Postgame Breakdown: Heat 90, Wizards 76

This was second-half dominance.

This was the Miami Heat at its best. When Dwyane Wade is scoring, when the Heat's defense has an opponent scrambling, when Mario Chalmers is hitting clutch threes he way he did in college and when Miami's toughness is questioned, it usually turns out like this.

Especially against the Wizards.

Did I mention when Wade is scoring? All of those factors culminated in Tuesday's 90-76 walk-off victory over the Wizards at AmericanAirlines Arena. The Heat not only erased its first double-digit deficit of the season, it also fought back after trailing at the half for the first time this season.

As a result, Miami (6-1) matched its best-ever start through seven games. The Heat now faces a major challenge when LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal and the Cleveland Cavaliers visit on Thursday. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is already hot on the hoopla that will surround the game.

"That's what drives a head coach crazy," Spoelstra said of the build-up leading into Thursday. "I wish we could play it tomorrow (Wednesday). I would love to play it without all of the media hype."

Not a chance.

D. WADE'S DOINGS: I asked Dwyane after the game, his second 40-point outburst in a week against the Wizards, if this was a coincidence or whether Washington's defense was simply accommodating. "It's Caron," Wade said, jokingly, of former Heat forward and close friend Caron Butler. "He brings it out in me." Wade scored a season-high 41 points on 14 of 29 shooting, which included a 12 of 13 clip from the free throw line. He also had five rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block in 38 minutes. He had a hand in five consecutive scoring possessions when the Heat used an 19-3 run to close the game. If Wade wasn't passing to set up scores, he was pulling up for jumpers. If he wasn't defending to force turnovers, he was dunking at the other end to extend the lead. "I knew they had their defense set around me and I wanted to make sure they couldn't relax."

TURNING POINT: The Heat used an 19-3 run in the fourth to take control and close things out. Wade scored six points and had two assist during the first part of that spurt. Washington was a complete mess at the finish. The Wizards surrendered eight points in the fourth off six turnovers.

WINNING EDGE: The Heat scored 27 points off 22 Washington turnovers. That's the ballgame right there. This defense thing is not just talk with the Heat. Players actually buy into the system and they are seeing the results. "Everything we worked on in training camp is working (now)," Beasley said. "We put in the time. We put in the hours to get the defense working. And we're seeing it."

HEAD-SCRATCHER: The Wizards just can't shake the injury bug. Gilbert Arenas was supposed to sit out of Tuesday's game with a bruised calf. The Wizards staff made the rounds to inform the media. Moments after the introduction, Arenas was in the starting lineup. No sooner than Arenas got going, Washington guard Randy Foye went down with a sprained ankle. He's now added to an injury list that includes Antawn Jamison, Mike Miller, Javaris Crittenton and Mike James. Arenas was so discouraged by the injury struggles and performance that he believes the team is cursed. "I don't know what the hell is going on around here. I don't know if an old player put a curse on us back in the day."

KEY CONTRIBUTION: Mario Chalmers stays in the circle. After putting together a season-best 16-point performance in Friday's big win over the Nuggets, Rio came back with another solid effort against the Wizards. Actually, it was a tremendous bounce-back performance. Last time Rio faced the Wizards, he struggled with foul trouble and watched Gilbert Arenas torch him for 32 points. This time, Chalmers had 13 points, five assists and four steals. More importantly, he contributed to many of Arenas' career-high 12 turnovers. No one is expecting Chalmers to be an elite point guard for the Heat. Being steady would do just fine.

NEXT UP:Cavaliers at Heat, 8:00 p.m. Thursday, 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

[cp12]

The Michael Jordan 40 year curse maybe?

www.blogmiamiheat.com

[Holla]

Haters aren't awake yet?? Spo sucks?? 6-1 what?? Lets take care of fat shaq now...go heat!!!

[black the trucker]

ok, well, now, here comes a test of or are we really any good... the cavs come in thursday,, there big inside,,, but to a fault... motion... movement... and gaurd the drive.. there shooting isn't that good, so rebounding by everyone is very important... wade; get some extra shooting in because this is your showcase, you will out play lb, and your status will grow even more.. inside, everyone is bigger, but we're quicker, and we have to use that to our advantage...this is the kind of game that really tests what kind of team this really is.. but i will say, we can win... but will players keep there heads in the game? or will players keep this inner mess about who plays in the final seconds.. bull$$it.. we can win this game, do what you best, but with in the team concept... o'neil; you got your hands full, he will need some help.. but you should be able to shine as well, so be aggressive inside and look to get to the line.. our defense should win this game, but this is a four quarter match, that will take four full quarters of commitment to win.. don't get too high and don't get too low.. this will go down to the wire...get this one...

