LA Clippers 97, Miami Heat 96 (Beyond the Box Score)

LOS ANGELES—The Heat lost 97-96 to the hapless Clippers Saturday night at the Staples Center. There’s plenty for the Heat to ponder following this loss. The most painful part was what unfolded with 7.2 seconds left. The Heat trailed by 1 point, Dwyane Wade stole the ball from Clippers point guard Baron Davis, who was trying to make a desperation pass to avoid receiving a five-second violation on the inbound. As Wade tried to throw the ball upcourt, where Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem and Shawn Marion were wide open and in position to catch a pass and get a dunk for the win, he wound up out of bounds and collided with referee Courtney Kirkland. As a result Kirkland inadvertently blew his whistle, stopping the play.

             Wade clearly was inbounds as he made the pass after the steal. At first it seemed like the officials had ruled that Wade was out of bounds. The Heat was given possession but by then the Heat’s golden opportunity was gone.

            The Clippers had a foul to give and rookie Mike Taylor fouled Wade with 2.9 seconds left in the game. Rookie Mario Chalmers in bounded the ball and Wade fired a 27-foot shot with Marcus Camby in his face, but Wade’s shot fell short.

            This game will be remembered for the controversial end, but several other factors contributed to the Heat’s loss.

Player of the Game:  Dwyane Wade scored 26 points and if not for his late heroics to help erase an eight-point deficit with 1:24 left this game would not have been as close. Wade again provided a highlight reel of dunks and continued sinking jumpers and even three-pointers (he was 2 of 7). On the night, he shot 12 of 21. He also had a season-high 11 assists. Overall a solid follow-up performance for Wade, a night after scoring a season-high 43 points.

Surprise, surprise: Rookie Michael Beasley provided a spark off the bench, scoring 24 points (one shy of his career high) in 27 minutes. He had 17 points in the second quarter. He shot 10 of 16, including converting a career-high 3 of 4 three-pointers. Beasley started the game 0 of 3 from the field, making him 0 for 8 including his Friday performance but then he was on fire. Beasley had five rebounds, but Wade seemed upset with Beasley’s late game-defense. After Clippers forward Zach Randolph hit a three-point that gave LA a 90-86 lead with 3:56 left, Wade got in Beasley’s ear. Beasley’s body language indicated that he felt like had done what he could.

Tough night: Shawn Marion had a team-high turnovers and overall an off night. Did he leave all his energy in Phoenix? On Friday, Marion played his first game against his former team the Suns, scoring 10 points, and adding nine rebounds and six assists. He was 1 of 6 from the field and finished with five points thanks to hitting three free throws. Marion had nine rebounds but that didn’t negate the obvious: He missed several shots near the basket, including at least one dunk. 

Light em’ Up: It’s a toss up between the Clippers’ Randolph and former FSU standout Al Thornton. Both finished with 27 points and accounted for 20 of LA’s 29 fourth quarter points.

Stat of the Night: LA attempted 35 free throws, compared to the Heat’s 11. That easily could have been the difference in the game. The Clippers managed to miss 12 free throws, but still the Heat didn’t get to the line enough and had the Heat been in the bonus in the fourth quarter, Mike Taylor’s foul of Wade with 2.9 seconds would have sent him to the line. Wade had an impressive game so it’s hard to pick on him but when his game features mostly jumpers and dunks he doesn’t get to the line as much. He attempted two free throws Saturday, and when Wade isn’t getting to the line the Heat has few other players capable of drawing a lot of fouls.

That says it all: “We won the game, they took it from us.” –Wade’s reaction to what unfolded with about seven seconds left.

Next up: Heat at Golden State Warriors Monday, 10:30 p.m.

Comments

[heatstroked]

SR: "After Clippers forward Zach Randolph hit a three-point that gave LA a 90-86 lead with 3:56 left, Wade got in Beasley’s ear. Beasley’s body language indicated that [Beasley] felt like [he'd] done what he could."

Not good. Not that teammates getting on teammates or teammates give-and-taking criticism is a big deal. It isn't. Antoine Walker got his a$$ chewed regularly during Miami's championship season.

But doing it on the court. Doing it in public. Doing it *repeatedly* when the repetitions redound to ONE particular player and his defensive shortcomings compounded by a persistent I'm-young, I'm-trying, What's-the-rush indifference or lack of urgency -- problem.

Yes, Beasley's trying to improve (his defense). No, contra the spin of a some (i.e., SFL) columnists, trying is not enough.

The list of exceptional me-first scorers who don't defend is long and undistinguished. Me-first like Glenn Robinson, Derrick Coleman, Jerry Stackhouse, Dirk Nowitzki. Scores who *never* won a championship and, likely, never will.

Similarly, the number of NBA teens who became *great* NBA players is inversely proportional to the "age excuse." Sure, inexperience and immaturity can be problematic. But for every teen like Kobe(18), KG(19), LeBron(19), Dwight Howard(19), there are many more Josh Smiths (19), Darius Miles(19), Eddie Griffins(19), Ricky Davis(19), Jonathan Bender(19), Kwame Brown(19), Bruno Sundov(18), Sebastian Telfair(19), Darko Milicic(18), Stephon Marbury putting up big numbers on bad teams never to see a ring, on a fast track to obscurity or passed along from team to team as totally dispensable/disposable "journeymen."

