Bobcats 100, Heat 87

CHARLOTTE - So much for consistency.

Three games into the young season, that remains a foreign term for the Miami Heat, which followed Friday's blowout win over Sacramento with a 100-87 loss Saturday to Charlotte.

As Dwyane Wade said, "it's part of the growing pains." Indeed, it is. The Heat is still trying to learn how to balance out its up-and-down play this season. And it remains a work in progress. So, for as much excitement and hope that the Sacramento win provided the other night, there's just as much reason to face the reality of the situation after Saturday's loss.

One thing's already obvious. This version of the Heat is much better than the team that finished 15-67 last season. There's promise on this roster. There's hope. But the Heat will also have its share of bad nights - games when not even Dwyane Wade can shoot them out of danger.

Clearly, Saturday was one of those nights. As much as Wade tried to carry the team on his shoulders, there were moments when he looked like there was little regard for anything other than his shot attempts. When those shots go down, he's a hero. When they don't - and the man he's guarding seems to score at will - it can be a disaster.

Again, Saturday was one of those nights. We venture Beyond the Box Score.

Player of the Game: Udonis Haslem - Made his first seven shots of the game and did all he could to keep the Heat in the game on both ends with 16 points and seven rebounds. But the most important contribution came midway through the game when he went off on the team in an attempt to spark some emotion and energy. It didn't work. But his message about not getting "punked" needed to be heard.

Surprise, Surprise: Michael Beasley - Became the third-fasted rookie in Heat history to score 20 points in a game when he finished with 25 points, four rebounds and two blocks against the Bobcats. It was Beasley's third game. The only Heat players to score 20 faster in their rookie season were Steve Smith and Kevin Edwards. Offense, obviously, isn't where Beasley needs work. Defense is another matter.

Tough night: Dwyane Wade - Finished with 19 points, but missed 10 of his 15 field goal attempts and had five fouls. Wade admits he hasn't yet "hit my stride or rhythm" in three games. But what made a tough night worse was that his man - pick one - got off. Jason Richardson had 23 points on 10 of 17 shooting. Gerald Wallace, who was also guarded by Shawn Marion, had 34 points on 11 of 16 shooting.

Stat of the Night: The Heat forced 21 turnovers - and scored 20 off those Bobcat miscues - and still managed to lose by double digits.

That says it all: "I just told the team that if we lose, let's not lose because we got punked or they were more physical than us. Let's just lose a ball game because the better team won tonight." - Heat forward Udonis Haslem told the team during a second quarter timeout.

Next up: Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 7:30 Wednesday, AmericanAirlines Arena

Comments

[Patricio]

Once again an embarrassing performance by the Heat. Wade Wade Wade? He played like Ricky Davis. He was forcing his shot all game. He was reckless going to the rim, had no shot and once again was committing silly fouls and turnovers. Wade needs to stop thinking because he's a superstar that he can run thru picks and they won't call a foul. He played very poorly tonight. The Heat go as Wade goes and tonight we went downhill with him. Marion looked useless out there in the half court offense. Marion couldn't hold on to key rebounds. Haslem was solid as usual but struggled rebounding the ball. At times it looks like he's our best player out there (which is sad when Wade is on your team). Beasley was solid but we stopped going to him as we tried to get Wade going (which he could not buy a basket). Cook mine as well should have stayed in Miami because he was no where to be found. Quinny boy got a chance to play but looked like a freshman in college. The Heat played like if it was the 2007-2008 season. For a second there i thought we had Ricky Davis and Smush Parker out there. Every time the Heat would get close they could not get a stop on defense or come up with a key rebound. Horrible Horrible defense. Wallace destroyed us as he usually does and we were bullied down low by Okafor. No positives tonight except for Beasley's play and the wake up call. This wasn't even an elite team and we got spanked. Ya we beat the worst team in the league but we can't beat an OK team. The Heat also couldn't rebound and we looked as small as we did when we were blown out in New York. The Heat need to get it together if they want to be a 500. team. Most importantly Wade needs to step up. Sometimes he plays recklessly. Like if he doesn't care, he makes poor decisions and starts trying to make spectacular plays. I know Jordan was in attendance but damn you need to play better. It almost seemed like he was trying to impress Jordan so much that he forgot he had four other guys out there. He needs to make everyone else better and then get his last. He's the provider of the family. The provider hustles and feeds his family first and then worries about himself later. Which Wade needs to do. Come on Dwayne GET IT TOGETHER!!! LETS GO HEAT!!!