[pmartin]

Miami is dull to watch;

Give the ball to Wade and get out of the way!

It is Okay for now; but in the playoffs like last year, the team needs a true offense and ball movement.

And, Spo does suck!
Spo will never coach a NBA team to a Title.

[heatfan]

Last night's game was a mess from an offensive standpoint. Wade was shooting and trying too hard to be better than Arenas. The team concept was poor from the get go. Where was the offense that played against the Nuggets? Wade did not need to do all that he did last night and that is all I have to say. Haslem was completely unproductive and Beasley should have played in crunch time. It was him and Wade that put the Heat back in it in the 3rd when things looked like they were going to get ugly. Keep playing the great D Heat. They will be in every game with how they are doing. Just need some offensive consistency other than Wade just doing it all. You could tell he just wanted extra points last night.

[SATANLOVES]

Heat are doing great, 6-1 is 6-1. However, Spo still sucks.

[bill]

GREAT WIN!

[bill]

heatfan youre an idiot

great post blackthetrucker

go heat! Wade wins MVP this year, thats a fact.

[Greg Gembe]

supercoolbeas started the game with a thunderous dunk, finished nicely with the right hand a few plays later. I thought he took some tough shots through the rest of the game, not jumpers, but driving to the bucket, and that's a GOOD thing. Liked his perfomance.

Arroyo seemed comfortable with his shot, but the dribbling exhibition standing in one spot gets a bit old. Liked his energy and he moved the ball around quickly (when he wasn't dribbling in one spot).

Chalmers played big on the defensive end, and hit some shots in crunch time.

D-Wade (should have been MVP last year) took some tough shots also, especially since this baller finishes so darn well at the rim. Goodness gracious, I love watching him hoop.

Arenas has the smoothest long-distance shot in the league. He needs to curtail some of the b*tching and complaining though.

Now we get Shaq's fat *ss in town. Let's see, the Suns are rollin' (after not making the playoffs last year) and the Cavs have taken a step or two back from last year. Heck, Stevie Wonder can see what the problem is here.

Rollin Rollin Rollin

[dmt]

Spo is an IDIOT!!! All he cares about is stupid WINS! What about Beasley's MINUTES?!!!

All you guys riding Spo's and Haslem's wood will go on and on about us equaling the best 7 game start in Heat history, about us being in second place in the Eastern Conference, about us being in first place in our division (ahead of the defending Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic), tied with the defending champs for the third best record in the entire league, blah, blah, blah. And sure, we were only picked by most experts to be mediocre at best, but some of you think that that is important!!!! Are you INSANE?!!! What is IMPORTANT is BEASLEY and his minutes!

Lord, I hate IDIOT Spo and his stupid winning!

[pugtv]

To all the Spo Lovers,

We've won 4 at home against sub-500 teams with the exception of Denver. We've won 2 games on the road against sub-500 teams. Keep your panties on. We're not a contender. We're an average team.

I'm a big Heat fan. I care a lot. I see Spo's coaching causing major problems for us down the road, that is why I bitch so much. Spo is dead weight.

I care about 2010. I want to see the Heat prepare in 2009 and contend for a championship in 2010. By not developing Beas now, Spo is holding us back from out 2010 championship goal. In my opinion, we should FIRE Dead Weight Spo now.

[heatstroked]

Posted by: Greg Gembe | November 11, 2009 at 11:54 AM

Good stuff. Those tough shots -- especially misses -- could be easier, more productive if/once Beas learns the intricacies of armpit flopping. Pau Gasol, Corey Maggette, Brad Miller, Dirk are just a few of the master practitioners. Beasley hasn't learned to make defenders pay for unwhistled contact/slight contact/close proximity when he's working inside.

Armpit WHAT? From Ch. 2, "So You Want To Be An NBA Actor/Stunt Man" (see also, "Flopping for Dummies"). Armpit flop: To flop, fold or stumble after every inside field goal attempt where the armpit (or armpit hair) of a defender makes contact or is within close proximity (smelling range) to the upper extremties (i.e., head, shoulders, chest or back) of the offensive player. A well-executed armpit flop should result in 2 x FTAs for every miss, 1 x and-1 for every make.

