Paddle on down to Triple A; Tickets still available for Game 2

Thought the playoffs would be sold out at AmericanAirlines Arena and you couldn't get a ticket? Think again. Tickets are available for Game 2 on Monday, so grab your canoe and paddle on down to AmericanAirlines Arena while they're still available.

Always the concern after a lopsided win is the letdown game that follows. The Heat will try to avoid that tonight in Game 2 against the Knicks.

"We haven't done anything yet," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "And you have to always keep that perspective that we haven't even held serve. We started off the first game of the series on the right note but that doesn't guarantee or insure anything for tonight's game and we have to absolutely expect the level of force and concentration and energy that they'll be bringing tonight."

The series shifts to New York for Games 3 and 4.

"We know that they're just trying to steal one tonight here on our home court and we have to defend that ferociously," Spoelstra said.

FACT BOX
WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., AmericanAirlines Arena
TV/RADIO: Sun Sports and TNT/WAXY 790-AM and WQBA 1140-AM
SERIES: Heat leads 1-0.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Heat’s margin of victory in Game 1 was two points shy of a postseason franchise record. For the Knicks, its 67 points in Game 1 tied a franchise record for its lowest point total in a postseason game. Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony posted the only double-double of game but his 11 points was 31 points fewer than his total in New York’s final game against Miami in the regular season. Knicks point guard Toney Douglas (flu) is questionable but could start in place of Iman Shumpert, who tore his anterior-cruciate ligament in Game 1 and is out for the playoffs. Knicks center Tyson Chandler (flu) is questionable despite playing in Game 1 with his illness.

Game 1: Heat 100, Knicks 67

The Heat and Knicks met in the playoffs for the first time in 12 years on Saturday but the renewed rivalry wasn’t exactly a nod to those epic games of the late 90s. Miami’s 100-67 victory fell two points shy of tying the Heat’s postseason record for margin of victory. Meanwhile, the loss tied a postseason record for fewest points scored in the playoffs by Knicks. 

FAST FACTS
LeBron scored a game-high 32 points and became just the Heat’s sixth player in team history to score at least 500 postseason points.

LeBron went 10 of 14 from the field giving him his a shooting percentage of .714, the best shooting percentage of his career in a postseason game.

Udonis Haslem had seven of his eight rebounds in the third quarter. It was Haslem first start in a postseason game since May 3, 2009 against Atlanta.

Mario Chalmers has scored 30 points in his last two playoff games.

The Knicks have lost 11 consecutive postseason games. Put another way, New York has won a game in the playoffs 4,025 days.

 

IT WAS OVER WHEN…
The Heat closed the first half with a 24-2 run. The Knicks scored one field goal in the final 6:32 of the half. The run then expanded to 32-2 to begin the third quarter. 

OF NOTE Knicks guard Iman Shumpart tore a ligament in his knee in the third quarter.

QUOTEABLE
“I thought we played well.”

--Mike Woodson, coach of the New York Knicks

NEXT GAME
Game 2 at 7 p.m. on Monday at AmericanAirlines Arena

Excellent first half for Heat

The Heat led the Knicks 54-31 after the first half in the opening game of its best-of-7 first-round series on Saturday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

LeBron James finished the half with 23 points, including a 9-0 run by himself after being fouled hard by Tyson Chandler on an illegal screen in the open court. Chandler was initially ejected from the game for the foul but his flangrant-2 was downgraded after a review, allowing him to remain in the game. Still, it was Chandler's fourth foul of the first half.

The Knicks committed 21 fouls in the first half including six offensive fouls. Meanwhile, the Heat shot 21 of 28 from the free-throw line. James was 11 of 14 from the line.

The Heat held the Knicks to 32.4 percent shooting in the first half. Carmelo Anthony finished the half with seven points and was 1 of 9 from the field. Baron Davis led the Knicks with 10 points of 4 of 6 shooting.

Tyson Chandler in starting lineup and today's terrible refs

Knicks center Tyson Chander was listed as a starter for the Knicks on Saturday despite suffering from flu-like symptoms on Friday and before the game.

Heat starters:
F LeBron James
F Udonis Haslem
C Chris Bosh
G Dwyane Wade
G Mario Chalmers

Knicks starters
F Carmelo Anthony
F Amar'e Stoudemire
C Tyson Chandler
G Iman Shumpert
G Baron Davis

Referees
14 Ed Malloy
43 Dan Crawford
59 Zielinski

(This might be the worst crew of officials in the playoffs.)

 

Tyson Chandler game-time decision for Knicks

Knicks center Tyson Chandler is a game-time decision on Saturday against the Heat in the opening game of the first round of the NBA playoffs, Knicks coach Mike Woodson said during his pregame news conference.

Chandler missed Friday's practice with flu-like symptoms, according to the Knicks. A defensive maven, Chandler helped the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.

Woodson said that Chandler "finally was able" to eat on Saturday around lunchtime. Woodson said on Saturday that Chandler should be considered for defensive player of the year.

Tyson Chandler game-time decision for Knicks

Knicks center Tyson Chandler is a game-time decision on Saturday against the Heat in the opening game of the first round of the NBA playoffs, Knicks coach Mike Woodson said during his pregame news conference.

Chandler missed Friday's practice with flu-like symptoms, according to the Knicks. A defensive maven, Chandler helped the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.

Woodson said that Chandler "finally was able" to eat on Saturday around lunchtime. Woodson said on Saturday that Chandler should be considered for defensive player of the year.

