Postgame Breakdown: Hawks 105, Heat 90

ATLANTA - Comedian Chris Tucker sat courtside at Philips Arena for Wednesday's game between the Heat and Hawks. But not even he could find any humor in a once-proud Miami defense that has gradually become a joke in recent games.

The Heat's offensive struggles continued for yet another game. But it was Miami's defense - or inability to defend - that came back to haunt it the most in a 105-90 loss to the Hawks.

The Heat gave up 60 points in the first half and was dominated in the paint throughout the game. Length. Athleticism. Hustle. Composure. Any semblence of offensive rhythm. Those were all things that belonged to the other team again. Meanwhile, the Heat got a season-low 15 points from Dwyane Wade, 21 points and nine rebounds from Michael Beasley and 12 points from Jermaine O'Neal. Wade's franchise streak of consecutive 20-point games ended at 23.

But that hardly was enough to offset the balanced, dunking, streak-shooting Hawks. Joe Johnson scored 30 points to lead six Atlanta players in double figures. The tests continue to be tough for the Heat, which faces another long, athletic, hot-shooting, open-court team in Toronto on Friday.

"We have to develop some real toughness and resolve when we play teams like this on the road," coach Erik Spoelstra said of the Heat, which opened the season with 8 of its first 10 games at home but now faces its first significant stretch of road games. "We've had a real home-heavy schedule, so we're being tested right now."

D. WADE'S DOINGS: Wade knows he's struggling. He didn't need to be reminded of his stats from recent games. On Wednesday, he was 6 of 18 from the field. On Tuesday, he was 6 of 19. The game before that, Wade tossed up an 8 of 17 effort. And the one before that, he was 9 of 17. "I got some real good looks, shots that I normally make in my sleep," Wade said. "I have to play through this and get myself back." The shooting slump hasn't been Wade's only problem. He's also committed 10 turnovers in the past two games. That's another product of facing taller, athletic defenders. Joe Johnson picked up where Thabo Sefolosha and Jamario Moon left off. Wade went through this before. He bounced back. There's a really, really, really good chance he will do so again.

TURNING POINT: The Hawks closed the second quarter out on a 28-8 run. There were Josh Smith dunks. There were Joe Johnson threes. There was even a moment when 6-11 Al Horford led a fastbreak that led to another basket by Johnson. The Hawks have the Heat's number right now. This was the same team that knocked the Heat out of the playoffs in seven games last season. Scratch that. These Hawks are better. Last year's team didn't have Jamal Crawford or Joe Smith, proven vets off the bench.

LOSING EDGE: The Heat was destroyed at times on the glass. Especially the offensive glass. The Hawks held a 15-9 edge in offensive rebounding. They cashed in to outscore the Heat 27-11 in second-chance points. This, again, is where height and length are huge advantages for the Hawks and disadvantages for the Heat.

HEAD SCRATCHER: Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's search for answers, a spark, anything took him to the depths of the roster in the second quarter of Wednesday's game. Yes, the second quarter. One such five-man collection consisted of Carlos Arroyo, Daequan Cook, James Jones, Shavlik Randolph. Yes, Shavlik Randolph. And Joel Anthony. The best five at your local Y might give that squad a decent run. The Heat might have had more offensive punch on that squad of D-League players who were called up to finish Miami's dismal 15-67 season a couple of years ago. I might take my chances with Kasib Powell and Co.

KEY CONTRIBUTION: Beasley bounced back from his zero-rebound performance against OKC last night to finish with 9 boards and a team-high 21 point. He couldn't take much comfort in the effort because it came in a loss. It's the second time in a week that Beasley had a productive game that didn't result in a win for the Heat. He had 24 points and six rebounds in last Thursday's loss to the Cavaliers. Still, these kind of numbers from Beasley aren't only encouraging, they're a necessity if the Heat is to be a threat.

NEXT UP: Heat at Raptors, Friday 7 p.m. Air Canada Centre

(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

[ebag]

that was a real f*k*n stinker.

let the flood of fake trade proposals and 'fire spo' posts begin

[D2183]

When Wade's shot isn't going in can he please stop shooting and be a playmaker. He use to be real good at this but now he hardly drives.

[rockstarjc]

what are we waiting for????????

