ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Heat 102, Nets 89

GAME-STORY LINK: Click Me!

BEST OF THE NIGHT: Dwyane Wade's resurgence
The Heat's shooting guard skill and talent were called into question by Charles Barkley on Thursday. On Saturday, Wade delivered his answer. His 34 points was a season high.

WORST OF THE NIGHT: Nets in the fourth quarter
Brooklyn is an improved team, but weary legs from a difficult back-to-back—three games in four nights—took a toll in the fourth quarter. The Nets were 2 of 15 from the field, 1 of 9 from three-point range and 6 of 10 from the free-throw line. The Heat outscored the Nets 20-11 in the fourth quarter and 52-30 in the second half.

NIGHTLY NUMBER: 4
The Heat only committed four turnovers in the second half. Meanwhile, the Nets had 11 turnovers. Overall, the Nets had 19 turnovers compared to 10 for the Heat.

LINE OF THE NIGHT: Wade had 34 points in 35 minutes. He was 14 of 20 from the field, 1 of 3 from three-point range and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line. He also had seven assists without a turnover.

THEY SAID IT
"We got fighters and we don't make excuses. They just had a little more energy than we did in the middle of the third quarter and the whole fourth quarter."
—Avery Johnson, Nets coach

“This was a step forward game for us.  It was good to see our guys connected again. We didn’t necessarily play great basketball in the first half but in some ways this was our best win. This was our best game in terms of connection, communication, and commitment to each other. It was good to see guys playing for each other.”
—Erik Spoelstra, Heat coach

“For me, my goal is to feel better by All-Star.  I worked hard the last couple days, I didn’t take any time off, and I just really tried to get my legs under me.  Anytime someone throws dirt on you and tries to say something, you always want to prove them wrong.”
—Dwyane Wade, Heat guard

“We talked about it, we continue to talk about it and we just have to go out and make it happen.  We are a veteran ball club, we understand that in order for us to win ballgames, in order for us to compete and defend our title we have to defend.  It is good to see we took care of that tonight.”
—LeBron James, Heat forward on his team's defense down the stretch

“We played well in stretches.  They are a good team.  They’ve been together for years.  It’s a good game for us.  We did the right things at times.  We just have to be more disciplined.  We cannot relax.  That’s when we have to get more stops, execute better, and take care of the ball.”
—Deron Williams, Nets guard 

NIGHTLY NOTES FROM THE HEAT STATS DEPARTMENT
—The Heat has won a series-record 12 consecutive regular-season games (15 of the last 16) against the Nets, the longest current win streak for the Heat against an opponent. Miami has won eight consecutive games against the Nets at the AmericanAirlines Arena, also a franchise long in the 99-game series.

—The Heat overcame its largest deficit of the season, just two games after Miami came back from 13 points down in the third quarter to defeat Cleveland. The Heat trailed the Nets by 14 points, 35-21, with 9:39 to play in the second quarter.

—The 30 points by Brooklyn in the second game in the second half are the fewest Miami has allowed in a half this season. The previous low was a 32-point second half also by the Nets on November 7.

—The Heat is 8-0 at home.

—Dwyane Wade scored a season and game-high 34 points, including a season-high 14 field goals made, and also tied a season-high with seven assists. He has scored 56 points in the two games against the Nets.

—LeBron James had 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists. He is tied with Kevin Durant for the league lead with 15 20-point scoring games.

Comments

[bky]

So where is all the Wade haters today? Still want to trade him? 6th man role? I didnt think so.

[RP]

Good effort by both teams...can't rest with anybody. Cole steps up again while Chalmers remains in funk. Hope he didn't really think about his All-Star ballot snub. Ray has been a stud...LeBron - simply THE MVP. Nice to see Wade with his hop back while CB had off night. Blatche was that guy the Heat should've picked up

[black the trucker]

what about reggie evans???

[Smitty]

Im surprised at how Blatche Played! He made Bosh look like 3rd string D-League player.. Look for Bosh next game to go BANANAS! Bosh will go through a one or two game slump, then all of a sudden just go OFF .. so next game or the game after next im seeing a 26 and 13 kinda night for Bosh..

[Smitty]

Oh and to everyone who was writing WAde-off, all that trade him before we wont get anything in return.. yea uh NO.. As I was saying before let him work his way back from his injury.. Wade plays a reckless games, and ALL the Heat fans love n hate that about him, but thats what made him a great player. Now when he gets around 33, he'll prob calm down a little and start working on his jumper like Kobe did.. but for now, let the man play his game!

