives in Chicago two days after Game 2 of the series featured nine technical fouls. In his last game, Crawford issued seven technical fouls in Game 6 of the first-round series between the Clippers and Grizzlies. Chris Paul and Zach Randolph were ejected from the game.
Udonis Haslem's reaction to learning Crawford was calling Friday's game was telling.
"Oh, really," Haslem said. "Wow."
Haslem then went on to say, "We're not focused on that. We're going to come out and play our game and be aggressive on both ends of the floor. We're going to do our jobs and, obviously, the officials are going to have to do their job."
Crawford will officiate the game with officials David Guthrie Derrick Stafford.
-The Bulls will be without forward Loul Deng and guards Kirk Hinrich and Derrick Rose for Game 3 against the Heat, Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau announced after Friday's morning's shootaround.
-The Heat led by four points with 3:30 left in the second quarter. From there, Miami outscored Chicago 73-40.
-Dwyane Wade hit his last six shots of the game.
-Cole finished the game 6 of 7 from the field.
-From late in the second quarter on, Wade and Cole were 12 of 14 from the field.
-Ray Allen led the Heat with 21 points, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter.
-From the beginning of the second quarter to the end of the game, Shane Battier had a plus/minus of plus-36. Seeing how he played less than 18 minutes during this time, I don't really see how that's possible, but the numbers don't lie, I guess.
-Norris Cole's shot chart:
Said Norris Cole: "LeBron and Wade attacked the paint. We were open."
-The Heat outscored Chicago 60-37 in the second half. Here's what shooting over 62 percent from the field in a half looks like:
Said Ray Allen, who owned the second half: "We found the open guy. You see small things on film where guys are open when they load up on LeBron and Wade. To our credit, we found the open man Monday. We just didn't hit the shots."
-The Heat outscored the Bulls 30-15 in the third quarter. Chicago shot less than 24 percent from the field in that period. On paper, that's a lot of red. Take note: No points in the paint...
LeBron accepted his MVP Trophy wearing these special-edition MVP sneakers. Cool kicks. James changed his shoes at halftime after scoring just two points in the first 24 minutes of the game. It was the lowest first-half scoring total in a postseason game of James' career (120 games).
So, if you polled 121 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NBA before Monday night, would any of them have predicted a loss for the Heat in Game 1 of its Eastern Conference semifinals?
Probably not. The MVP vote might not have been unanimous, but no thought the Bulls had a chance with three starters missing in action against a team that had won 41 of its previous 43 games and eight consecutive playoff games dating back to last year's Finals.
Oh, those plucky Bulls.
Seriously, that Tom Thibodeau doesn't win coach of the year every season is a complete farce.
The Heat shot 26.3 percent from the field in the first quarter. This from a team that shot an average of 48.7 percent from field in the first quarters of its first-round games against the Bucks.
Did the extra rest affect the Heat? James had eight days rest between playoff series twice in his career before Monday and averaged 41.5 points per game when he returned to the court.
"You give me time to rest my body, I guess it works triple," James said.
On the night he won his fourth MVP Award, maybe James was pressing a little too much. Even coach Erik Spoelstra said after that game that he would have liked to have seen a little more ball movement from his offense.
Of course, the Bulls didn't shoot the ball very well either. Consider this: The Heat and Bulls both made 31 field goals and seven three-pointers in Game 1. The Bulls won the game at the free-throw line. Jimmy Butler made nine foul shots, or just as many as the Heat's Big 3 combined. Dwyane Wade never went to the line, a sign that he's playing a step or two slow. Overall, the Bulls were 24 of 29 from the free-throw line and the Heat was 17 of 25.
A few things that made me scratch my head...
-Why was Ray Allen and not Norris Cole guarding Nate Robinson at the end of the game?
-That pull-up three-pointer from Dwyane Wade with 1:08 left and the Heat down by 88-86. Seriously?
LeBron received 120 of 121 votes for the MVP Award, which lends itself to an obvious question: Who didn't vote for LeBron?
LeBron joked during his MVP acceptance speech that "it was probably a writer out of New York who didn't give me that vote." But, alas! The writer is from Boston. Respected Celtics beat writer Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe voted for Carmelo Anthony ahead of James. Washburn's reasoning: Anthony did more for his team than James.
The vote went to Anthony despite James being, in Washburn's his words, "unquestionably" the "best player in the game." Washburn wrote a story in today's Globe explaining his vote. CLICK ME!