[RJG]

Spot on Patricio-couldn't agree with you more.

[RJG]

oh yea one more thing--get a real center!

[JESSE]

Spoltra sucks period.... The S.o.b comes out of a blowout win and tweaks his roster to play QUINNN!!! Are you serious?? He couldnt even get the ball from inbound let alone halfcourt. And yea wade was forcing shots tonight he was useless. oh and did i mention QUINN yes the girl quinn was getting picked on defense 12-0 bobcats when in 9-0 us with him out he is so slowwwwww GGGGRRRRRRR and waive blount i rather give vladimir stefania a call before playing him EVER!!

[JESSE]

Spoltra sucks period.... The S.o.b comes out of a blowout win and tweaks his roster to play QUINNN!!! Are you serious?? He couldnt even get the ball from inbound let alone halfcourt. And yea wade was forcing shots tonight he was useless. oh and did i mention QUINN yes the girl quinn was getting picked on defense 12-0 bobcats when in 9-0 us with him out he is so slowwwwww GGGGRRRRRRR and waive blount i rather give vladimir stefania a call before playing him EVER!!

[lasarte]

Wade has looked like this for two seasons - trying to be Kobe. Remember his holding onto the ball, as seconds slipped away, to take the game winner which didn't go down?

Riley bears a load of the blame. Name another superstar who has to put up with a d-leaguers in the line-up. Kobe pushed the issue and got himself a better coach and much better team. Not to say Wade needs to start shopping himself as Kobe did, but he needs to have some serious meetings with Pat and get something done. If Lebron or Kobe had to put up with the crap lineup we had last year both might have wound up playing in Italy.
What's the answer? Get Wade backcourt help - either in the form of a sf or g. Marbury? Well, Marbury and Chalmers looks a lot better than Chalmers and Quinn. Marion doesn't fit on this team, unless he's brought back to the 4 and Beasley to the 3, but at this stage that type of experimenting need be avoided.

[genius]

everyone hated on me last spring when i said
showcase Wade in Olympics and then trade him
for 2 all-stars and 2 good role players. after seeing him do the same things that made us lose to Bulls in 4 and all last year, i was right and all those who used his injuries as excuse were wrong. yes he was hurt and less mobile and explosive, but he needs to play OFF the ball like he did with Olympians. we don't have the kind of guys that will let him do that, so he's the man, and he's not up to it. too many flaws. sad.

[genius]

Jesse don't start hatin on Spo so early. he needs a chance to learn. maybe livingston's knee couldn't take 2 nights in a row, so he had to go with quinnie. i agree and have been saying for 2 weeks that he has been experimenting too much and needed to firm up his rotation. not 8 or 9, but 10 and stick to it for a while. but it looks like Blount should now sit in favor of Anthony.

[genius]

Jesse don't start hatin on Spo so early. he needs a chance to learn. maybe livingston's knee couldn't take 2 nights in a row, so he had to go with quinnie. i agree and have been saying for 2 weeks that he has been experimenting too much and needed to firm up his rotation. not 8 or 9, but 10 and stick to it for a while. but it looks like Blount should now sit in favor of Anthony.

[JESSE]

genious is not a matter of hatin.. is the truth! Quinn is too small and not athletic enough to play in the pros! And Spo is just not ready! Beasley was as hot as a torch in this game and he didnt consistently feed him, and than you have Wade shooting fade aways! this team needs a leader someone with a voice than can stand up to wade (AVERY JOHNSON- TRUST ME HE SEEN WHAT ARE DWADES STRENGTH AND HE HAS BEEN SAYING NO ROOKIE CAN SCORE THE BASKETBALL LIKE MICHAEL BEASLEY)if dwade doesnt Likeit/listen he can go play ball in denver with all those offensive minded people.. better that than holding us back. I HOPE HE CAN FIGURE IT OUT LIKE IN THE FINALS OR WE ARE F_____ __ LOL

[Patricio]

