Heat 102, Grizzlies 85 (Beyond the Box Score)

The Heat's small lineup was effective agains the hapless Memphis Grizzlies. The Griz were without leading scorer Rudy Gay (staph infection). Memphis' O.J. Mayo was the star of all the rookies and had a spectacular performance, scoring 28 points in 38 minutes and adding five assists and five rebounds. Big picture the Heat needed to win this game to re-affirm that all the hard work being done in practice is translating to success in games. The Heat got its first preseason win since 2006. The experimenting may continue as Spoelstra finds which combos are most effective but this was a step.

Player of the game: Udonis Haslem--There were many bright spots for the Heat but Haslem had a second straight double-double. He finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds and showed no lingering effects of the foot injury that sidelined him earlier in training camp. Haslem was effective at center and in 38 minutes gave the Heat the kind of performance it will need from him this season. No one is expecting him to play 38 minutes a game at center, and he didn't Tuesdya. He showed that he could be effective against Memphis' frontcourt of seven-footers. Dwyane Wade had another solid night, scoring a team-high 25 points, and had six assists and five rebounds. Also Mario Chalmers had his best performance so far at point guard, but as Spoelstra noted afterward it may be one step forward, another backward for Chalmers as he develops this season.

Surprise, surprise: Michael Beasley--The rookie got his first start. He started at power forward. Haslem was at center, Shawn Marion was at small forward, with Wade and Chris Quinn at the guard spots. Spoelstra said not to read into starting Beasley. Spoelstra has been pleased with Beasley's play but this seemed to be as much about seeing Beasley with the small lineup to start a game as Beasley earning the time. Beasley picked up two quick fouls within the first four minutes, limiting his playing time in the first half. Beasley had no rebounds, and said it was a career-first but said it was mostly because he was guarding players on the perimeter. Beasley is a natural offensively and had nine of his 19 points in the fourth quarter.

Tough night: Reserve Yakhouba Diawara played 16 minutes and went 0 for 4, including 0 for 2 from beyond the arc and had three rebounds and one steal. The Heat will need more from him. But in all fairness he's a solid defender so he did contribute. Diawara does not look the answer from beyond the arc with James Jones (wrist) sidelined.

Next up: The Heat faces New Orleans on Thursday in Mobile, Ala. at 7:30 p.m.

Comments

[Danny]

Ok, I actually went to the game and witnessed how the players did for myself. Wade and Beasely were phenomenal. Marion did good but had a few downs with a few bad shot selections and turnovers. Haslem did good but I definitely do not think he deserves the player of the game "award". He was out of position a lot of the time and let Darko and Gasol dunk the ball numerous times right under the basket. Haslem may be a temporary solution. But how long is temporary? Because against big teams we're going to have a very tough time with UD at center. Chalmers played well with his scoring and assists(9) but I was very surprised to see Quinn get little playing time. He was shooting the ball very well when he was in the game and I'm guessing Spo only kept him out because of his "injury". Good team effort today.

Anyone want to comment on this trade?
Udonis Haslem, Marcus Banks
for
Lamarcus Aldridge, Joel Pryzbilla.

The salaries match up so dont bother checking just let me know.

[Ken B.]

I'd take that trade in a heartbeat...A HEARTBEAT! Portland would tell us know in a half a heartbeat though.

[thejuandiggler]

too bad Marion numbers dont add up to get Aldridge and good shooter in Webster

[taheati]

I think all 3 deserved their props.

Marion for his 5 assists and only 1 T/O. Matrix understands Beasley's put-it-up disposition & seems to be "feeling" his way around a point-forward role in MIA's smallball frontcourt, opponent matchups permitting. Marion funneling scoring touches to Beasley + Haslem from the perimeter will also help Wade.

Beasley was offensively efficient and defensively committed despite early fouls. For someone who *never* gave defense much thought or effort, Beasley is making pretty good strides -- so far.

Haslem has played the 5 at a height disadvantage since college. But he'll need to re-bulk (although nowhere close to his Gator weight) for extended duty as an NBA 5. Haslem also needs to study guys like Nene Hilario, Karl Malone, Elton Brand -- guys with similar body types who drew/draw HIGH rates of FTAs per FGA (40% or more). If UD can tweak his game (positioning, body control, shot repertoire, i.e., using both hands more effectively) to make longer opposing 5s "pay" for their length, he'll be MUCH more effective. Haslem's career FT-rate is somewhere around 33%. He'll need to up it to at least 40%-45%+ to keep longer 5s off his back.

NOH will provide a better test, assuming Hornets starters see significant P/T.

[taheati]

*** yes, "strides" for Beasley would be baby-steps for someone already imbued with a defensive clue. Yes, he's whiffing. But the effort is there and defense starts with effort.

[taheati]

How could we forget?

Another undersized widebody Haslem should study to amp his FT-rate: Sir Round Mound of the Booty Assisted Rebound.

Barkley's career FT-rate was an astonishing better-than-Wade 56%, which Sir Charles mostly accumulated as a 4. Barkley at 6-6 240-250 when in optimal playing condition was also closer to Haslem in frame & actual height (w/out shoes).

Haslem will never have Barkley's overall game (or relative quickness to weight). But he could beg/borrow/steal enough tricks to become just as problematic for longer opposing 5s.

