Game Breakdown: Heat 95, Bulls 87

Jermaine O'Neal broke his nose. Udonis Haslem continued to break his old mold. And Dwyane Wade simply broke the spirits of his hometown Chicago Bulls. It all culminated in a 95-87 victory for the Heat that was secured Sunday by its lock-down defense.

Miami is 3-0 for the first time since it went 4-0 to open the 2004-05 season. Along the way Sunday, Wade became the first player in a Heat uniform to reach 10,000 career points. But the Heat did it again with balance and defense.

Wade scored 25 points to lead four Heat players in double figures. And Miami, which entered Sunday leading the league in field-goal percentage defense, provided another defensive gem. The Bulls shot just 40.9 percent from the field and missed 15 of its final 21 shots.

The Heat is hot for now. And the solid start through three games is a confidence boost, especially coming off an injury-riddled 2-5 campaign in the preseason.

"It gives us that edge that we can be one of the best teams in the NBA," forward Michael Beasley said. "It's early, there are 79 (games) to go, but I think we are getting off to a great start."

D. WADE'S DOINGS: Wade led the way with 25 points on 8 of 19 shooting from the field and an 8 of 10 effort from the free-throw line. But his two biggest plays after that sick, double-reverse layup in the lane were the two assists late in the fourth. Yes, Wade did his best damage as a playmaker on this night. He set up Quentin Richardson in the corner for a huge 3-pointer that put Miami ahead 89-83 with 1:40 left. Wade again drew defenders moments later and found Haslem on the baseline for a jumper that sealed it.

TURNING POINT: That came with 4:14 left, when Jermaine O'Neal converted a layup and free throw to bring the Heat back from a five-point deficit in the fourth. The play put the Heat ahead 82-80 and was the biggest contribution from O'Neal, who wasn't as effective Sunday as he had been in the previous two wins when he had 22 points and 12 rebounds in both. But the three-point play gave Miami momentum again and set up a tough, slugfest of a finish.

WINNING EDGE: Despite some early problems with turnovers, it's hard to lose when you hold a team to 17 points in the fourth quarter and to just one field goal in the game's final four minutes. That's what the Heat did to Chicago on Sunday. John Salmons' 3-pointer was the lone Chicago basket down the stretch.

KEY CONTRIBUTION: Give it up for the Heat's bench. Haslem, Joel Anthony, Carlos Arroyo and Dorell Wright combined for 35 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and four assists. The second unit, which played without shooting specialist Daequan Cook (shoulder injury) was 16 of 24 from the field. Haslem led the bench with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

NEXT UP: Suns at Heat, Tuesday, 7:30 - AmericanAirlines Arena

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

Comments

[JDOGTHEDOG]

Let me guess what the post here are going to say. "Beasley didn't play enough! Why is Haslem playing more than him?" STFU!!!! That's my answer to you guys. I'm sick of hearing that bull. They both played awesome! I was at the game and the blocks by Anthony, Beasley and Dorell Wright we INNNNNSSAAAANNNEEEE!!! Lol

[JDOGTHEDOG]

I have a question though? Dorell Wright played tonight... He played really good I liked his energy and even tho he only scored 2 points he was killing it on defense. But James Jones was at the bench and he is getting paid the big bucks how come he doesn't play? Is there a reason for that? Because we played Diawara suey asss against Indiana and not him.. Quite an embarrassment.

[pugtv]

41-41. Don't get too high. Don't get too low. Next year is our year.

[liam]

55 wins pugtv, better believe it

[UD's biggest fan]

Great game by Haslem. The bench suits him.

[UD's biggest fan]

Beasley still needs to be out there to close out quarters because when we face the real playoff teams we're going to need him.

[Perfectseason]

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[thinkjoe]

Come on guys each game will be different and so will the line-ups. Give credit where its do. Good team chemistry, different players rising to the occasion. Great Job Heat, nice job Coach Spo.

[black the trucker]

well, good win, but i just don't know how the next five games stack up just yet... i like the start but something just doesn't feel right, i can't put my finger on it yet but something just doesn't seem like everyone is on the same page.. back to the game, this team was and is the kind of team that grinds and battles, so beating them at their kind of game or doing what they do better than them all though the same is still a good win.. i know one thing, if i could sit down with pat, i think we could up with a good plan, what ya say?? anyway, looking ahead the suns on tuesday, we can't get caught up playing their style of game, we have to control tempo, this team isn't that good so don't let them think they are.. come out and take the game over and establish yourselves from the tip.. i don't think it's far fetched to think 50 win's this season, but it's not going to be easy.. wiining the first three is a good start, but lets see how we can improve and get better as a team...

[jpejeff]

Great win,great start.We need to take care of biz in Nov.,because Dec. scedule is brutal. I like everything I have seen so far.Go Heat!