You guys are all completely wrong!!! TRADE DWAYNE WADE??? The third best player in the league!!! Y? Because of two bad games. Thank god you guys aren't making the decisions for the Heat because we would have already traded Dwayne Wade for Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich. You guys obviously have no knowledge about the game. You just don't go and trade a player of Wade's caliber for two all stars and two role players. The only way you trade Wade is if you get Kobe Bryant or Lebron James in return. You think that the Lakers or the Cavs would trade Kobe or Lebron in their primes for two all stars and two role players? HELL NO!!! We had two bad games and everyone is freaking out. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. What were you guys expecting a championship? We are in a rebuilding stage. We are on the right track but you just don't change your whole team around in one year unless you make trades similar to what the Celtics did. It's still early in the season and we still can turn it around and if we don't then so be it. But you just don't go making rational decisions like that. By 2010 the Heat will be a championship contender!!! GUARANTEED!!! We have made key additions to position ourselves in a few years to be a championship contender. Shaun Livingston, Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, James Jones. You put these guys with D. Wade and Udonis (which should end his career in Miami) and which ever star the heat acquire (Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer) which I guarantee they will and they'll be fine. There are many superstars that would love to play for a championship along side Dwayne Wade and get to live in beautiful Miami. So before you guys start saying ridiculous comments such as "trade Wade" you guys should really do your research and see what trading a superstar can do to a team. LETS GO HEAT!!!

[JESSE]

I never said to trade wade I just said he needs a coach to tell him when he is F*&*ing us up! If he doesnt want to than ill trade him im sick of these stars caring more about their stats and not the teams performance like if they are playing nba live. Im a Dwade fan but im heated cause he has been playing sorry! reminding me of the days of me having nightmares of walker shooting 3's for us lmaooo

[Magic_Marc]

Geez you guys started hatin already?? we are 3 games into the season with 2 rookies in the starting lineup. Let me say this slowly, Wade is the best 2 in the league. Stop being the types of fans who stroke his sack when he plays well and disses him when he doesn't.

Haven't you been watching his commercials? Its not a commercial its a message! Get a clue. There will be days when criticism is warranted. Since we seem so eager to crticize, lets at least be a smart enough fans to know when its appropriate.

[FRANK!]

TRADE WADE?? U GUYS ARE RETARDS!~~

[JESSE]

DWAYNE WADE IS A P@$$Y I CANT BELIEVE WHAT HE IS TURNING TO! AND MAGIC MARC GET OFF HIS SACK YOUR FALLING FOR HIM WITH HIS COMMERCIALS LOLLLL WHEN HE STARTS PASSING THE BALL TO OPEN TEAMMATES I WILL START RESPECTING HIM AS A PLAYER. AS A PERSON I CAN CARE LESS ABOUT HIM AND HIS ENDORSEMENTS LOLL I CARE ABOUT THE HEAT!! GO HEAT!!!

[Jimmie]

2 injured role players, 2 starting rookies and a first year coach just give it some time people. Don't you remember Wade's rookie year we started 0-7 and eneded up reaching the conference Semi-Finals. That team also had a great rookie and a young coach. This team is not a complacent Shaq led team, it's a young ambitious team learning their true identity. Believe me by the end of the year all of you will be right back on the band wagon.

[heatstroked]

I think there *is* a point to be made when Spoelstra says one thing and does another *if* the doing wasn't determined by injury.

Take consistency, stepchild of efficiency. The Heat destroyed the lowly King by outenergizing the Kings on both ends of the floor. How much energy? More collective energy than most teams would expend to win against a team like the Kings.

How so?

Inefficiency. Not just player inefficiency but *SYSTEM* inefficiency. I think both Spo & Riley remain in denial. The game today, especially defensively, isn't the same game Miami succeeded with circa 1997. During the prime of Rileyball's success, (offensive) dislodging wasn't a foul, players could handcheck, there was no 3-second *defensive* rule. Add those rules to other rule changes over ensuing years and you're talking about a new paradigm for defensive success -- one which perennially successful defensive teams like the Jazz, Spurs and now Celtics have acknowledged and adapted to while the Heat have largely not.

Hence 2005-06, where Heat veterans gave blood & wore out their wheels to win the Riley way. The cost? A summer too short for an older team to renew and replenish in time for a respectable title defense. As a result, where Riley only perceived "disrespect" in 2006-07 and subsequently fumed, others saw players unable to summon the same unprecedented *level* of mental and physical *intensity* required to repeat according to script, i.e., Riley's script.

Fast forward 2 season later: Up and down seasons now mirrored in up and down nights.