LET ELLIS IN HEAT UNIFORM!!!

TRADE: CHALMERS, Q-RICH, DRAFT RIGTHS DOZIER + 2ND ROUND PICK 2010 FOR:

(gsw)*MONTA ELLIS...

we're losing now!!! D.WADE needs help PAT!!!

also trade:

JONES, DIAWARA, MAGLOIRE, DRAFT RIGTHS BEVERLY, 1ST ROUND PICK (last) 2010 FOR

(mem) RUDY GAY & MARC GASOL

BUY-OUT: QUINN!!!

USE TRADE EXEMPTION FROM TORONTO IN ACQUIRING EITHER BOSH/AMARE IN 2010 FREE AGENCY + HASLEM IN PACKAGE DEAL... OUR CAP SPACE COULD ACQUIRED EITHER ONE OF THEM...

LINE-UP BEFORE FEB. 2010:

sg WADE / COOK
pg *ELLIS / ARROYO
sf *GAY / D.WRIGTH
pf BEASLEY (sf) / HASLEM / RANDOLPH,S.
c O'NEAL,J.(pf) / *GASOL,M.(pf)/ ANTHONY,J.

2010: @ PF: AMARE or BOSH / BEASLEY...(sf)

ADD BYRON SCOTT ON OUR COACHING STAFF...

thougths????

[cp12]

I can understand Ellis but Gay is not a strong rebounder, which we would need to balance out Beasleys game. But its not a bad move by any means. I like Marc Gasol, he is a 7'1 grinder at C and something that this team needs. Chris Kaman could be an option as well.

Spoelstra is a decent young coach but I dont see him developing Beasley too much and Scott is a playoff experienced coach from the Riley mold...also Spos lineups are like...what??

www.blogmiamiheat.com

[JDOGTHEDOG]

I dont understand how a coach who puts Haslem on Lebron and Cook on Durant is a freaking NBA CCCOOAACCCHHH! !!!!! Frustrates me man!!

[JDOGTHEDOG]

I agree about Wade giving up on just creating offense when he is off tho. Seems like he just tries getting out the slump by shooting regardless if it might hurt the team. Cant really blame him though. (FIRE SPO ASAP)

[rockstarjc]

PAT wants the HEAT to be in dynasty form... but as of now we are not making moves to pick-up those missing pieces to make this team as what PAT wanted to be... we are always just good in planning!!! we always end-up with nothing!!!

WE CANT NEVER BE A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM UNLESS WE HAVE A COACH LIKE SPO!!! HE IS POOR IN DECISION MAKING WHEN WE PLAYING GOOD TEAMS... I SUGGEST TO BRING-UP COACH BYRON SCOTT!!! HE COULD CHANGE THE TEAM FOR BETTER THAN COACH SPO!!! IM NOT SAYING TO FIRE SPO, ITS BETTER TO HIM TO BE THE ASSISTANT COACH RATHER THAN A HEAD COACH...

MAKE MOVES NOW... GET D. WADE A HELP!!! IF NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN BEFORE 2010, I WOULD BE HAPPY ON D.WADE TO BE IN OTHER UNIFORM THAN TO STAY ON THIS TEAM...

[rockstarjc]

WHAT IF WE TRADE:

Q-RICH, QUINN, DIAWARA + DRAFT RIGTHS DOZIER & 2ND ROUND PICK 2010 TO:

(bobcats) *GERALD WALLACE

CHALMERS, JONES, WRIGTH + TRADE EXEMPTION (4.2M) FROM TORONTO TO:

(warriors) *MONTA ELLIS

HASLEM + 1ST ROUND PICK 2010 (last) TO:

(memphis) *GAY,RUDY & *GASOL,M.

LINE-UP;

sg wade / cook
pg *ellis / arroyo
sf *gay / *g.wallace(PF)
pf beasley(SF) / randolph,s.
c o'neal,j.(PF) / *gasol,m.(PF) / anthony

our space cap could still land AMARE/BOSH...

THOUGTHS???

