Heat beats Knicks, Dolphins

Yes, those of you who had the Heat in the "who will win first, Heat or Dolphins" pool, prepare to collect. The Heat played a game straight out of 1976 to beat the Knicks 75-72.
It temporarily takes away the sense of desperation to get Dwyane back, but it certainly wasn't pretty. This was the kind of game Pat Riley is used to coaching when he doesn't have a carry-the-offense player. I guess that means the defense can be pretty good when it needs to be. Unlike last year, when the offense goes flat, the defense isn't following suit. It has been the opposite, actually. The defense this year has, for the most part, managed to pick it up just when it's needed most.
Udonis Haslem has been huge in that respect (he had a big deflection on the Knicks' second-to-last possession that led to a J-Will steal), and he has had a few big games numbers-wise also. He had 16 points and 16 rebounds Sunday, coming off a 20-point, 13-rebound effort against the Suns. It's looking like Riley is slowly going away from Mark Blount at PF (he played five minutes against NY after not playing against the uptempo Suns). That just leaves UD with the minutes he badly wants to play, and it should result in plenty of games like this one.
Jason Williams was very good again, with 17 points, including the last four for Miami, with five assists and three steals.
Penny started again, and Dorell played just six minutes. To me, it looks like Riley is going to slow the game down when he can, therefore allowing his main guys to play heavy minutes without getting too fatigued. It's a sound strategy, but the offensive struggles are going to keep the Heat from beating anyone easily.
As for Dwyane, it now looks like Seattle at home on Wednesday makes the most sense. It's doubtful he would play in the first game of a back-to-back set, which would probably rule him out of Tuesday's game against the Bobcats. If the Heat can keep Jason Richardson under control, it's not hard to believe Miami can win Tuesday's game in Charlotte.