Cav-wise, I'd go "go" whenever Shaq is on the floor. Remember Riley's "go" offense? Spo has some variation of the same and should use it liberally to exploit Shaq's lazy a$$ in transition. I'd also run some high post/post motion for Heat bigs to catch Shaq napping/camping (5-sec) in the paint.

Except, Shaq hasn't really been a factor in Cleveland wins. The big key, of course, is QRich + teammates helping on LeBron; also, not giving Mo Williams too many open looks (as he often gets against the Heat).

[RIP ALAN OGG]

The Heat is proving they have taken a step forward from last year. J Oneil is healthy, QR is a good new addition, and Beasley and Chalmers are developing their respective games. I am just as big a heat fan as anybody but I know that we have no chance of contending for a title this year. I'd like to see us finish 4th in the East and make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Only way we make it further is if there is a significant injury to one of the top 3 times like KG going out last year. Even then, maybe we move up to 3 but still get knocked off in the 2nd round.

Fact is if Boston stays healthy meaning KG, Pierce, Allen, and Rondo are all healthy come playoff time, they are going back to the finals. If they don't stay healthy, it's going to be Orlando or Cleveland. However, by us finishing a strong 4th and make the 2nd round playoffs, all the Spo haters will see that Riley knew what he was doing. Spo needs to be developed and Riley is developing Spo behind the scenes just like Mourning is trying to help develop Beasley. This is not something that happens over night, it takes time.

And that is what makes Riles a genius. That is, he knew the Heat had no chance of contending for a title last year or this year. We just didn't have the cap space from when we signed Oneal back in 05. BTW, that's why we are 1 of 7 teams to have won an NBA championship since 1983. I have no complaints at all. We could have won 2 of them if Wade didn't get injured in the 05 Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit. So all you Riley haters, hear this. Riley is going to put this team back together next year, he's gonna make some moves that is going to make what Danny Ainge did in Boston two years looks like a 4th graders work (that is arming Pierce with KG and Allen).

And Beasley and Chalmers along with Spo have been in a 2 year intensive development process to be ready for the 10-11 season. So there you have it, some probably think the idea of Lebron coming to Miami is not possible. You’re probably certainly saying there is no way if he comes, we can still get Bosh too. Wrong, wrong, wrong…Riley can get it done. Be patient my friends, you will see some great things from this team in the year to come. Wade will help Lebron get his first ring just like Shaq helped Wade back in 06. It’s gonna be a sweet thing!!!

CAN YOU FEEL THE HEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Greg Gembe]

Screen and roll the h*ck out of Shaq and Big Z.

Defending Bron is a challenge for every team. Maybe tomorrow is the night Dorrell Wright finds his niche. I hope he turns into a longer Bowen/Eddie Jones/Posey type defender, that hits the open 3. Wouldn't that be nice to bring off the bench?

Beas and UD keeping Sideshow Bob from collecting Off Rebounds will help tremendously.

I'm not too worried about the RIO and MO matchup. I think MO will have problems staying in front of Arroyo, also.

Should be a great game!

[ebag]

lol. good to see the spo haters are in mid-season form. glad to see some sane talk about the team also. loved the post about "spo sucks because he only cares about winning".

obviously, this team is off to a good start, and a win at against cleveland on tnt thursday night would be a great cherry on top of that.

i think the real story is that this team is 6-1, and capable of getting better as the season progresses. the defense is looking solid, but i would like to see some better offensive flow. more pick & roll with d-wade & b-eazy would be nice. and while i am sometimes as impatient as anyone for the young guys to develop, i think the key to continue winning is for everyone to find a comfortable role, so the heat can begin to develop a team identity. hopefully a good west-coast road-trip will help that process.

first place! f yeah! go heat!

[Toolbag]

Why don't the majority of you mongs on this blog recognise that defense wins games. Why is it that all you want see is streetball. This is professional sport, where wins matter, where the team matters, not the indivdual. Take your head out of your ass and appreciate the whole game, not the marketing hype.

Oh and think about this, Spolestra has a better record than Jerry Sloan this year - what have you negative fools achieved lately.......yeah, I thought so.