[lequeenLames]

lmao gerald wallace is an all-star and anything less than beasley is a laugh so stop dreaming in bringing in wallace for scrubs

[pmartin]

Spo should have played Dorell Wright as Beasely's back-up.
AND
Spo's fourth quarter line-up was a joke!
He needs to rest Wade during timeouts and the ends of quarters the WAY Phil Jackson use to do with Jordan in Chicago.
AND
SIGN AI NOW !!!!!!!!!!
Chalmers is a back-up and this team needs Offensive fire power!!!
Wade is NOT going to lead the league in scoring more teams are going to double and triple team him.

[305 Representer]

Now that we don't have a near perfect record anymore and we had some games that showed our flaws people stop with the leave. The team how it is talk! This team is a Wade driven team and if Wade isn't doing good the whole team won't do well. Beasley will never be effective unless he starts drawing double teams he can score over 20ppg all he wants! Our offense is not that good for our defense to not be effective. I dont understand how as a team we didn't address any of our flaws in the offseason? We sucked in rebounds and interior defense last year and they never close out on shooters quick enough. I agree that Monta Ellis would be a good look if we can get him w/o giving up Beasley that would be perfect. Monta would also be insurance if Wade does leave.
Trade Exemption, Haslem, and Cook for Ellis and Moore

[Greg Gembe]

The Hawks held a 15-9 edge in offensive rebounding.... This, again, is where height and length are huge advantages for the Hawks and disadvantages for the Heat.--Horse hockey! Rebounding is positioning, NOT size. Work your butt to get in position and the rebounds will fall in your hands.

let the flood of fake trade proposals and 'fire spo' posts begin--your wish has been granted.

I dont understand how a coach who puts Haslem on Lebron and Cook on Durant is a freaking NBA CCCOOAACCCHHH! -- Well, who was going to guard Bron, supercoolbeas? Not that's funny, I don't care who you are! Durant was probably playing the 2 spot on the perimeter, and Cook was probably in at the 2. Again, you have to see what the options are, who else was in the game that could have guarded Durant, and who was Cook going to guard if not Durant. That also seems like a tough matchup for Durant on the other end. I would thing he would have trouble guarding a guy 6" shorter on the perimeter. (if only we had a young athletic long armed defender. I know, let's trade for micheal beasley. I hear he's young, athletic, long, a stud, very funny to interview, and coaches say he works REAL hard at his craft. C'mon Pat, get D Wade some help)

[RP]

Hey...almost all of these trade thoughts are bizarre. Monta Ellis's game overlaps Wade's. The one trade much more interesting to me would be Chris Paul. The cheap Hornets are obviously going to shred their team down to nothing. Paul probably could be had for draft choices and /or players with low salaries. Making that trade now would not only fire up the fans but also Wade to commit then open the door for a big-time free agent in 2010.

[taheati]

No trades required.

According to a friend of a friend of a friend of a person close to Iverson who presumably confided in DN Knick-friend Frank Isola, Miami is "hot" after The Answer [ http://bit.ly/17R0Tr ].

Which begs several questions, including the following:

What will 2 of the best dribble-drive penetrators in the history of the game fallback on when defenses reflexively clog the paint?

A. Launch 3s at 28%
B. Launch 3s at 31%
C. Share/reduce career touch rates of 32%
D. All of the above
E. None of the above

[UD's biggest fan]

We need Wade to play like Haslem.

[pamrtin]

We need to trade Udonis Role Player Haslem and trade exemption for:
BOOZER.
Free look at Boozer for 2010 and have Bird right's on Boozer.
AND
still save cap space for 2010 with Boozer's contract ending this year if you decide not to sign him.

[Mac]

point guard is the weak position. neither of the pgs bring any value to the team in terms of assist, scoring or defense.

The only answer is to get AI, at least then you will get scoring from the pg spot.

[JDOGTHEDOG]

Greg! I know we don't have the deepest or even the talent full team, but I dont remember Lebron guarding Haslem in the box. Therefore it was most likely decided by the coach. And what happen to playing wade at the point?? Who gives a crap he doesn't want to? He just has to play ball. Why have arroyo poor defense in crunch time?

[ebag]

ok, i know these trades are never gonna happen anyway, but c'mon people. you are not getting monta ellis, or rudy gay, or even gerald wallace for spare parts.
trading for any one of those guys would probably mean parting ways with mike beasley. probably not worth it for gay or wallace, but i would vote to trade beaz for ellis at this point.

