Expect LeBron on Carmelo in a late-game scenario

Don't expect Heat coach Erik Spoelstra to leave anything to chance on Wednesday if Game 5 is close in the fourth quarter.

Spoelstra used Shane Battier on Anthony in the fourth quarter in Game 4 but on Tuesday didn't rule out shifting LeBron James to Anthony in a late-game scenario in Game 5.

“LeBron will have an impact defensively in the fourth quarter if it’s close," Spoelstra said. "There’s no doubt about that.”

Comments

[Mark]

its sheer coaching stupidity that Lebron was not defending Anthony in Synday's game. This team lacks focus and doesn't seem to understand how to win close games. Spo needs to make better adjustments and start owning those moments. If he doesn't, this team won't make it past the Celtics.

[derbani1976]

Spo is an idiot and should coach in the D-league

[greg gembe]

Mark - can you pull up the Heat's record in winning close games? I mean, instead of spitting out those old tired lines that ESPN and your buddies seem to regeritate, find the actual stat, see how we do compared to other teams, and then criticize if need be. I'm betting we have a pretty good record of winning close games, maybe I don't watch enough SPORTSCENTER, but I believe your arguement is bogus. This team is better than last year's Heat team, and how did we fare against the C's (who isn't as strong as last year)? Oh yeah, Coach SPO and the Heat made the right adjustments and won 4-1.

What is Melo's shooting percentage in the series vs Battier, cause I'm pretty sure he went 7 for 23 in one game, about 30%. We didn't lose on Sunday because Battier was guarding Melo, or because we missed some mysterious adjustment - which, I would LOVE to hear what adjustment was missed - we lost by two in a game that Wade was under 50% from the foul line....not the only reason, but one that stands out to me.

[black the trucker]

Ok, game 5... this is it... no hard feelings NY but we have more to do with our time... this is over tonight. Couple of points, the ref's can't change the game in round one of the playoffs. maybe at the start of the season but not in the playoffs. What I'm trying to say is, the calls on Bron were terrible in NY. Game one, we play our style and win, shut them down and everythings cool.. Gmes 3 and 4 the ref's started to call touch fouls on Bron and Battier. This is not good, ok... Coach, you have to step in and maybe take a tech but get the point across.... Enough, attack at will. Don't let them off the hook... This ends tonight...

[greg gembe]

Black

It will turn around tonight. You've watched enough NBA ball to know that the home team (marketable)-stars get a lot of calls at home. This explains the change in officiating between games 1&2 and 3&4. In this ever image conscious league, they would rather be wrong in favor of the home team (with 40,000 fans applauding) then be right and have those same amounts of fans booing and chanting 'ref you suck'. That is called the 'Stern Rule'.

We'll close it out tonight. Somehow, SPO will make the right adjustments, LBJ will close, Wade will have his legs back, and CB will be involved. Everybody will feel good until we lose a game in Indianapolis, then the doubts will creep in. I think that is what SPO refers to as 'noise'.

Black - are you off the road tonight, getting a chance to watch the game live?

[eddie]

Greg Gumble with the play by play, when did you get hire for the herald?!?!?!

[ray]

I just can't believe that Heat fans in general thinks Spoel. Is a really good coach! Talking about stats! Let's see some credentials from Spoelstra that he even deserve to be a coach in the NBA!! I dude didn't coach in college high school that I can find!! So what makes Spoelstra so special??? I think you put any of our assistants coaches and they would have the same or Better record! Any coach of any team!! Riley made a mistake putting Spoel in as the coach! We Need a coach with leadership skills a iron fist and a motivator!! We don't have that and type of coach in Spoelstra!! And if I may add a coach that has a good feel for the game and can come up with good design plays in between time outs and of course good feel in the rotation!! I think the players are making Spoelstra look good!! Just my out look on things and opinion!!

[greg gembe]

Eddie - open forum, feel free to play at will, I do. I think that's the idea of a web forum is to get input from viewers/readers.

Ray - what was Phil Jackson's coaching career before taking the Bulls job? How about Riley, wasn't he pulled off the commentator's table to coach the Lakers? Hell, Greg Popovich NEVER played in the NBA as far as I know. LBJ, CB, Battier, Miller, ALL KNEW WHO WAS COACHING THIS TEAM WHEN THEY SIGNED, and apparently ALL were good with him. If you don't think this team plays motivated in the post-season, you are watching different games than I am. This team is 17-8 in the post-season in the last two years, meaning SPO's team wins 68% of the time. Care to match that against ANY other coach during the same time frame? Rick Carlisle? Avery Johnson? Popovich?

Riley made a mistake? That's gold, GOLD JERRY!

Never been in an NBA timeout huddle, but I bet they don't MAKE UP many plays in the timeouts. I bet they have practiced scripted go-to plays that they choose from.

[jpejeff]

Too early to tell if Riley made a mistake. No ship this year = Big asz mistake. The adjustments Spo could have made is obvious. Battier just didn't have it and it happens. Recognize and try something else. No way they call that ghost foul on Bron when Melo shot for 3. Speaking of 3s, I wish he would of demanded more drives early on. All those early 3s bust the window of my car out with a brick. Putting Bron in a corner away from the play was a big asz mistake.He needs to ADJUST his dam attitude after that dumb Sh#t. Every1 in the sports bar I was in thought Bron would tie or win the game. He was in a zone. Every1 but me were shocked when they saw the last play. They don't follow the Heat like I do. SPO got 2 tighten his azs up when the comp stiffen.We will get Bounce just like last year. If that happens, a big majority will agree that Spo blew it.

[ray]

Greg gembe
"Not bad". Two of the three you mention Played the game of basket ball in the NBA among other levels!! And the other you mention also!! Look Spoelstra is overrated Has won championships in any level... The players we have are making him look good". Not great!! I do recall Pat coming out of retirement taking on a team that already played 20 something game, and wining a title!! Pat is one of the best motivators in NBA history! Coach a older team with a young inexperience DWade to a title being down in a series!! I like to see your boy Spoelstra do that! If we lose again this year the blame goes on the coach and the GM for hiring him instead of bring in a experience coach, he would have had no problem hiring with this group of players last year and this year group! But instead he hires Spoel!! Look there was a look of head scratching when Spoel was pick by Riley by mist experts... Dude if you don't see this team take quarters off games off than I don't know what game you seeing!! It boils down to coaching being a leader and right now Spoelstra is not leading it's the players!! His rotation sucks and when a player has the hot hand or the team has a nice run and leading by a ok margin he either sit players down call time outs, causing the other teams to catch up or tie the game!!! Those are just a few of the things Spoel does wrong!! But I got my team in 7 games against the pacers!! IRS going to be tough series because of Spoel questionable coaching!! BUT WTF I KNOW I'M JUST A HEAT FANS. JERKY

[greg gembe]

Pat's joined a team twice during the season and won titles, 1982 and 2006.

Good or average NBA players don't regularl equate to good coaches, they are two different animals all together. Don't believe me, ask Bill Russell or Magic Johnson. I don't believe Jackson or Riley coached prior to taking on the Bulls/Lakers jobs.

Coach isn't paid to be a cheerleader. If you can't get excited to play a game at 100%, and get paid millions to do it, the coach giving you the 'rah, rah' in the locker room won't get it done either.

4 down - 12 to go

Keep doing the damn thing Heat (entire) organization!