"When I placed my NBA MVP vote a few weeks ago," wrote Washburn, "I knew I would be in the minority. I knew LeBron James was the prohibitive favorite to win his fourth award because he unquestionably is the best player in the game."
Was Washburn wrong to vote for Anthony? No, because there is NEVER a definitive answer when it comes to voting for awards based in part on subjectivity. There has never been a unanimous vote for the NBA’s MVP Award. Shaquille O’Neal (1999-2000) is the only other player to receive all but one vote.
And all this is perfectly fine, of course. LeBron didn't have to win all the votes. That's not the point of the voting format. The point is to get it right, which usually happens. Sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the U.S. and Canada vote for the
award along with one vote given to fans and tabulated by NBA.com. Of course there's going to be some variations on the interpretations of what exactly makes a player the league's MVP.
In my opinion (and, yes, I had a vote), the award should go to the player who had the best season based both on individual numbers and team success. But I also factor in intangible things like leadership when I vote for awards like these (I'm also a Heisman voter). Other voters place more weight on a players' value individually compared to the rest of the team. Based on that criterion, it's easy to see how someone would consider not voting for a player from the Heat.
After all, even Erik Spoelstra and LeBron himself will tell you that Chris Bosh is the Heat's Most Valuable Player. See, it's all based on how you think the word "value" translates to basketball.
It was obvious talking to Ray Allen on Sunday that the Heat has spent plenty of time breaking down film on the Bulls over the past week. Two of the biggest strengths for Chicago are Joakim Noah's tenacity on defense and Nate Robinson ability to create havoc on offense. Allen addressed both...
MINIMIZING NOAH Allen said ball movement will be the key to forcing the
Bulls’ tough defense out of its comfort zone and getting Noah and Taj Gibson out of the paint. Chicago allowed 93.2 points per
game during the regular season and held the Nets to an average of 97.4 points
per game in the first round despite the Bulls’ 142-134 triple-overtime victory
in Game 4. Noah had 14 rebounds and six blocks in Game 7.
“Watching film, there’s a lot of things…they play really
strong-side defense, so in order for us to negate that, we need to make sure to
put guys in positions and … penalize them by making sure that [James and Wade]
get the ball quickly,” Allen said. “Don’t play against their pressure and just
move the ball around and we’ll break them down.”
NEGATING NATE Chicago guard Nate Robinson delivered a breakout effort in
the Bulls’ first round. He averaged 17.0 points per game, or nearly four more
points per game than in the regular season. He had 34 points in the Game 4
epic, including 23 points in the fourth quarter. Corralling the speedy and
compact guard will be a point of emphasis for Heat defenders.
“We just have to put more pressure on him,” Allen said.
“Watching them play in the first series, it just looked like [Brooklyn] let him
move all over the place and the pick and rolls he came off he was very free. He
had shots, he had drives to the basket, he had carte blanche to whatever he
wanted out there. For us, we just have to make sure we put a little more
pressure on him.”
FROZEN FRIENDSHIP One bonus note on Noah and Udonis Haslem ...
Haslem and Noah share
a strong friendship but that relationship is on ice for the time being. The two
high-energy players from the University of Florida will go head-to-head in the
series.
“When we see each other it’s always much love and much
respect,” Haslem said. “It’s always going to be a special bond between us
because we’re both Gators, but when the ball goes up, we both understand that
we got a job to do and we’re going to repeat at a high level. And at that point
we’re not Gators. I play for the Heat and he’s a Bull and that’s what it comes
down to.”
OK, back on the blog after a few stressful days away...Don't ask!
The NBA will announce LeBron James as the MVP of the 2012-13 season at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. It's James' fourth MVP Award in five seasons, which is pretty good. Let's take a look at how James stacks up against the game's greats...
James' fourth MVP Award puts him in some elite company. Only four other players have won at least four MVP Awards, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Bill Russell (five), Michael Jordan (five) and Wilt Chamberlain (four). James is the second player in NBA history to win four MVPs in a five-year span...also pretty good. Russell also won four in five years.
SIX-MVPs CLUB A pretty small club. Abdul-Jabbar is the only player in NBA history to win six. He won the awards over a 10-year span. From the 1970-71 to 1976-77 season, Abdul-Jabbar won five MVPs over a seven-year span.
FIVE-MVPs CLUB -Bill Russell won five MVP Awards over an eight-year span, including four in five seasons. He won back-to-back-to-back MVP Awards for the 1960-61, 1961-62 and 1962-63 seasons.