[pugtv]

If I had to guess our priorities for 2010, it would be Bosh, Amare and then Boozer.

Given that, it would be a good idea to get Boozer now. We can always use him as a sign and trade chip to Toronto at the end of the season. Toronto has indicated they are open to all avenues, including signing and trading Bosh.

[pugtv]

JDOGTHEDOG,

Don't bother discussing the issue of Haslem / Beas guarding LBJ with Greg. I've tried. His responses have thus far been illogical. Don't waste your time.

[black the trucker]

well, this was the game to see if we could at the very least compete with one of the top teams in our division... and what it shows is.. we need some roster moves made.. but let me start by saying, if you have one main star who everything centers around and if the other team doubles and triples that one player you will struggle.. or even if they have defenders who gaurd well on that one player, you will struggle.. when we won the title we had a lot of options.. but wade was the shining star of that team.. so what i'm trying to say is, if you put players around him, his game will get better, but if you stay as is, his game will struggle... it's almost like waiting for this big offseason, might lead to losing the best player this team ever had.. and to be honest, i wouldn't blame him.. now, some trade talk; chris paul would be the player i went after, i wouldn't care what they wanted as long as it wasn't wade in the deal... 2 first round picks, beasley, cook... deal... jones, wright to golden state for maggette.. deal... sign pops, get rid of randolph... i mean, even you start the process now and complete it in the offseason, at least we some hope.. why not sign Ai, why not put him in the starting lineup.. and to be honest trade beasley, to hell with him and his bull$$it.. i don't care how good he shoots,, trade him...

[Greg Gembe]

Atlanta scored a ton of points in the paint yesterday. I wish we had somebody on the Heat who's "ROLE" it is to defend in the paint. D*mn sure could have used his role-playing last night! I bet Josh Smith doesn't block UD's shot AND beat him down the court for a layup.

[UD's biggest fan]

Josh Smith dominates UD. Did any of you miss UD getting dominated game in and game out in the playoffs?

Sure Beasley gets some of his shots blocked, but you are severely overstating Haslem and his defense. Haslem is a mediocre man defender and cannot do anything against the Hawks big men. Haslem doesn't get his shots blocked as often as Beasley because all of Haslem's play consists of jumpers whereas Beasley actually tries to attack the basket.

Yeah we have no need for Beasley because we are happy with Mr mediocrity in Haslem who after 6 years of averaging at least 30 minutes a game at PF has career averages of 10 points and 8 rebounds.

Miami loves mediocrity.

[Joel Delgado]

Get Iverson down here as soon as possible please!If I have to watch this team struggle to reach the 80 point mark i am going to kill myself.I know we just hit a rough patch and shouldn't panic but somethings gotta be done.Theres all this talk about how many good defenders we got Dwade,Haslem,Qrich,Dorell Wright,Diawara,O'neal,Jones,Anthony so what's going on?Is it team defense? Is it hustle? Is it certain matchups?Might as well get Iverson down here an provide some offense cause we already have enough defense.

[JD]

Yes it is time to bring in AI, as much as i don't like the idea, he is an ego maniac who thinks he is still the best ever....but w/e we need him now, start over chalmers so what? Chalmers is a horrible defender as well and can't score more than one shot per quarter...we start AI, sit in in the 4-5 min left in the 1st quarter mark and bring in mario chalmers, then start AI in the second quarter when wade sits down, eventually after sitting the end of the 1st, beasley and JO can come back and play with AI...In the mean time, AI will at least give the heat a scoring threat in the second quarter early stages, you give him chalmers at the point, AI at SG, and either james jones or cook at the SF, and haslem and Joel down low to dunk (joel) and hit open shots (haslem) and both defend the paint while the the two scarppy PG's try to do their usual in sucking at defense and going for steals, they should get at least a couple....but point is AI makes the offense and the heat legitmately better and more stabilized when our starters are out, manage his minutes and let him do his thing, which is score, which was the heat despartely needs considering we have always been awful at defending this season, who ever believed we were playing good defense was not watching the games, we had good series, never good defensive games, the opposite team was just playing bad and missing open shots, you can't expect that with a good team....w/e it's time to make a move

and please stop with your stupid monte ellis trades, no!!!! it won't work dude, get over it, the heat would be stuck with crap for years to come and wade would leave, get a hold of yourself

[black the trucker]

i agree, monta ellis isn't the answer.. but ai, is free and available now.. pick him up.. and let him start infront of charlmers.. but i will also disagree by saying this is a good defensive team... but if the other team has more talent they just have more talent...