HEAT-KNICKS!

WASHINGTON -- It has been 12 long years since the Heat and Knicks met in the playoffs but all that changes on Saturday when second-seed Miami begins its best-of-7 first-round series against eight-seed New York.

Udonis Haslem summed up the renewed postseason rivalry on Thursday in Washington: "Emotions will be running high."

First things first, here's the series' complete schedule:

Game 1, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, AmericanAirlines Arena
Game 2, 7 p.m. Monday, AmericanAirlines Arena
Game 3, 7 p.m. Thursday, Madison Square Garden
Game 4, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Madison Square Garden
Game 5, TBA Wednesday, AmericanAirlines Arena (if necessary)
Game 6, TBA Friday, Madison Square Garden (if necessary)
Game 7, TBA Sunday, AmericanAirlines Arena (if necessary)

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh declined to speak with reporters after Thursday's season finale at Washington but I had a fun conversation with Haslem after the Heat's meaningless 34-point loss to the Wizards. Haslem was in high school and college during the golden years of the Heat-Knicks postseason rivalry but he remembers vividly all the back-and-forth between the two teams: P.J. Brown's scuffle with Charlie Ward in 1997, Jeff Van Gundy grabbing Alonzo Mourning's leg in 1998, Allan Houston's series-winner and air punch in Game 5 of the 2000 Eastern Conference semifinals.

While the players are all different for this playoff series and the physical nature of the NBA's yesteryear is long gone, Haslem said it isn't going to take much to "spark" the series. In fact, Haslem said simply walking onto the court against the Knicks will bring back all the old feelings.

Can't wait. 

EMAILS I GET: Jersey sales confirm what we already knew

Adidas hit me up with a press release about its jersey sales this morning. It confirmed what we already knew: Jeremy Lin is taking over the world.

Lin might not be playing in the playoffs (knee) but his jersey sales will be well represented at Madison Square Garden (and AmericanAirlines if the Knicks take care of business tonight against the Bobcats). Lin was second in jersey sales behind Derrick Rose for February and March.

For the Heat, LeBron James was fourth on the list and Dwyane Wade was sixth. Chris Bosh didn't make the Top 15...and neither did Joel Anthony, for the matter. As a team, the Heat was fourth on the list behind the Bulls, Knicks and Lakers. Not bad.

If jersey sales are a measure of popularity among fans, then Wade is the fourth most popular guard in the game and third in the Eastern Conference. If this Lin guy is here to stay, then Wade might have started his last All-Star Game in Orlando. At least he went out with a triple-double.

Top 15 Most Popular NBA Jerseys:​​​

1. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls​​​​
2. Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks*​​​
3. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers​​​
4. LeBron James, Miami Heat​​​​
5. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks​​​
6. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat​​​​
7. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks*​​​
8. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder​​ 9. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers​​​
10. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics​​
11. Amar’e Stoudemire, New York Knicks​​
12. Ray Allen, Boston Celtics
13. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
14. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
15. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers* ​​​*Not on last year’s list.

Historical Top NBA Jerseys from end of season:
2012 – Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
2011 – LeBron James, Miami Heat
2010 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2009 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2008 – Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
2007 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2006 – Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
2005 – Shaquille O’Neal, Miami Heat
2004 – LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
2003 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2002 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2001 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Dwyane Wade finger update

WASHINGTON -- Heat guard Dwyane Wade practiced for the second day in a row on Wednesday after dislocating his left index finger on Saturday against the Wizards. Wade will not play on Thursday against Washington as the Heat prepares for the playoffs.

"I’m working my way back,” Wade said. "It’s the second day with the finger, so I feel a lot better today. So, by the time we get on that court — playoff time — I’ll be fine.”

Sixers, Knicks or Magic?

WASHINGTON -- Two nights remain of the regular season and the Heat still doesn't know who its playing in the first round.

The Heat, which practices today at Verizon Center in Washington D.C., will focus on its defensive principles until it can prepare for a specific opponent. Miami plays the Wizards on Thursday but LeBron, Wade and Bosh likely will watch from the sidelines -- more interested with games elsewhere than the one in D.C.

While the Heat is locked into the second seed in Eastern Conference playoffs, three teams are jostling for position in the bottom half of the bracket. The Knicks are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference standings and would match up with the Heat if the playoffs started today. But the Knicks could also finish sixth or eighth in the East depending on the outcomes of six games involving New York, Orlando and Philadelphia tonight and Thursday.

There are a lot of different scenarios (and we're not going to break them all down here) but it's possible the Heat could open up the playoffs against the Knicks, Sixers or Magic. For example:

--If the Magic loses tonight (Charlotte) and Thursday (Memphis) and the Knicks win tonight (Clippers) and Thursday (Charlotte), then the Heat will open up with the Magic.

--Another scenario: If the Sixers win tonight (Milwaukee) and Thursday (Detroit) and the Knicks lose both of its games then the Heat will open against the Sixers if the Magic also wins one of its games.

--Something else to consider: Charlotte is historically horrible.

--IT COULD ALL END TONIGHT IF ... Orlando and New York wins and Philly loses. This scenario would lock the Heat and New York into a first-round series.

I'm fairly certain the Heat would prefer to play the Dwight Howard-less Magic rather than Carmelo and the Knicks. As for the Heat's fans, I'm assuming the Knicks would be the favored first-round opponent. No one wants another Philly-Miami first-round series.