Heat 103, Kings 77 (Beyond the Box score)

The Heat's blowout of the Kings resembled games the Heat played in last year, only this time it wasn't Miami feeling embarrassed and demoralized.

The Heat was thrilled to win its home opener--and earn its first win of the season. It was coach Erik Spoelstra's first NBA win and after the game players surrounded him in a circle in the lockerroom and tried to mess up his perfectly gelled hair.

Just about everything went right for the Heat. They played swarming defense, helping fuel the offense. They created 25 turnovers and had 15 steals and eight blocks. This was a team win, with every Heat starter contributing. Rookie Mario Chalmers didn't score a lot but he was a key reason the Heat made its second-quarter run that allowed the Heat to take a 49-31 halftime lead.

Michael Beasley overcame a slow start (2 of 6) to finish 7 of 15 with 17 points. He was happier about the team's performance though.

"We played like a team," he said. "We were relentless. We had so much intensity, we played with energy and we played together. That is what felt the best."

And now we go beyond the box score.

Player(s) of the Game: Dwyane Wade had a superb game with 20 points, eight assists, four blocks and four steals. While he had some monstrous dunks and helped set the tone defensively, Shawn Marion deserves Player of the Game honors too. He had several dunks and he also filled out the box, with 13 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots. Perhaps most importantly, Marion fit really well and seemed comfortable on both ends and that hasn't been the case recently.

Surprise, surprise: Daequan Cook turned in his second straight 13-point performance and hit 3 of 6 three pointers. He also played sound defense, earning praise from Spoelstra after the game. The only reason it's a surprise is because Cook, a second-year guard, has been inconsistent. With James Jones out, the Heat needs Cook to be a reliable option off the bench. Cook went from barely being in the rotation for much of the preseason to the Heat's sixth man against the Kings.

Tough night: Point guard Chris Quinn seemingly has fallen to fourth on the depth chart, after being considered a front-runner to start. He was on the inactive list Friday, after not playing Wednesday night (DNP-Coach's decision). Spoelstra indicated that Quinn may have come back sooner than he should have from an ankle injury, but it looks like the starting job is Chalmers to lose, with Marcus Banks and Shaun Livingston moving ahead in the rotation. Spoelstra said he wants to keep the rotation tight, so it makes you wonder when Quinn will play again.

Stat of the night: It's hard to pick on a night where just about everything went right. The Heat held the Kings to only 38 points until about three minutes left in the third quarter.

That says it all: "I know what a disaster is by the way, I just saw one," Kings coach Reggie Theus said after the game.

Next game: Saturday at Charlotte (7 p.m.)

Comments

[Danny]

Insane...that's all I have to say.

[Patricio]

Finally the Heat looked like an NBA team out there. They rebounded, got steals, blocks, scored, communicated on defense and most importantly HUSTLED on both ends of the court!!! I was at the game tonight and man it felt good to see them play like that. The Heat need to take this win and feed off of it. Dwayne Wade played like if it was 2006 and he was facing the Dallas Mavericks. He had several monstrous dunks!!! Very efficient on offense and like i've said before not only is Wade going to win MVP (If not second to Lebron which is due) but he's going to be first team all defense (given he stays healthy all year). Shawn Marion played great. He didn't look lost out there and gelled easily with our offense and defense. Like I said before we need to play Marion more at the power forward position because he's at his best when he plays near the rim. When Beasleys' playing the 4 I like Marion at the 3 because he makes up for Beasleys' defensive collapses. So Marion tonight you get an overall grade of an "A". UD was solid as usual. At this rate he should be in the running for a spot as a back up in the all star game (yes UD maybe an all star). Beasley was solid as well, he played to his strengths. He rebounded today so that was a great sign being that he looked like a small forward against the Knicks. Chalmers didn't have a diva night but he was solid on both ends of the floor. He got the Heat into its offensive sets and didn't have any defensive mistakes which wasn't the case vs. New York. The man i am most proud and surprised of is Daequan Cook. He was solid hitting 50 percent of his three pointers (3 of 6). Most surprising was his defense. Normally he has no defense but it looks like he's improving each game. If he can continue his three point shooting and the Heat get back James Jones they will be looking real good. With these two and Chalmers three point capabilities the heat would be a threat from beyond the arc. All we need is to get Jones and ZO back and we would be capable of getting into at least the second round (via no injuries). All in all a very good performance by the Heat. Hope they can continue the strong play. We will see Saturday night as the Heat take on the very talented but inconsistent Charlotte Bobcats. LETS GO HEAT!!!

