In Thursday's loss to Cleveland, Dwyane Wade topped the highlights with a thunderous flush over Anderson Varejao. On Saturday, the signature moment came with a finishing swish.

Wade's three-pointer with one-tenth of a second left over Trenton Hassell allowed the Heat to avert disaster and escape with a 81-80 victory over the winless New Jersey Nets.

One flick of the wrist was the difference between the Heat becoming the first team to fall to Nets (0-10) and Erik Spoelstra becoming the fastest coach in franchise history to win his 50th game. Spoelstra, nine games into his second season, got to the mark two games faster than Stan Van Gundy.

Both had Wade to thank for the victories. Especially on Saturday night.

"Well thank you, Wade, for burying that three," Spoelstra said afterward. "I didn't really help us out. At times, that's what the great ones do. They bail you out of a competitive but frustrating game."

But it wasn't just Wade. Quentin Richardson's three with 25 seconds left set up the final dagger. And Udonis Haslem's career-high tying 28 points and 12 rebounds kept the Heat close enough to close it out.

D. WADE'S DOINGS: Wade was 0 of 4 from three-point range before he stepped back and raised up for the game-winner. Didn't matter. "I don't really worry about that," Wade said. "My focus ain't on nothing I did earlier. It's just about that moment." And Wade delivered. His shot capped perhaps his most complete performance of the season. A first-quarter injury to Mario Chalmers forced Wade into more of a playmaking role. He came through with 22 points (setting a franchise record with his 22nd straight game of 20-plus points). Wade also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 steals and 2 blocks in 42 minutes.

TURNING POINT: Wade's shot won it with essentially no time left. But the turning point came when Sean Williams, who has had his way with Michael Beasley since the Orlando summer league last year, blocked Beasley's shot with 33 seconds left and the Heat trailing 78-75. Williams appeared to grab the ball, and then he lost it out of bounds. That's when it seemed divine intervention may have been on Miami's side. Eight seconds later, Quentin Richardson nailed his banked-in 3-pointer to tie it. That was prayer No. 1 answered. Then came prayer No. 2: Wade's final dagger.  

WINNING EDGE: On a big-time fight night, the Heat did some damage with body work. That would be its edge rebounding on the offensive glass. The Heat turned 15 offensive boards into an 18-10 advantage in second-chance points. Beasley had five offensive boards, Haslem had four and Joel Anthony had three.

HEAD-SCRATCHER: Mario Chalmers left the game in the first quarter with a freak injury. The team called it a strained right shoulder. Spoelstra called it a slightly pinched nerve or a stinger. Chalmers wasn't quite sure what happened. All he know is that when he tossed a halfcourt lob to Wade on an alley-oop, there was a sharp pain that shot through his right arm. Chalmers didn't return and is considered day to day. The Heat was already without center Jermaine O'Neal, who sat with a bruised hip sustained in Thursday's loss to the Cavaliers.

KEY CONTRIBUTION: Haslem had perhaps his best game as a Heat player. Sure, it came against a winless Nets team. But if it weren't for UD's career-high 28 points and 12 rebounds, the Heat wouldn't have been able to keep up with the Nets. Miami simply had no answer in the second half for Brook Lopez and Sean Williams. The Heat needed every point Haslem could provide. Halsem and Beasley had problems matching the athleticism of the Nets frontline players.

NEXT UP: Oklahoma City Thunder at Heat, Tuesday 7:30 AmericanAirlines Arena

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

Apparently, coach Erik Spoelstra finds a bit of joy in keeping everyone in suspense regarding what he insists will be a nine-man playing rotation this season.

Of course, Dwyane Wade, Jermaine O'Neal and Mario Chalmers aren't sweating as starters. Udonis Haslem probably isn't either. And Michael Beasley is all but in at small forward, barring a last-minute adjustment due to an injury or some form of indecency.