-OK, everyone loves to compare LeBron and Michael Jordan, so let's break it down. Jordan won his five MVP Awards over an 11-year span. He won his first MVP (1987-88) at age 24. LeBron won his first MVP Award at age 24 as well, but it was LeBron's sixth year in the league. James went straight from the NBA out of high school and Jordan played at North Carolina for three seasons before turning pro.
Jordan won back-to-back MVP Awards for the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons, giving him three MVPs in a five-year span. Jordan didn't win his fourth MVP until the 1995-96 season at age 32. (He was off playing baseball.) So, LeBron is way ahead of schedule.
FOUR-MVPs CLUB -Wilt Chamberlain won four MVPs over a nine-year span, including three in a row for the 1965-66, 1966-67 and 1967-68 seasons.
-James has won four MVP awards in a five-year span, including back-to-back MVPs in 2008-09 and 2009-10 with Cleveland and 2011-12 and 2012-13 with the Heat.
THREE-IN-A-ROW CLUB Three players have won MVP Awards in back-to-back-to-back seasons: Russell, Chamberlain and Larry Bird.
TWO-IN-A-ROW CLUB Ten players have won MVP Awards in back-to-back seasons: Russell, Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar (twice), Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash and LeBron (twice). On Sunday, LeBron will join Abdul-Jabbar as the only players to pull off a back-to-back twice in their careers. Hey, sometimes Derrick Rose happens.
It appears like Shane is making the most of the Heat's long break between series. On Wednesday he joked that the status of his mustache was "hour to hour."
The Heat had a physical practice on Wednesday with Dwyane Wade (knee) sitting out once again. The Heat is off on Thursday.
The Heat’s second-round series will begin on Monday, the
NBA announced on Tuesday evening, regardless if the first-round series between
the Bulls and Nets ends Thursday night.
The Bulls have a 3-2 lead in the
best-of-7 series. Chris Bosh said the long wait is a “gift and curse” and that “just
staying in shape, keeping our edge and keeping our mental focus where it needs
to be” will be “a huge challenge,” this week.
“So, we have our work cut out for us this week,” Bosh Bosh
said.
While the Heat swept the Nets the season, Bosh said he
doesn’t favor playing one team or the other. The Bulls ended the Heat’s 27-game
winning streak.
“They’re going to have to play their series, they’re
going to have to battle it out, but there is no such thing as an easy road to a
championship—whether that’s playing Chicago and battling it out or playing a
motivated Nets team, nobody wants to get beat, period,” Bosh said.
While Bosh and the Heat likely will grow tired with waiting for the second round to begin, 11 days of rest between starts should give Dwyane Wade and his balking right knee time to heal.
Inspiring stuff today as NBA player Jason Collins came out as the first openly gay athlete in major American professional sports. Players around the NBA and other celebs showered Collins with support on Twitter after Collins' story appeared on SI.com.
Mike Miller will start Sunday's Game 4 of the Heat's first-round playoff series agaisnt the Milwaukee, the Heat announced about 45 minutes before the game.
Wade received treatment and warmed up on the court before the game but ultimately decided against playing after reinjuring his knee and aggravating his right forearm during Game 3. Wade went 1 of 12 in Game 3.
Miller has played a total of two minutes during the Heat's first three playoff games but started the final 13 games of the regular season, averaging more than 10 points per game while shooting over 48 percent from three-point range. The Heat is 15-2 this season with Miller in the starting lineup.
Ray Allen, Wade's primary backup, will continue to come off the bench with the Heat's second unit, which is averaging over 40 points per game in the series. Allen led the Heat with 23 points per game in Game 3.
Combining these two questions...Dwyane Wade is doubtful, based on what LeBron James said yesterday in practice. Here's a link to that story. CLICK ME! Wade was too frustrated to even speak with reporters on Saturday, which is never a good sign. Based on circumstantial evidence, I think Wade will not play today and instead we'll see Mike Miller in the starting lineup.
Like, say, a vegetarian option for someone who doesn't eat meat?
LeBron and Bosh aren't under any kind of minute restrictions. If the game is close, they'll be playing.
Great question. The Heat has failed to close out sweeps of the first round series in 2011 and 2012. But this Bucks team is neither the Sixers of 2011 nor the Knicks of 2012. If Milwaukee gets down early, then it's over. Milwaukee had the look a team ready for vacation in the fourth quarter of Game 3.
Isn't that $1 million question? I'll counter your question with another: How much are players willing to sacrifice to keep it together financially? Let's revisit this question after the postseason.
Yes, afraid so. But Wade has proven in the past he can play through pain.