P.S. Why not try to go after Brad Miller for a first round pick and cash considerations. The Kings are definitely in a rebuilding mode so why not make an attempt. With Brad Miller at the center spot the Heat look like a championship contender again. Chalmers, Wade, Marion, Haslem, Miller. Sixth man Beasley (which he would dominate against opposing second units).

[Patricio]

Now for the Negative of tonight's game: Free throw shooting. The Heat went 19 of 32 from the free throw line. That 59.4 percent which is not going to cut it in the NBA. We were lucky we were facing probably the worst team in the league and it wasn't a close game. The good thing is that were not at their level which we were last year. So the Heat need to improve on their free throws if they want to win against the elite teams. LETS GO HEAT!!!

[taheati/heatstroked]

Beyond *and* behind the boxscore.

Beasley. Forget his late game pile on with the Heat already up by 30. Beasley was a solid screener for teammates from the tipoff, displayed relentless energy around the rim (ORBs), was more attentive during transition d (unlike the Knicks), didn't backoff when whistled for fouls. *If* Beasley devotes as much interest/effort to defense -- including film study of every startng opposing forward in the league, post-practice hours focusing on footwork, sliding, hip-reading, hip-checking etc to improve defensive anticipation -- as he does offense, THEN and only then will Beasley become something truly **special** i.e., a consistent reliable difference-maker with KG-like potential to affect games. He already has the tools, especially and including natural court vision, timing, body-control; now comes the hours. And hours, of preparation.

Cook. Unmentioned but hardly overlooked: Daequan Cook logged 6 boards last night, a CAREER-HIGH. Cook also seemed to catch the "bug" -- the defensive bug that his teammates turned into a rout -- while diligently running the floor. If Cook continues to make his "presence" felt with *or* without swishing Js, he could find more minutes than he ever imagined. Caron Butler made a career of finishing plays (that others started) by developing "a nose for the ball." Cook is still learning how to sniff, but maybe-hopefully-finally, he's got the (total) scent.

Chalmers. Manage the game. Play under control. That's what QBs do, or should do. Likewise point guards, even if they're not the primary playmaker (a la Wade). Take care of the ball. Disrupt, stop, steal or deter on defense within the scheme. Score when necessary, shoot if open. Chalmers displayed much better control to complement typical risk-taking on both ends. If/when Chalmers gets "there" (game to game consistency), watch out.

Trade Marion? Hussshhhhhhhhhhhh. Witness last night, compare the difference. Marion was *never* the problem to begin with.

"Now for the Negative of tonight's game: Free throw shooting."

Yup. It's *never* a matter of "Well, look at the score. We didn't need them."

It's *always* a matter of TAKING what you've EARNED. Missing free throws is like throwing away your paycheck, leaving "free" money on the table. Only FOOLS make a habit of it. Habitual fools = habitual losers (unless you have a Shaq, Howard etc. to make up the difference).

[taheati/heatstroked]

Oops. My bad. Turns out Cook logged 9 games last season where he hauled in at least 6+ boards and 9 v. ATL for his career-high.

But 9 is not enough.

If he shoots for 80 (games) & 10 (career high) within the system, his role; up his career average from 3 to 5-6 rpg while upping everything else except turnovers, Cook will earn the option the Heat just picked up plus, eventually, more. Much more.