Sure, A new cast of Heat players now know what it takes to win. What most *don't* realize though some suspect -- it takes more energy and intensity to win on a nightly basis in Miami's system than, in all likelihood, any other system in the league, including perennially successful systems (SAS, LAL, UTA, NOH) that win with defense. The only other team in recent memory that won with as much energy as a Riley system demands were the 2003-05 Piston under Larry Brown. Is it coincidence Detroit hasn't seen a Finals since or did the Piston core simply run out of gas in an uphill battle to repeat?

Because there's little if any "downhill" to the Heat system unless they're getting easy baskets in transition. Spo' says therein the clue: More stops = more layups. Against poor defensive teams -- maybe. Against well-disciplined teams who get back on defense to defend against fast breaks, early offense? See MIA v. CHA round 1 (under Brown).

Likewise offense. Playing Quinny for extended minutes made Spoelstra's job easier. Rather than retool a halfcourt offense that always sputtered against disciplined defenses or athletic defenders -- with/without a Shaq, Zo or equivalent big -- Spo simply inserted a driver to shift gears more smoothly without ever changing the gear ratio. Evidence the outcome, Miami offense never left neutral while it defense, due to octane depletion from the previous night, lacked spark.

Shorter: unless coaches do their part to optimize system efficiency, player inefficiency & the inconsistencies resulting therefrom will always be a problem when input (player energy) exceeds output (wins).

[heatstroked]

Evidence the outcome, [Miami's] offense never left neutral while [it's] defense, due to octane depletion from the previous night, lacked spark.

[JESSE]

SHUT THE F*&(k UP!! DONT YOU DARE MENTION F.ING QUINN NAME ANYMORE THAT MAN SORRY AS HELL!! OH THE SHOCKER DETROIT GETS A.I AND TRADE BILLUPS MEANWHILE RILEY SITS IN HIS OLD A$$ AND POCKETS THE HEAT MONEY! I CANT STAND HIM I CANT WAIT UNTIL ARISON SON TAKES OVER! HOPEFULLY HE IS NOT AS CHEAP AS RILEY. I HATE WHEN PEOPLE GIVE HIM CREDIT AS GM.. THE ONLY REASON SHAQ CAME HERE IS BECAUSE HE SAID HE WANTED MIAMI NOT BECAUSE RILEY PULLED A MGIC TRICK. AND BESIDES HE GAVE UP ODOM AND BUTLER 2 IMPORTANT PIECES OF OUR TEAM AT THE TIME FOR A 30 S0METHING YEAR OLD SHAQ THAT REGARDLESS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP NEVER LIVED UP TO THE HYPE HE GOT HERE IN MIAMI! HE HELPED BUT NOT LIKE HE DID IN PAST L.A TEAMS AND WHILE HE WAS ON THE DOWNFALL OF HIS CAREER AND HIS PAYCHECK GOT FATTER LIKE HIMSELF ODOM AND BUTLER GOT BETTER AND HELPED THEIR TEAMS SUCCEED! WE NEED CHARLES BARKLEY AS OUR GM (THE MAN KNOWS HIS BASKETBALL) AND AVERY JOHNSON- JEFF VAN GUNDY AS OUR COACH... THE END.

[FLAsportsfan]

Yo, I was just on ESPN760.com and I read that Erik Spoelstra will be on ESPN Radio 760 with Evan Cohen today. Tune to 760 AM to listen from 4 to 7 in south Florida, or stream the interview online at espn760.com.

[FLAsportsfan]

Yo, I was just on ESPN760.com and I read that Erik Spoelstra will be on ESPN Radio 760 with Evan Cohen today. Tune to 760 AM to listen from 4 to 7 in south Florida, or stream the interview online at espn760.com.

[Patricio]