The next series looks like it will be in Chicago, so I wouldn't have far to go.
Trick question. LeBron is a superhero.
Winter is (not) Coming to Milwaukee. It has been beautiful for three straight days. I walked the Great Wall of China with the Heat during the preseason. Does that count?
Most of the show is currently based on the third novel of the series, A Storm of Swords, but the show also is currently diverging the back story of Theon Greyjoy from the fifth novel, A Dance with Dragons. Of course, that is a bit confusing as well, since the chronology of novels four and five overlap.
Before last week, I would say Season One, but Jaime Lannister losing his hand and Daenerys Targaryen's scene at the end of the last episode have put the current season at the top of my list. Of course, the best episode of the series, in my opinion, remains "Blackwater Bay" of Season Two. Tough question!
Signs are pointing to Dwyane Wade sitting out Game 4 of the Heat's first-round playoff series against the Bucks on Sunday.
Wade did not participate in the Heat's full-court practice drills on Saturday at Marquette and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Wade's status was day to day. The Heat plays the Bucks at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, meaning Wade will not have a full day to receive treatment on his knee before tipoff. Spoelstra said that Wade "is improving" and that the Heat's training staff will evaluate his injuries before game time and then make a decision.
Wade reinjured his knee in the first half on Thursday in Game 3 and also aggravated his right forearm during a hard fall. The Heat leads the Bucks 3-0 and can sweep the best-of-7 series with a victory on Sunday. Wade said in a statement that he was "day to day" and receiving "treatment around the clock."
Mike Miller would likely start on Sunday if Wade can't play. The Heat is 15-2 this season with Miller in the starting lineup. LeBron James indicated on Saturday after practice that rest might be the best thing for Wade at this point.
“He has to do what’s best for him and then what’s best for
the team,” James said. “For him, he’s a competitor, he wants to be out there,
but you don’t put injuries in front of anything and if you’re hurting, and you’re
not capable of doing the things that you need to do to help the team win, then
you shouldn’t risk it.”
More than anything, this first-round playoff series has been
about the Heat’s depth. The Heat’s bench is averaging 40.7 points per game
entering Sunday’s Game 4. For perspective, consider this: The Heat has played 165
postseason games in franchise history and two of the three highest-scoring
postseason games by the bench have happened in this series.
The bench scored 43 points in Game 1 and matched that mark
in Game 3. The Heat postseason record for bench points is 45. Allen is
averaging 16.6 points per game in the series and Chris Andersen’s contribution
in relation to his minutes on the floor has been staggering. “Birdman” has
played 42 minutes and 37 seconds during the series and has scored 31 points and
pulled down 19 rebounds. He went 5 of 5 shooting on Thursday and is 13 of 15
from the field in the series.
“It has been our calling card all year, the depth that we
have,” Allen said. “We have so many sitting on our bench that are so productive
when they get in the game, whether you played the last game, the last two or
three games or you’re in there for two minutes, guys come off the bench and are
ready and it’s a great testimony to this team and how we have grown from Day 1
until now."
The Heat's depth, not to mention an average margin of victory in this series of 16 points, has allowed the Heat's Big 3 to play fewer minutes compared to first rounds in 2010 and 2011. After Thursday's 104-91 victory, Danny Martinez of Heat.com noted the dip in minutes for LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
MILWAUKEE — LeBron James is not happy he finished second in
voting for Defensive Player of Year behind Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies.
“It sucks,” James said on Thursday before Game 3 against the
Bucks at Bradley Center. “It just sucks.”
James was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for
the first five months of the NBA’s six-month season and will likely be close to
a unanimous selection for his fourth MVP Award in the last five seasons. He
prides himself on defense just as much as offense, so finishing second isn’t
something worth celebrating.
“It definitely sucks, finishing second,” James said. “Who
wants to finish second?”
James has finished second in voting for Defensive Player of
the Year twice in his career. He was runner-up for the award in 2009. James
averaged 8.0 rebounds per game this season, a career high. He had 1.7 steals
and 0.9 blocks per game.
When asked if this season was his best as defender, James
said “probably” and then presented his case.
“I guard everybody on the floor,” James said. “I don’t if
it’s one player in NBA history who guards one through five. So … it’s over with
now, but that’s OK.”
There have been times this season when James has guarded
opposing point guards and centers, though his primary defensive responsibility
is normally guarding an opposing team’s small forward. Heat coach Erik
Spoelstra calls James “One Through Five” for his ability to guard each position
on the floor.
