Harlem Shake ... Miami Heat edition

So, this is awesome...

The show will go on...and by 'show' we mean 'nonsense'

Haters and critics be damned, the pre-game dunks will continue.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called it the "theater of the absurd." LeBron James said he doesn't care. People have apparently criticized James about his pre-game dunks—no one actually knows who these people are—but despite all the blowback ... the show will go on!

"I don't care," James said. "I've been criticized for everything. It doesn't matter to me. That is a small thing on my agenda that I'm getting criticized by what I do in the warm-ups. Stop. Like Shane say, 'Stop.'"

Seriously, if ever there was an instance of the media blowing a story out of context and out of proportion, it's this "pregame dunk controversy" nonsense. The only people who have said anything negative about James' dunks are a few anonymous haters on Twitter. James mentioned the Twitter comments after Tuesday's game — it was probably just one, but who knows and who cares — and now the TV media (local and national) is running wild with the story.

Media availability on Thursday was the "theater of the absurd," as Spoelstra said. TV reporters were shouting over each other to ask LeBron and others about these nasty "critics." As they like to say, slow news day.

Non-call motivates LeBron in double-overtime

My video report from AmericanAirlines Arena after Heat 141, Kings 129. After missing a layup at the end of the first overtime period, LeBron complained about a foul call, which seemed to motivate him in the second overtime.

THREE THINGS

3. LeBron James had 11 points in the second overtime period, a Heat franchise record. He finished with 40 points and 16 assists. James' 16 assists was a career high.

2. Dwyane Wade carried the Heat in regulation. He had 39 points.

1. Despite the exciting victory, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was upset with the team's overall performance. “It’s wasn’t until the last four minutes of regulation and overtime before it became a serious ballgame and we were able to respond,” Spoelstra said.

Read my full report of the game RIGHT HERE! 

Have we seen the last of LeBron's pre-game dunk show?

The best in the unofficial series, LeBron put one between his legs in mid-flight before Tuesday's game. LeBron went on to score 40 points and record 16 assists against the Kings. The Heat defeated Sacramento 141-129 in double overtime.

LeBron's pregame dunk show, which also often includes other players like Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen, was once an intimate and almost secretive experience for fans who arrived early for games at AmericanAirlines Arena. That's no longer the case. ESPN has run wild with the story and the Heat has started streaming live video of its team's pregame warm-ups.

In other words, expect LeBron to shut the whole thing down. What was once organic fun now seems forced.

 

 

Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Chris Bosh talk about coding

A very cool short film about the importance of computer coding featuring Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and, of course, Chris Bosh.

Here's that LeBron dunk during pregame on Sunday

At the time we called it a 360, through-the-legs, off-the-back dunk. No, LeBron didn't do all of that in midair, but the exhibition was pretty jaw-dropping all the same. Nice dunk by Birdman moments before LeBron throws it down, as well.

Get to the games early, Heat fans. LeBron puts on a nightly show.

Heat knocks off Cavs to win 11 straight

THREE THINGS

1. The Heat blew a 22-point lead but Dwyane Wade led the comeback, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter.

2. LeBron James finished with 28 points but was 0 of 1 from the field in the fourth quarter.

3. Miami was 12 of 19 from three-point range. The Heat is 17-0 in games this season when making double-digit three-pointers.

Revisiting Dexter Pittman's flying elbow

Dexter Pittman won a ring with the Heat. No matter where his career goes from here, he'll always be a champion. Here was his most memorable moment of the 2012 playoff run.

Heat frees up roster spot at trade deadline; Pittman dealt

Making room for a possible veteran big man before the playoffs, the Heat rid itself of little-used center Dexter Pittman on Thursday in the final hours before the trade deadline.

Miami traded Pittman to the Memphis Grizzlies for next to nothing. Instead of receiving a player in return, the Heat acquired the rights to a former second-round pick playing in Argentina just to make the deal go through. To sweeten the deal, the Heat threw in cash considerations as well.

"I want to thank Dexter for his hard work and professional attitude," Heat president Pat Riley said. "Unfortunatly, in order to gain roster flexibility we had to trade someone. We wish him nothing but the best."

The Heat now moves forward with 14 players on its roster and a new veteran's minimum contract with which to lure a player. Possible options include Kenyon Martin, who is a free agent, and perhaps Jermaine O'Neal, but only if he's bought out by the Phoenix Suns.

Drafted in 2010 as a long-term project, Pittman improved gradually with the Heat but could never break through playing on a team of mostly veterans. Pittman bounced between the D-League and the Heat this season before finally being dealt.

From Memphis, the Heat acquired the rights to 6-11 center Ricky Sanchez in the deal. Drafted in 2005 by the Portland Trail Blazers, the Puerto Rican national is currently playing for Libertad de Sunchales in Argentina.

Chris Bosh, shooting stars champion of the universe

Among the many fine events of All-Star Saturday night was the Shooting Stars Challenge. Chris Bosh joined up with Dominique Wilkins and Swin Cash of the WNBA to win the competition.

Here's my story on Chris Bosh from Saturday's paper. How does 15-time NBA All-Star Chris Bosh sound?