The next two, according to the view from here, would be guard Daequan Cook and center Joel Anthony as offensive and defensive specialists, respectively. The last two would almost have to be Carlos Arroyo and James Jones. Arroyo would take those first-half and early third-quarter minutes that would become available if Chalmers is either ineffective or in foul trouble. In other words, those minutes Wade would prefer not to chase around smaller and quicker opposing guards until crunch time in the fourth quarter

Jones seems logical because, well, the Heat thought enough of him to sign him to a slightly-less-than-mid-level deal a year ago. He also has worked as hard or harder than anyone on the roster this summer, which isn't lost on the coaching staff despite his limited preseason role. The Heat has to make this Jones situation work. He's got a significant partial guarantee on the next couple of years on his contract even if the Heat decides he's not the answer.

That would leave Quentin Richardson (pictured below left), Yakhouba Diawara and Jamaal Magloire on the outside looking in, as well as plenty of evenings on the inactive list for Dorell Wright, Chris Quinn and Shavlik Randolph.

Spoelstra said there is at least one certainty in the who's-in-who's-out rotation predicament. "It won't be fair," he said. "Guys who probably deserve to play and have a role will have to be patient. At some point in the season, I know that depth is going to help us."

On Wednesday, we'll start to see how well the pieces fit after a preseason of disjointed lineups. Or, we'll start to find out if this will be a season-long collection of moving parts.

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

JACKSONVILLE - So the Heat didn't exactly end the preseason with a bang. Instead, there were a few familiar breakdowns that caught up with Miami in Thursday's 92-87 loss to the Hawks at Veteran's Memorial Arena.

After a 2-5 finish to the preseason, it's now on to the games that actually count in the standings. The Heat is far from a finished product. But there are signs of progress from a few players who could be key in the rotation. Daequan Cook continues to shine, having led the Heat in scoring for the third time this preseason, this time finishing with 20 points.

Carlos Arroyo is getting far more comfortable with the offense. He led the team with six assists in 27 minutes, an effort that helped to offset Mario Chalmers' 1 of 9 shooting night. If there is a significant concern with this team - and there are a few of them - they begin with the Heat's inability to consistently defend the perimeter. The Hawks shot 57.1 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. They benefited from those kind of numbers on the way to eliminating the Heat in seven games during last season's playoffs.

Even though the Heat has started six different lineups in seven preseason games, coach Erik Spoelstra insists he's closing in on an eight or nine-man rotation. He just won't say who's in and who's out because he hasn't told his players about their roles just yet.

But figure on the backcourt of Mario Chalmers and Dwyane Wade, with Michael Beasley and Udonis Haslem at the forward spots and Jermaine O'Neal at center. Beyond that, I'm pretty confident that Cook and Joel Anthony are the first two off the bench. That gets you to a seven-man rotation. The final one or two spots are a bit difficult to figure. James Jones seemed to be a lock at one point, but then Quentin Richardson starting getting the starts over the past few games. And then there's Carlos Arroyo, who should be a lock. But that would depend on how much time Wade wants to spend at point guard.

So with five days remaining before Wednesday's opener against New York, the Heat essentially has three guys battling for the final two spots in the primary rotation. How will it shake out? Your guess is as good as mine at this point. It's one area where Spoelstra is truly unpredictable.

D. WADE'S DOINGS: Coming off a 35-point outing Wednesday, Wade had a rather pedestrian 13 points, five assists and three steals in 29 minutes. His shot was off (3 of 11), but this was more about seeing how his legs and conditioning level would be, playing a back-to-back set. As was apparent Wednesday, Wade is in mid-season form. He just has to get one or two more teammates to that level as well. Cook, Beasley and Haslem are there. Two more would be huge for this team.

TURNING POINT: After the Heat pulled to within 63-60, the Hawks responded with a 9-0 run to retake control of the game. Joe Johnson made a few jumpers and that was that. Offseason pickup Jamal Crawford also added to the damage with 12 points and 3 assists off the bench. Keep in mind that Johnson is a free agent at the end of the season, just like Wade. The two spent a considerable amount of time talking to one another outside the locker rooms when the teams arrived at the arena. A potential Wade-Johnson-Beasley 1-2-3 punch wouldn't be a bad combination at all. Not saying. Just saying.