[black the trucker]

congrats bron on sportsman of the year... you deserve all that you won this year... 007...

[rockstarjc]

this could make us better if we do mix on trades;

UTAH TRADE:
>AL JEFFERSON / ALEC BURKS

LAKERS TRADE:
>PAU GASOL

HEAT TRADE:
>MIKE MILLER / >JOEL ANTHONY / >HASLEM / >PITTMAN
(ITS ABOUT TIME TO LET UD GO)

UTAH RECEIVE:
*PAU GASOL / *PITTMAN

LAKERS RECEIVE:
*MIKE MILLER / *JOEL ANTHONY / *HASLEM

HEAT RECEIEVE:
*AL JEFFERSON / *ALEC BURKS

PICK-UP:
UFA *KENYON MARTIN

THOUGHTS?

[rockstarjc]

THAT WOULD BE A 14PLAYERS IN TOTAL ON HEAT ROSTER...,
SO WE CAN TRY TO VISIT AND HAVE CHANCE TO...

UFA *GREG ODEN

JUST SAYIN..

[black the trucker]

no rockstar...

but i would look at k-mart...

[black the trucker]

maybe d-west...

[black the trucker]

both crazy, but hey..

[black the trucker]

takin off this winter... no ice road for me this year... what's goin on heat nation... big game on tnt... knicks in the house... come to play...

[black the trucker]

would you cut harris to add d. west???? or k-mart??? and what about the move for millsap???

[black the trucker]

a flex-motion offense...

shut-down defense...

[black the trucker]

think a gameplan is needed this early in the season... BIG game 2nite guys... come to play...

[black the trucker]

they trying to say the knicks aren't a threat to us... if you play in the league, you are a threat to us.... come to play...

[black the trucker]

the roll to the rim with chandler has to be defended... thats key for them... switch, but stay out on shooters... attack sheed...

[black the trucker]

bad loss.. but hey, we move forward...

[black the trucker]

now can some one tell pat maybe a move is needed... still early, but there is something missing... we win with defense... and aggressiveness...

[black the trucker]

on to the next game.. dam...

[black the trucker]

this loss hurt... but only one game in December... we can rebound... but that team is ready to give us all we can handle... i still say we should have picked up pietrus and make a trade... maybe k-mart, millsap, evans... there are players out there who would fit right in.. still early.. and time to mesh.. the writing is on the wall.. not panic, but real concern...

[black the trucker]

dam...

[black the trucker]

this can't be the feeling at the end of the season... Pat plz, make some changes...

[black the trucker]

dam..

[Dashi]

Fire Spoelstra!!

[black the trucker]

NO... get serious...

[black the trucker]

we need to get back to the drawing board... this is early enough and maybe a season changing loss...

[Smitty]

SPO doesnt need to get fired, he just needs to adjust his defensive rotations, and stop over compensating in the paint..

[black the trucker]

REFOCUS..

[Smitty]

To be honest, a real quick way to solve all this is to sign a defensive PG.. bring back Temple, and all this letting these other PG's run rampart through our defense would cease..

[black the trucker]

WOW...

look, trying to win back-to-back titles is very hard...

everyone wants to beat the champs...

thats why it's so special when done...

[black the trucker]

a better option at point would be tyreke evans...

[Smitty]

a better option at point, thats actually available would be delonte west. or Jose Calderon if he gets amnestied

[bky]

Why are we talking on a blog with the Nets game? Where are the recaps of the Wizards and Knicks game??? Is it just me or is this the worst informational blog out there??? Goodman is way over his head here! I wonder if the Herald is taking applications? Just piss poor. Get with it.

[black the trucker]

d. west is crazy but he might work...

[Smitty]

yes he would.... yea dude is two games behind.. but Im not sweating it.. as long as he offers a free blog were I can come and vent lol im good..

[black the trucker]

yeah i agree... plus when we lose two in a row, i really dont need a new article.. just let me vent...

[black the trucker]

i still say trade allen...

[black the trucker]

he has value...

[black the trucker]

there will always be a real solution to a problem... but will you do the hard work to make it right... 007...

[black the trucker]

trust is vital in any battle...

[black the trucker]

being content with ones legacy is good, but being hungry to be the best is great... 007...

[black the trucker]

look at this four team trade... heat get millsap... t-wolves get m. miller... nuggets get joel anthony... jazz get mozgov, derrick williams...