[Joel Delgado]

ding ding ding...lets get ready to rumble!!!! Its the cavs vs the heat,the king vs the flash in a winner takes all bout coming to an arena near you!.. get your tickets now.Shaq"s probably gonna try to play harder trying to prove he still has something left in the tank but who cares really he"s washed up but hey thanks for the championship while u were here shaq daddy.I think its gonna be a measuring stick game for the heat that will determine where they belong in the wacky eastern conference race.The matchups look interesting:Mo vs chalmers,Lebron vs Qrich,O;neal vs O'neal,side show bob vs Beasley , and who ever guards Dwade(like the rock used to say "it doesn't matter"!)so I'll be tuning in to that slugfest n i hope all u heat fans tune in too cause that game should be bananas.LETS GO HEAT!!!!!!

[rockstarjc]

let's rock & dump the CAVS... hope to see BEASLEY'S "A-GAME"... & for Q-RICH to locked down LEBRON and to redeem himself from scoreless against WIZARDS! also D.WRIGHT to step-up the team still believe in HIM... hope to this game-on we will see BEASLEY closing-out the game... coach please trust the kid!!!

[black the trucker]

wow, all that, huh,,,, well, here it is guys... they looked pretty good last night against orlando.. but that wasn't really orlando.. they weren't at full strength.. but we play a different style of game.. and whatever happen there can't happen here.. we have to control tempo, and stop there gaurds from getting into the lane.. take it to there biggs, get them in foul trouble, take some fouls on defense... we have to out smart this team.. and out play them.. get aggreesive... but be smart... wright, bring your a game, get aggressive on defense, rebound when you're in the game... anthony, block shots, be really aggressive on the boards... charlmers, control your emotions, you have to play smart this game and stay out of foul trouble.. look to be a playmaker, try some drive and kicks, but do not leave your feet causing a turnover... qrich, instead of puttung so much on gaurding lebron, take it to him and get him in foul trouble, this will change there game, but if so take full advantage of it and get to the line, by everyone... wade, this is your game to win, but let your full game be on display... we can win this game... i think we're better than them, but we have to prove it.. tonight...

[ebag]

yes! big game coming!

so here is what i would like to see tonight:

1) chalmers - don't get totally blown away by mo williams

2) dorrell - play some defense against lebron to create some trade value

3) beazy - get some real rebounds

4) q-rich, chalmers, dorrell - hit some three's

5) d-wade & lebron - 40, 10, and 10

GO HEAT!

[heatstroked]

Ha.

If any Heat needs an extra dose of "hate" for tonite's game, the Cavs main beat paper (Plain Dealer) just obliged.

Cavs: "Which team is the Cleveland Cavaliers' true rival?" [ http://bit.ly/2e1AtV ]

Choices:

Washington Wizards

Detroit Pistons

Boston Celtics

Orlando Magic

End.

That's right. NO Heat.

According to Cleveland, 6-1 Miami isn't even good enough to qualify as a "true rival" to the mighty, royal, chosen, cheesy Cavs of King James.

Think about THAT Heat players.

[heatstroked]

Ain't that somethin.

ESPN Cleveland homie Chris Broussard just posted a piece (3:30 pm ET) saying if the Cavs fail again, LeBron SHOULD team with Wade IN Miami.

[ http://bit.ly/3SqArx ]

Good. The Cavs have the sorriest beat coverage in the NBA. Brian Windhorst is just another fat-boy without a clue. Has anyone noticed how many NBA beatwriters are walking ads for Blimpies? Wallace is hardly malnourished but at least he keeps his coverage real -- when he isn't mistakenly and misguidedly riffing the fat-boy from Ft Laud.

Broussard: "[I]f the new-look Cavaliers are more pretender than contender, if they are what they were last season -- regular-season titans, postseason playthings -- then for the sake of his legacy, James may have to go elsewhere.

"And elsewhere is Miami."

---

Does it matter what Broussard thinks? No.

But if winning matters to LBJ as much as Broussard claims, Miami WOULD be the only destination that addresses all the questions that matter, including available cap, market size, proven management, championship pedigree plus potential (Wade).

[pugtv]

Should be a good game to watch. Go Heat.

[JPEJEFF]

We need a really good start.Lets jump on them early and increase our intensity throughout the game.Yeah we are faster,especially with there slow/fat boy in the middle.Get out early and hold on to the lead and your wives

[ebag]

recent update: shaq is questionable with a sprained wrist. he injured it patting himself on the back during practice. ha!