Going out on a limb and predicting no. Brandon Jennings was limited to eight points in Game 2, so he'll be getting up shots in bunches tonight.
Two sounds about right. Factoring in coaches, I'll go with the over.
Micky wants the Heat to clinch on its home court...But seriously, the series will be over in four in the Heat wins tonight. In the back of their minds, the Bucks know that. Expecting Milwaukee's best tonight.
Keith Askins.
There are odds on this, actually. Betting house Bovada set the odds of the Heat going 16-0 in the playoffs at 50-1. Those odds then went down to 25-1. Personally, I don't think it's happening. As for the second question, I don't think we've heard the last of Mike Miller.
Very funny. I'm actually creating a photo gallery of Juwan Howard's post-season suits. Part of the reason the Heat signed Howard is because Pat Riley thinks he's the best-dressed player in the NBA. Makes that bench look good!
Putting the over-under at 22.
Burnie does not travel on the team plane. Burnie did, however, fly on the plane to China, and let me tell you, that Burnie can hold its own when it comes to Chinese baijiu.
Pretty unique. Wade's Marquette jersey is retired at Bradley Center. Off the top of my head, can't think of any other player who's college jersey is retired in current NBA Arena.
Spoelstra likes Cole's defense in the fourth quarter of games. He was great against Jennings in Game 2 and everyone remembers that incredible steal against Kyrie Irving.
LeBron has always been great on the road. Tonight might be the night. James attempted 14 shots in Game 2. Putting the over/under at 19 shots tonight.
Narcissism drives all social media! It is known.
God, I hope so.
Yes, Burnie keeps that key in its back-left pocket.
Very funny. Thanks for bringing this to our attention before it gets changed. 4-1 sounds about right.
Six
Not sure. Pretty sure only at home, though.
Yes, I once suplexed Marc Spears.
Without a doubt. A better question, will his statue be wearing kneepads and high socks? Answer: Yes.
Norris Cole joked today during the Heat's shootaround at Marquette that you can't go inside a room at Al McGuire Center without seeing at least three pictures or references to Dwyane Wade. For example, Wade has four different pictures or plaques hanging on the walls of Marquette's practice gym. In fact, each wall inside the gym as a reference to Wade.
In Al McGuire Center's main concourse, a shrine is dedicated to Wade.
Practice-gym plaque.
Wade is the first thing recruits see when they walk into the practice gym.
Main wall inside practice gym.
Wade pennant commemorating being drafted by the Heat. (Also in the practice gym.)
Norris Cole performed well in the fourth quarter of Game 2, knocking down a key three-pointer during the 12-0 run. All seven of his points came in the final period and he played every minute of the final quarter.
While Cole's offense was spectacular, emailer Leonard Kreicas points out that the reserve guard's defense is actually more valuable...
By Leonard Kreicas,
Last night Norris Cole stopped Brandon Jennings, especially the overlooked play of Jennings driving and Cole stealing the ball from him, just like Cole stole the ball a few nights ago to seal a W.
Cole is a much quicker defender than Chalmers, and can shut down the opponent's top driving threat. In the second half I could see Jennings fear of Cole, because Cole was too fast for him.
Cole is too short for people like Durant, but he could shut down Westbrook and Chris Paul, thereby stopping OKC or LAC play-making routine.
I don't think Cole got enough kudos for his defense in the second half, because without Jennings the Bucks lost their confidence and seemed in disarray letting the Heat bigs do their thing.
With Cole on Jennings for the next 3 games, the Bucks do not have a chance.
The Heat's 12-point burst to begin the fourth quarter was enough to distance itself from the Bucks in an uneven game. Miami now leads the series 2-0 with Game 3 on Thursday in Milwaukee. Before I board my plane, some notes ...
—The Heat has won 10 straight overall and has won 39 of its last 41 games dating back to Feb.2.
—Since 2010-11, the Heat is 22-4 in the postseason at AmericanAirlines Arena.
—Bench players scored 25 of Miami's 30 points in the fourth quarter. Overall, the bench had 36 poins. In the first two games of the series, the Heat's bench has scored 79 points.
—Chris Andersen had 10 points and six rebounds in about 12 1/2 minutes. What?
—Solid game for Mario Chalmers (4 of 6 from nine points), who is now one three-pointer away from tying Tim Hardaway for most all-time in postseason franchise history.
—Ray Allen is three three-pointers away from tying Reggie Miller (320) for the most three-point field goals made in postseason history.
—A note on bragging: In my Pre-Game 2 Q&A on the blog, I nailed the point spread and the numbers of field goals by Chris Andersen.