Blowing off Haslem is one thing. But blowing off Haslem AND Wade repeatedly -- this isn't the first time Wade/Haslem had to wetnurse Baby Beasley ONCOURT in the middle of a game -- when Wade and Haslem are the only 2 remaining Heat with meaningful CHAMPIONSHIP cred (sorry Dorell) -- is simply what it is: evidence of a talented punk with neither the spine nor guts to accept constructive criticism from PROVEN teammates who ONLY want to win.

Riley made the trip to LA. I hope he talks the talk, i.e., TRADE talk.

[pugtv]

Ralph Lawler (Clippers commentator) is the worst NBA TV commentator ever. He has no insight and continuously makes stupid and unbalanced comments in favor of the Clippers. What a loser.

[heatstroked]

/offtopic.

Wow. Not WOW but just wow. Like many Heat fans, I'm not happy at the "reality" of LeBron the Knick. But we're nowhere close to *that* reality with more than 18 months to go.

Which doesn't change the fact New York remains enemy #1 to many Heat fans including moi.

So, it was VERY entertaining to watch St. Donnie Michael lie/sin their way into potential purgatory (liability in any arising tort) when they suspended Marbury for, according to them, insubordination because Marbury allegedly refused D'Antoni's "request" to play even and despite numerous NEW YORK news accounts that described D'Antoni's "request" -- in D'Antoni's OWN words -- as an "invitation."

***

New York Times, 11/22/2008 [ http://tinyurl.com/5txhnt ].

D'Antoni according to D'Antoni: "There’s 30-35 minutes out there, and they’re yours ***if you want them***. Are you ready to go?"

Marbury according to D'Antoni: "[I'm not] comfortable with the situation, [I don't] want to play."

D'Antoni according to D'Antoni: "O.K., that’s your decision, and that’s fine."

---

One week later, New York Times, 11/29/2008 [ http://tinyurl.com/6yc4ks ].

Donnie Walsh according to Walsh: "A player’s central obligation is to provide his professional services when called upon. Because [Marbury] refused the coach’s ***request*** to play in the team’s last game, we had no choice but to impose disciplinary action."

***

HUH?

Since when is "There’s 30-35 minutes out there, and they’re yours if you want them" a "request", much less an order?

Ha! I DARE the Knicks to pursue this in court if the NBPA (on behalf of Marbury) wins its appeal.

What a joke.

Heat angle?

If, as some reports suggest, Miami is high on Marbury's list of future destinations and "if", as earlier reportsn alleged, the Heat would be interested if Marbury were released -- maybe it wouldn't be so much a marriage in hell doomed by Marbury's selfishness so much as a one year prenuptial (test drive) with Stephon consumed by revenge to excel.

If it worked for Shaq (vis. Lakers), it could work for anyone.

[JESSE]

The heat getting marbury would do us wonders!!! that boi can ball and people dont realize what a gifted defender he really is! However i want to see Riley push for a big man out there maybe they can give away a Gasol again lol hey they already did it once...

[Patricio]

I agree with Heatstroked. If the Heat sign him to a veterans minimum for one year then it won't be a gamble as many people seem to think it will be. This so called "cancer" is pretty go on the court. I wouldn't mind the Heat signing him for a one year deal with a teams option for the second year. The Heat need another scorer for Wades sake which Marbury can more than provide. I think he should come off the bench first along side Beasley as either our PG or SG. I would like him to back up Wade at the SG spot. I'm tired of people saying he's a shoot first PG. It's not that he's a shoot first PG it's that he's more of a SG (He's a scorer that can dish it out just like Wade). So y not make him a SG and use his scoring ability to take some of the load off Wades shoulders. If he's available the Heat need to jump on him right away. Sign him to a veterans minimum with the second year team option. He's going to be very motivated and won't cause any problems GUARANTEED. And if he does no biggie, HE'S GONE!!! I also see a trade coming soon. The Nuggets have been trying to get their hands on Marion for quite some time. Now that they have Billups they want to solidify their chances to go deep into the playoffs. Who better than Marion which can play positions 1-4 and that has more than proven he can play great in the Western Conference. Don't worry Heat fans with the Nuggets acquiring Marion the Heat will be getting a talented young center NeNe (26 years old), a three point shooter Kleiza and Atkins (for money reasons only, and to possibly tutor Chalmers a bit). If the Heat can make this trade we would be a way better team now and in the future.

This would be my line up:
PG Chalmers/ Quinn/ Livingston/
SG Wade/ Marbury/ Cook/
SF Kleiza/ Jones/ Diawara/ Wright
PF Haslem/ Beasley/ Anthony/
C NeNe/ Mourning/ Magloire/ Blount

Release options: Blount, Magloire, Wright.

P.S. The Clippers might be interested in dealing Kaman now that they acquired Randolph which is averaging 12 rebounds per game. Kaman for Marion maybe. LETS GO HEAT!!!