[black the trucker]

hey, what do you think about this trade; beasley,wright,cook to the bulls for deng... think about it, then think again.. makes sense, i know , i know...

[jpejeff]

Not a good trade.IF we get Bosh or another max out contract we are gonna need role players with smaller contracts to make up the rest of our team. I also like our young players,beside Chi-town would get a lil more cap space with Wright coming off the books next year.We dont want to help them get wade. If you're bold enough to trade Bees,it better be to the wester
n conference.Wright did look good,but Jones had
the flu.He didnt make the trip to Indy.Haslem deserved to close out that last game.He shot the ball very well.The open shot was there and he burried them.He was hot and 19/11 wasnt bad.
With that said,the open shot not gonna always be there.You gonna have to be able to do a Wade
and create.Wouldnt suprise me at all if Bees had a 30/15 game soon.Hes been solid,but havent got hot yet.

[black the trucker]

even if you bring in a max contract that still not enough... you have to make moves that will compliment your stars and build around who those players are, but the unknown is still the issue.. now trading for players who are better 3/4 options than having one that thinks he's a one isn't a bad trade because that will sooner than later become a problem... besides is anyone watching these teams like boston, orlando i mean these teams are deep and have stars. so trying to put together a team that would be a good defensive team that could also out score teams isn't that easy but you have options with these picks and young players who could be and are available... so keeping your head in the game is very important, you just never know... you can never get too high and you can never get too low... keep your head in the now and stay focused...

[Joel Delgado]

Good game.Its good to see this team grind out n execute games down the stretch cause if they could do that then the victories should come more often than not.The team looks good n everybody seems to be doing something to help this team to win wether its scoring(dwade),rebounding(jo),accepting their roles(haslem)or just bringing energy to the floor(the bench).I like it n I can"t wait for the next game.LETS GO HEAT!!!!!!!!

[pmartin]

nice game from Udonis Role Player Haslem;
But;
Beasley needs to close out.
Starting Beasley then having Haslem close out games and get more minutes than Beasley.
Makes Beasley a token starter.

Trade Udonis to Portland while his trade vaulue is high for guard Bayless and whoever else is needed to make the cap dollars work.

Spo and Riley need to decide:
is it going to Beasley or Udonis Role Player Haslem.
Also, it is very obvious that Wade is calling the shots and wants Haslem out there at the end of games.
Maybe because Haslem and Wade share the same agent???
But, Wade is NOT and HAS NEVER supported Beasley.
Unlike, how Eddie Jones and Lamor Odom supported Wade when he first started.
AND by the way WADE played worse defense than Beasley when he first started in the NBA.

[Evelina]

lets go heat

[UD's biggest fan]

nice game from Udonis Role Player Haslem;
But;
Beasley needs to close out.
Starting Beasley then having Haslem close out games and get more minutes than Beasley.
Makes Beasley a token starter.

Trade Udonis to Portland while his trade vaulue is high for guard Bayless and whoever else is needed to make the cap dollars work.

Spo and Riley need to decide:
is it going to Beasley or Udonis Role Player Haslem.
Also, it is very obvious that Wade is calling the shots and wants Haslem out there at the end of games.
Maybe because Haslem and Wade share the same agent???
But, Wade is NOT and HAS NEVER supported Beasley.
Unlike, how Eddie Jones and Lamor Odom supported Wade when he first started.
AND by the way WADE played worse defense than Beasley when he first started in the NBA.

Posted by: pmartin | November 02, 2009 at 01:54 PM
----------------
All very valid points. We will reap what we sow.

[UD's biggest fan]

hey, what do you think about this trade; beasley,wright,cook to the bulls for deng... think about it, then think again.. makes sense, i know , i know...

Posted by: black the trucker | November 02, 2009 at 11:51 AM
-------------
Yeah let us make the Bulls better while making our team worse.

Let me see. Deng at 70 mil contract or Beasley on his rookie contract?

Mind you Haslem isn't an offensive force we can rely upon for a deep playoff run. His defense is also mediocre against better opposition.

This trade is so bad on multiple levels that it defies reason that it was even suggested.

[jpejeff]

Wade want to win.Whoever is the hot man making all the easy looks he create with his penetration is the man Wade wants in the game.
It was Haslem the last game.Might be Cook or Bees the next. These guys not on the play ground,this is pro ball.Haslem shot the ball well against the bulls.END OF STORY.

[Heater4life]

Why do I get the feeling that Wade does not like Beasley??...I could be wrong but I just get that feeling, especially after the comment he made a couple of days before the season by saying that he may ask Spo to sit Beasley and bring in Haslem. I like the way the team is playing right now, the rotation has a better flow but I would like to see BEasy close out games more often. I know its still early but lets see what happens, I just hope that no tension develops because of Wades comments. But hey, so far so good, the coaches know more than we do and if they think that by having Haslem closing out games is better for the team, so be it.