The Heats biggest problem is not having a big man that can play like a big man!!! The biggest player on the team is a 7 foot sg. Though UD and Marion are getting double digit rebounds our defense is what's suffering due to our under sized team. The Knicks and Bobcats big men were just gobbling up all the rebounds over the heads of the Heat. So as a result of our small big men the Heat are giving up more points. The same reason why they can't get a key rebound down the stretch of a game. Another consequence of being under sized is because we have no post game they are just crowding up the paint and making it even harder for Wade to penetrate (which is his strongest attribute+which is why Wade is struggling). We need to use Michael Beasley and Shawn Marion a lot more on the post. Since we have no post game or three point shooting all you have to do is crowd the paint to beat us. We have to post opposing teams up more so we can create a bit more space for Wade and others. You can't compete in todays NBA without a big center that can at least rebound and play some defense. All the recent champions had a big man they could count on (Celtics-Garnett, Spurs-Duncan, Heat-Shaq, Pistons-Wallace, Lakers-Shaq). What this tells us is that unless you have Michael Jordan and you have no big man chances are you are not going to compete for a championship or at most go deep into the playoffs. So we have to build this team for 2009 (Carlos Boozer) or 2010 (Bosh) and then we'll be in position to win championships for years to come. We need to sign Boozer or Bosh, resign Wade, and get a Center that is solid when it comes to rebounding and defense. Spoelstra will be fine, he's very smart. He adapts well to things and give him time it's his first year. As time goes on he'll be at least a good coach. As far as this moron JESSE, for you to say shaq didn't live up to the hype tells us you have no knowledge of the game. Even though Wade did most of the work in the finals, Shaq changed the attitude of the franchise and he made the Heat instant Champion contenders. You think we would of been championship contenders with the team we had before the Shaq trade. NO!!! Riles knew exactly what he was getting with Shaq another 3 or 4 years of playing with him declining each year. Ya he started to get lazy the last two years he was with the Heat but ill take it for a championship. There are many teams that haven't won a championship in 20 years. So next time think before you speak so i won't have to waste my time addressing illiterates.

[JESSE]

The only moron is you!! I never said that the trade was a bad deal! The diesel is the diesel and if you ask me i rather have him here that marion! what i said was that riley had nothing to do with shaq coming here! he wasnt even coaching and shaq said he wanted to play with dwade, when i said he didnt live to his hype was because people thought he was gonna put numbers like he did in L.A (you cant NEVER compare the L.a shaq to the miami shaq YOU MORRRROOOONNN) moving on... L.a was desperate to move shaq and riley handed them two key players than he got ANTOINE WALKER?? OOMMMGGGGG AWFUL!!!!! he is one of the worst! GP came cause of shaq and UD was discovered by stan. ZO gives pat the rat more credit he deserves so think about what you say Pat the rat #2 and write something more interesting that telling us we need a big man?!?! who doesnt know that you jackass but than again you defending riley... hmmm good luck in life kid

[Patricio]

For one Idiot (JESSE), I never said you said it was a bad deal I said you said that shaq didn't live up to the hype (which your obviously wrong). Lets see what you said: "AND BESIDES HE GAVE UP ODOM AND BUTLER 2 IMPORTANT PIECES OF OUR TEAM AT THE TIME FOR A 30 S0METHING YEAR OLD SHAQ THAT REGARDLESS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP NEVER LIVED UP TO THE HYPE HE GOT HERE IN MIAMI!"-JESSE hmm that sounds like you said that shaq didn't live up to the hype. First year 23 ppg 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 3 assists and 60 % per game. Second Year 20 ppg, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assist, and 60 %. Third year 17 ppg, 7 rebounds, 1 block, 2 assists, and 59 %. Fourth Year 14 ppg, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, and 58 %. Lets see what I said: "Riles knew exactly what he was getting with Shaq another 3 or 4 years of playing with him declining each year"-Patricio. Hmm sounds like exactly what I said. No one expected the shaq from L.A. moron. Only those such as yourself that have no knowledge of the game. Shaq was 32 when he came to the Heat. You think at 32 with that huge body he was going to put up the numbers he did when he was 26. NO MORON!!! Secondly, His first year and second year at 22 ppg and 10 rebounds, 20 ppg and 9 rebounds was more than good enough for a league that lacked good centers. Third the Heat knew he would change the attitude of the whole franchise. Riles brought shaq not only for his huge image but because he was going to turn Wade into a superstar (which is what he did). Shaq also brought double teams that gave space to others. Another thing you don't seem to understand which is why your an idiot is that the trade of Shaq for Marion was huge for the Heat, why? because we got rid of his huge contract and now were able to sign a superstar free agent in 2009 or 2010. Your one of those fans that jumps on the band wagon. You think Riles is an idiot how is it that he's a hall of famer and he has 6 championships (if you count one as an assistant coach). Even as a GM he doesn't get enough credit. He's the reason we got ZO, Hardaway, Mashburn, PJ Brown, Shaq, and Posey. He has had his bad times but who hasn't. Ever since he came to the Heat franchise the Heat have been in the playoffs almost ever year. When Riles makes a bad move you bad mouth him and when he makes a good move your the first one to jump on his dick!!! So before you challenge me to a debate realize your challenging someone that knows what he's talking about (Unlike yourself). Hmmm good luck in life MORON!!!