[lr]

quinn not playing much had nothing to do with his injury and everything to do with his man scoring on him at will. bottom line is, win the 14 minutes quinn was on the court last night, the heat were outscored by 11 points and the 34 minutes he was not on the court, they outscored the griz by 28 and although the disparity was not as drastic saturday, there were similar results and spo has to be realizing that. huge defensive liability and totally different tempo when he's in. chalmers stepped up big offensively but still needs alot of work on D, he had 5 fouls and his man scored at will on him but hopefully as season goes on, he'll improve on that. to me, as far as guard play, banks is the catalyst that steps things up, his defensive intensity cant be overlooked and he's starting to distribute the ball well and when squared up, his shooting is pretty impressive as well. his only miss last night was a half court shot at end of 1st quarter. banks start, chalmers coming in off bench and quinn sitting next to me in the 7th row.

[Orlando]

Can we please trade marion for odom and mihm or odom and farmhar?? marion cant do what he did in phoenix here in miami... he needs a point guard to get him the ball for easy buckets!! odom can create his own shot and is a better rebounder plus with mihm we get better at center. Any other players out there that we could trade marion for?

[Brad]

The Heat are getting ready. I can't wait for the real season to start. I think this will be the surprise breakout team. I can't wait for last seasons losses which i suffered watching (Which was pure pain) turn into this season of hope.

What does THE BALL DON'T LIE mean? Find out @ http://www.pickupbasketball.net/

[Trina]

There is no point in trading Shawn Marion right now if we aren't going to get a GOOD center in the deal. Shawn Marion is a better player than Lamar Odom and Mihm is just worthless trash. I say just allow Shawn to play out this year and then his huge contract is off the books. We are basically playing this year for next year. All we are trying to do right now is be competitive and make it to the playoffs. We're not trying to win a championship this year.

The only center even on the trading block right now is Eddy Curry. We don't need another overweight, overpaid center who can't rebound to save his life. We already got that (Blount & Magloire).

[HeatFan]

Totally agree Trina. We are not trading Marion for Odom. It does not make sense to trade Marion unless you are filling a need at PG or C, and odom does neither. Mihm is a backup C at best.

To answer your question Danny, that trade with Portland would be amazing, but there's no chance they'd do it. Aldridge is a stud, so they need to be getting something more substantial than Udonis back. A trade that works salary wise with them would be Aldridge and Raef Lafrentz ($11M expiring contract) for Marion. That's a trade I think both teams would consider (if they haven't already) since it fills a need for both teams. Portland is desperately trying to find a SF, and Marion's ability to do so much with so little would be the perfect fit for them. On the flip side, they are loaded with big men (Pryzbilla, Oden, Aldrige, Frye, Batum), which is our need. Aldridge would step right in at C. Move Udonis to the bench, where he can come in a nice rotation with Beasley, Aldridge, and Zo when he comes back.

Then, you let Lafrentz's contract come off the books and add another piece or two. We'd be looking very pretty for 2009 and after that.

That would be a dream scenario for me.

[STEVIE!]

i agree.

How long could HAslem possibly be the answer for?

1 year at most.......

kind-of reminds me of the Bulls of Pippen and Grants rookie year...... they had to go with Craig Hodges at PG(he sucked) and Charles Oakley at center (Haslem-type PF, but league-leading rebounder tho at 6'8)

They won 45 games and were on the rise...... the next season they traded Haslem for Cartwright, Pippen continued to grow, as did Grant, MJ's boy Paxson got the starting PG spot....... and the rest is history.... 3 years later they won their first championship in 91 with 28 year old MJ leading the way.

But yeah, they got it done for a year with Oakley there..... Haslem is a real good post defender and rebounder, that helps, he's very tough, that helps too..... Marion and Beasley are great rebounders and super-athletes that can really help with interior defense, rotating, shotblocking, rebounding and etc... as can Wade with his size/athleticims/length/cojones/bball iq

But yeah. It will help A TON once Zo is back to give us 20mpg as our starting center. Then Haslem can be the sub for both Beasley and Marion getting 25mpg out of that as well as another 12 or so a game at center subbing for Zo.... sounds good.

[Pay per View]

we should tell pat riley to explore a trade of Daequan Cook for Javaris C (from memphis) he would be probably better than every healthy PG that we have right now (except for Livingston) but he would be especially helpful off of the bench. Javaris would be great with second team. He is a combo guard in the same mold as Rodney Stuckey from Detroit and Tony Allen in Boston. He can push the ball and make his own shot and get and one’s. we are supposedly playing in a more uptempo offense in which he should thrive in. Memphis has no one to back up Mayo and Javaris is just wasting away as the 4th option on the bench. I believe with more playing time Javaris will become a very servicable player for us. Plus he is strong with the ball and plays some defense. He would have a better upside with the heat and Cook will have more upside backing up OJ Mayo. and the we could use Banks or Quinn in a package to get us a Big Man in the middle. Also Javaris should have went to us before but the lakers took him right in front of us and we ended up With Daequan Cook. The bottom line is he can score and he can get others easy baskets. And when James Jones comes back along with Dorrell Wright that second unit will be pretty exciting with Javaris running the point. Daequan Cook has done noting for us and maybe a change of teams would work out for both players. Plus the money and years are about even with them so a swap could work. Come on Pat Riley lets make this happen. Then try to get Anderson Varejo from Cleveland for our Big and we would be in great shape. Listen Orlando is already lookling to make that happen.