[rockstarjc]

check this out RUDY GAY rumored to be a candidate for trade... i think RUDY GAY would fit to our team & the system, he would be a great help to us...we should make a move via trade... what if we trade:

JAMES JONES, DIAWARA, QUINN, MAGLOIRE + 1st round pick (last) 2010... to:

(memphis) *GAY & *GASOL

THINK THIS TRADE WOULD BE FAIR ON BOTH TEAMS...

THOUGTHS???

[rockstarjc]

so the line-up would:

sg WADE(pg) / COOK
pg CHALMERS / ARROYO
c O'NEAL,J.(pf) / *GASOL,M. / ANTHONY,J.
pf BEASLEY(sf) / HASLEM / RANDOLPH,S.
sf *GAY / Q-RICH / WRIGHT,D.

we are competitive now...

thougths...

[black the trucker]

hey has anyone been watching marc gasol, wow, this guy could be the player to trade for.. and as far as that deng trade, it's not so bad, but hey trying to make a move in some kind of way isn't so bad, but being patient is ok too.. listen, this is a strong stretch of games coming up and keeping your head in the game is very important.. beasley, crash the boards and player within the team concept and don't let anything get you off your game.. whatever you do, always remember you are good and you can score,so keep your head up and play... now o'neil, careful with that nose but this team doesn't bang too much so you should be fine here.. wade, they have no one that can gaurd you, this could the first 50 of the season... charlmers, stay steady and stay out foul trouble.. there center is frye, he isn't that good so expose that matchup on the boards, get him in foul trouble or take it to him... wright, when i look at your game i see more from you, other than standing in the corner, try some motion, what i mean is, alley opps, cuts to the basket, mid range jumper, drive pull up foul line jumper, you are a good young player who doesn't play his game and i just haven't figured out why yet, but if you did it would give this team big boost, so have a talk with the wizard and see if heart can found because you need it.. james jones, what is it with you, i mean did you just come back home for a contract and sit and watch or do want to play because you haven't done anything since signing here.. big game tonight so plz everyone come to play...

[black the trucker]

well, rockstarjc has the right idea marc gasol and rudy gay would a good trade and you have to think they would not stay there long so why not get some players who would allow other players to step in and play good minute fo them.. hell why not put ai in the trade..

[black the trucker]

infact here's deal; quinn,james jones, daiwara and a pick for gay and gasol and they get a good pick so it makes sense... i know, i know...

[black the trucker]

ok,here's the trade beasley,cook,jones to the grizz for gasol, gay, AI...i know, i know..

[black the trucker]

ok, little over board, but how about this one; jones,cook pick for gasol,gay then beasley, wright, pick for hinrich...i know.. i know..

[phil]

I like the idea behind the trade for Gay and Gasol for Quinn, James Jones, and maybe a second round pick since we never keep them anyway. as long as we don't touch our core guys. I think that the addition of Gay and gasol would be very good for the team and next year we might still be able to add another big peace

[phil]

we had a great start so far, and I read a lot of comments about the team after a 3-0 start, Now don't start bashing Spo, and the rest of the Heat after they loose a couple of games soon.

[phil]

Getting Rudy gay would eliminate the need for Diawar/Dorell/James/Q-Rich. I think we have enough Small forwards. i believe that we can trade a second round pick with Udonus/Quinn/Dorell for Gay and gasol. That would free up cap space for us to go after another PG and we would solidify our bench before next season, cause if Gay becomes the starter at the 3 spot we would be left with Q-Rich or James-J as the back-up and with Gasol we can play him at the 4 and 5 spot pending on the need and still keep Jamal magloir just as a big body that we can throw at Shaq/Howard/Perkins in the east and so we would look like this:

PG- Mario/Aroyo/ Another bum
SG- Wade/Cook/Diawar
SF- Gay/Q-Rich/James-J
PF- Beasely/Gasol/Randolph
C - O'neal/Magloir/Joel

we would get rid of Udonus/Quinn/Dorell/2nd roud pick which we never keep after the draft anyway. I know Udonus is a Stud, but if we keep thinking like that we will miss-out on a lot of opertunities out their. That would get rid of so much cap space this year and give us two players that I believe would flurish playing with Wade. That would also help us lure in the other big name free agent.

[Guest]

letting every1 know that why fix it if it aint broken we havent even lost a game and ur already thinking of trading great chemistry away until we lose a game ou cant even mention the word trade

---Arroyo is the biggest beast to ever play Bench point for the heat if he keeps this up he might be seeing himself with a jersey on to begin the games---

[UD's biggest fan]

Great game against the Suns. Haslem got his minutes. That's all that matters.