[Jesse]

eewww what you know about the game?? I bet you never even put a jersey on you damn couch potato! So let me get this str8?! you said nobody was giving shaq hype or expected to be la shaq... Parade, "oh he is mad and is on a mission" "this is SHAQS team" "Shaq the most dominant player in the game" WHO THE FU(K GETS A PARADE WHEN THEY GET TRADED???? YOU IDIOT! he got hardaway cause hardaway was like a stephon today n the pat being cheap like always got for cheap and it turned out pretty good i played against hardaway and he even said he hated playing for rileys.. just like everyone in the league but if they say it than the media makes them look like a team obliviator. Why you think after shaq no star wants part of miami?? are you kidding? the man is cheap! admit it! The marion trade was a bad one and you know it have you seen shaq this year???? he was hurt last year and going through hard times in LIFE that are more important than basketball. a 45 yrs old shaq will be better than a 29 yr old marion ANY DAY! just because of what you said he brings to the table! w.e im tired of arguing with you! The heat will be so much better when players get an assurance that rileys is not gonna come down when they start winning.. besides you probably cant hit a free throw if your life depended on it and you telling me what i know about THE GAME lolll you kidding me! go watch some more dwade commercials lol

[Jesse]

Shaq, Haslem, Beasley, Wade, and Chalmers WOW how crazy would that be?? Contenders FOR SURE! GOD I HATE RILEYS! sure he got rid of shaqs contract but only to get two worst ones in banks and BLOUNT who should rolls a blunt cause he is WACK and lets not forget people the heat gave away the picks for this year.. minnesotta is throwing a parade themselves right now! But Patricio Rileys is Gm of the year in yor world right?? haha your a joke

[Patricio]

First of all Jesse go back to school cause obviously you don't know how to spell or how to type out a sentence without any grammar errors!!! I know that you have to use the basketball thing because you have nothing else to say in response to me proving you wrong. I bet ill destroy you when it comes to playing ball because obviously you don't know anything about the game let alone play the game. The Shaq Marion trade was a bad trade? you once again prove us right and insure us that you truly are an idiot that can't spell. If we would of kept lazy Shaq we would of had to pay him 20 million a year for this season and next season. Marion comes off the books after this season. That seems like a pretty good trade to me. It puts us in position to get some or a key player this coming off season. Shaq's parade was to excite everyone of the upcoming Heat season not because he was going to put up stats like he did in L.A. What does players not liking Riley have to do anything with him being a good gm? Maybe in your tiny little brain it does matter but in an educated mind that's irrelevant. Can you even spell irrelevant? You think that you can just turn around a team in one season? It's not that easy boy, if it was then everyone would be doing it. Riles will position us to be a championship contender in 2009 or 2010. He's already started the process this offseason with the additions of Livingston, Chalmers, Beasley, Jones and Diawara. Your rating Riles as a GM by one bad trade (Ricky Davis, Mark Blount Even though we got rid of Walker's huge contract). So that trade wasn't as bad as people make it out to be. The 1st pick is what hurts the most but its protected if were in the top 10 picks. What about Riles bringing in Alonzo, Hardaway, Posey and Shaq. Ever since he came to the Heat we've been playoff contenders almost every year. Like I said before no one expected the Shaq from LA to come in and destroy everyone. He was very good but no one was expecting 28 ppg and 14 rebounds per game. So please leave that alone already. Even Dave Hyde supports me moron "when Riley swings hard he often connects. This goes back to Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway and continues right through bringing in Shaq. Say what you will about how O'Neal left, but he helped deliver a championship. That's why Riley rolled the dice on him. That's why it worked in a big way". Hmm sounds like the trade did work. We did win our 1st championship in franchise history. Lets see what else he said "Wade also should see that Riley hasn't made an aggressive trade the past couple of seasons because he has been handcuffed by the Shaq contract." What does that tell you that the Marion for Shaq trade was a good one. Another thing where are you getting this stuff that Riles is cheap? Micky Arison is the one making the decisions whether or not we go over the cap or not so if anyone is cheap it's Arison which I can tell you he is not (Billionaire). So Jesse please stop writing on this blog your embarrassing yourself not only with your spelling errors but your points. LETS GO HEAT!!!

P.S. The Heat looked real good tonight against the Sixers. Your right Riles is a moron!!! IDIOT!!!!!!!!