—Andersen had eight points and five rebounds in the fourth quarter.
—LeBron's 19 points snapped a 22-game streak of postseason games with at least 20 points. Tuesday was the first time in 17 playoff games for James to score fewer than 25 points.
Andersen was 4 of 4 in Game 1. This is a pretty interesting prop bet, if it's actually out there. I'll going with the over, considering Birdman told me after the game that he was a little nervous in the first half and that those jitters were gone by the third quarter. I'm going with six attempts.
"I love you Christopher Bosh, go get'em."
The Harlem Shake, for starters, and then probably his Easter-egg shoes. In all seriousness, LeBron's ability as a leader is what I'm going to take away from this season. Oh, and this:
If Chalmers struggles with his shot, he'll keep shooting. In the history of sports and sports movies, there probably isn't two more diametrically opposed personalities than the weak-minded Pedro and Chalmers.
Miller didn't come off the bench in Game 1. Clearly, Spoelstra is saving him for The Finals.
Loved it. I watched the ending three times. Daenery has her army, three dragons, Ser Jorah Mormont and Ser Barristan Selmy. What could stop her now other than ... can't give away any spoilers! Natalie Dormer's portrayal of Margaery Tyrell continues to amaze. She has Joffrey in the palm of her hand. It's easy to see why the directors decided to expand Marg's character for the show...The relationship between Brienne and the Kingslayer has been spot on...I could go on, but I'd be here all day.
No, but not because he's physically unable. His role on this team doesn't allow him to be the same player. He's focused on efficiency, which he hopes to improve upon in Game 2. Wade was 5 of 12 from the field in Game 1.
In-series adjustments are always fun. The Bucks can't have Sanders in foul trouble if they hope to steal a game tonight. Sanders played less than 19 minutes in Game 1. That said, I don't see Battier getting the starting nod to exploit that mismatch. It would have happened already. As for Birdman getting more minutes with Bosh, why alter what's working?
Caron Butler is a salty dog. Andre Miller is a salty dog. Ray Allen is a salty dog. LeBron James is a lion.
Yes. Prediction: Heat 108, Bucks 95. The line on tonight's game opened up at 13 1/2 but the Heat is now a 14- or 14 1/2-point favorite, depending on your betting house. I'm going with the under.
I sure hope so. Ray is also rocking some new shoes for the playoffs. They double as boots ... or something.
Another blowout. The games probably will get more interesting in Milwaukee.
Bada-bing!
Right on, man.
Fourth quarter.
Wild Turkey, in honor of Birdman.
It depends on the pre-game media meal.
I usually go with a handful of gummy bears.
Haven't seen any books yet. Give it time.
The Heat out-rebounded the Bucks by 15 in Game 1. Bosh had seven of those boards in less than 28 minutes of work. It was a nice effort, but I think expecting him to out-rebound the entire Bucks team is asking a little too much.
Hope so.
You know, Cole's haircut isn't a traditional fade. I don't really know how to define it. It's a little thicker in the back than, say, your traditional 1980s look. I'll ask him tonight and get back to you. As for Birdman, that Mo-Hawk could cut through steel.
Hard fouls? The Heat was a little too gracious in the paint with Jennings in Game 1. He'll probably find things a little more difficult tonight.
Greed? But seriously, TNT has the option. Went with Knicks-Celtics.
Because he's a warrior poet. Why should Spoelstra change? The Heat won 27 straight games with Haslem in the starting lineup. Seems to be working pretty well. Haslem had five rebounds in less than 17 minutes in Game 1. That's a significant contribution.
Great question. After 27 points in about 35 minutes in Game 1, I'd say yes.
Wise guy!
Micky is going to be paying some luxury tax. The question is how much is he willing to cough up. If you want to help with the effort, I'd suggest drinking five beers at tonight's game.
So, this happened over the weekend. Bud Light "surprised" Shane Battier with a truckload of beer for drinking its swill during the Heat's winning streak.
"My father always had a beer and I want to be just like my
dad," Battier said on Monday. "There’s nothing wrong with Bud Light. That’s the assembly workers drink
and that’s what I am."
Definitely not a surprise, but it makes for a good story. And, hey, beers on Shane!
***The Republican party, which apparently already has huge aspirations for Battier immediately upon retirement, approves this message.
OK, we're kidding ... maybe. Definitely not kidding when I say Anheuser Busch totally stuck it to Milwaukee-based Milwaukee Brewing Company with this one. Oh, those crazy beer wars.