[JD]

by the way it does ruin 2010 because gay would be in the books and so would ellis, gay is restircted so some one would have to offer him a deal that would sign to leave the team which miami would not let someone just sign him away for free without matching considering they gave up peices to get him, and to your most ignorant point, which is not your fault, everyone learns, i didn't know before either, the toronto trade excpetion is only 4 mil, UD makes rougly 6 mil, that is 10 mil which will not reel you in bosh or amare this year....they would not do it anyway, also you CANNOT trade the exception in a package along with another player, only by itself, meaning a player who is worth 4 mil or so....if you are talking about that deal for next summer b/c hypothetically either bosh or amare say they are leaving and their respective teams will do a sign and trade to at least get something in return, it would be impossible because haslem would also have to be signed and traded to enough money to match their salaries (max deals) which wont happen, and even if you included the exception in the deal because it was "allowed" it would still be an impossibility considering the excepetion expires in february of 2010!.....sorry to burst you bubble, now lets move on to more logical things that will actually help our team and stop talking about players whos contract run through 2010 because you believe they are more valuable than a true shot at getting lebron, bosh, or amare plus another solid player and another as well because of the mid level, plus keeping wade, beasley, cook, and chalmers....yeahhhhh i think that is convincing enough because if it happens its a dynasty potentially especially with lebron on board...

anyway bring in AI now please

[JD]

i never said this was a good defensive team, but yeah obviously monte would be far and away from the answer for our team....hmmm (pun intended?)

[Jake]

How about someone tell Jermaine O'neal to JUMP, or if he isn't going to do that - put a freaking hand up. He makes me more mad then Beasley hesitating and getting low and waiting 7 seconds before he even has a slight clue of what he is goin to do.

[black the trucker]

the one thing that would make this a good start towards rebuilding is getting a point gaurd to play with wade, and the perfect one is paul... now the power forward spot will come in the offseason... thats why i keep saying why not trade for rudy gay, he's not a 1, but could be a grat 3, in a system that lets his game shine.. and in a contract year.. could get him for little, and sign him this summer to an exstension.. one no one seems to understand is all these players might be available this summer so trying to get them now would be smart...

[black the trucker]

look, every thing will not end up perfect... but you have to take risk.. trading for gay isn't that big of a risk.. trading for paul would change this teams future.. signing bosh would give this team the 80's celtics... but you have to start somewhere...

[black the trucker]

look at this starting five; paul, wade, gay, bosh, o'neil...

[ebag]

chris paul is on the same level as d-wade. the hornets are not gonna trade their only superstar for mike beazy and cap relief.

but this team needs a point guard, or else wade and beasley will keep having nights where they shoot 4-17.

and for the first time in a year and a half, i think spo might start to feel some heat under that coach seat. the fact is, this team does not look very good. they've been winning ugly, and now they are loosing ugly.

bottom line: this team does not look good, and wade does not look happy. we gotta do something

[heatfan]

I predicted last night for weeks when I saw it on the schedule. The Hawks just own the Heat. That stretch at the end of the 1st half was unacceptable. The bench had the game even and then the starters come back and blew it. The Heat fought hard in the 3rd but even they had tied the score you could tell they were not winning. Arroyo is a joke and should never come on the court again. I am so SICK of watching him dribble and dribble and do something stupid. You are the point guard!! CREATE!!! I have never joined the sign AI campaign but I think now we really should. Just a one year deal. Just selling some seats should pay for him to come. Fans would flock to see the DWade AI show. Chalmers has some talent but just does not know how to use it yet. He needs to shoot more especially when he is hot. He is shooting insane for 3 pt %. Shoot the ball. Wade - please let the game come to you. You have some players who can score if you ran some plays. JO and Beas can score it. Richardson plays good D and rebounds but does not cut it at SF. We really need some kind of scorer there. Why does James Jones never play? The guy hits a big 3 last night and then comes out and we dont see him again. How did he get in the doghouse? We signed him to a nice deal last year. Why???