Heat 103, Timberwolves 101: Wade does it again and other stuff
MINNEAPOLIS -- Leave it to Dwyane Wade to upstage LeBron James on his birthday. A few post-game thoughts, but first:
--Excellent screen by Bosh on the play. Ricky Rubio, welcome to the NBA.
--If you notice closely, Wade actually stumbles while running to the rim. LeBron had to adjust the weight of his lob and Wade reached behind himself while in the air to finish the play. In this one play you had two of the LeBron and Wade's signature traits as basketball players on display: James' vision and Wade's ability to balance and right himself in the air.
--If you thought the Heat's sideline-out-of-bounds play looked familiar, you were correct. The Celtics used it to defeat the Heat two years ago.
--James attempted his first three-pointer of the season in the fourth quarter. He missed. Wade still hasn't attempted a three-pointer.
--Norris Cole played 30 minutes. Mario Chalmers played 14. Interesting, to say the least.
--The Timberwolves outscored the Heat's bench 57-21; the Heat's starters outscored the Timberwolves starters 82-44.
--Ricky Rubio (12 pts, 12 asts) is the real deal.
--Bosh said he struggled in the first half because the Timberwolves were playing off him. He found his shot in the second half.
--Looks like the Heat has finally found a point guard who knows how to throw an alley-oop. Cole tossed back-to-back alley-oops to James in the third quarter.
GAME MVP, LEBRON JAMES
Wade might have made the final four points, including the game winner, but James once again carried the team. He was two rebounds shy of a triple-double: 34 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds.
UNSUNG HERO, JOEL ANTHONY
Anthony had eight rebounds (three offensive) in less than 24 minutes.
PARTING SHOT
James Jones played less than three minutes and the Heat was 3 of 14 from three-point range. Should Spoelstra find more minutes for the Heat's most consistent three-point shooter?
-joe