LOSING EDGE: It was an awful shooting night from the start for the Heat, which missed 12 of its first 13 shots and closed the game shooting only 36.8 percent from the field. Miami was only 26.9 from 3-point range. Just when it appeared the Heat was getting its offense in gear, the transmission slipped Thursday.

HEAD SCRATCHER: There were plenty from which to pick. There was the comedy from Wade, who was frustrated with an early non-call from the replacement refs. Wade went to the scorer's table and asked: "Can I get a rule book ... so I can show them." There were also several times when Carlos Arroyo, who arrived last week, had to slow down the offense to show Dorell Wright, who has been here for five years, where to go. Inconsistency is still haunting Wright. Another head scratcher came at the end of the first half, when Mario Chalmers fouled Marvin Williams as he was attempting a half-court shot at the buzzer. Williams went to the line and made all three free throws to put Atlanta ahead 44-31 at the break.

KEY CONTRIBUTION: Daequan Cook continues to do everything he can to earn a solid rotation role this season. He led the Heat in scoring for the third time this preseason. He was 8 of 15 from the field, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range. Cook has been making more plays off the dribble and is no longer simply a spot-up shooter. He had four turnovers Thursday, but you can live with a few aggressive mistakes if he continues to improve at his rate. Cook (pictured right) even joked after the game that he might challenge Jason Terry and Lamar Odom for Sixth Man of the Year honors this season. We'll see. But he's on the right track after two inconsistent seasons in the league.

NEXT UP: Season Opener - Heat vs. New York Knicks, 7: 30 Wednesday (AmericanAirlines Arena)

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

The conversation is still as vivid today as it was when Quentin Richardson first sat down with coach Erik Spoelstra after the swingman arrived in a trade over the summer.

The gist of it was this: If Richardson (pictured right, blocking a shot) wanted to have a meaningful role with the Heat and be more than an expiring contract at the end of the bench, he'd have to do at least two things. First, get in condition. Second, do something he's never really been asked to do before in previous stops: Defend.

Richardson took care of the first objective and reported to camp after having dropped about 25 pounds. Among his secrets to shedding the weight, in addition to routine hard work?

"I stopped drinking alcohol," Richardson said. "I used to be a casual drinker, really. But I don't even do that any more. The only mixed drinks I have is when I mix those Crystal Light packs. I try to come up with all kind of combinations of them to make them taste better."

Now, Richardson is doing his part to take care of that other little request from Spoelstra. Known throughout his career as a streaky scorer and long-distance shooter, Richardson is now exploring the other side of his game - the one that might actually lead to steady playing time with the Heat this season.

Richardson was cast in the role of the Heat's perimeter stopper of sorts when he started at small forward alongside shooting guard Dwyane Wade and point guard Mario Chalmers in Miami's preseason win against New Orleans last Thursday in Kansas City.

He responded with eight points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 25 minutes. Granted, Richardson only got the start because Beasley was shifted to power forward in a move to give normal starter Udonis Haslem a rest. But what Richardson is auditioning for are those 18 to 24 minutes a game that could be available behind Wade and Beasley on the perimeter this season.

Those are also minutes that Daequan Cook, James Jones and - to an extent - Yakhouba Diawara and Dorell Wright are battling for entering the season. With two preseason games and less than 10 days remaining before the Oct. 28 opener against New York, nothing is settled with the rotation.

Spoelstra said Monday that he'd like to play an eight- or nine-man mix this season and settle an issue of continuity that was never resolved with last year's team. While each man has had his moments, Richardson (pictured left) is hoping his balance of deep shooting, defense and downright swagger on the court might give him an eventual edge in the rotation run-off.

"When (Spoelstra) brought me here, he told me one of the only ways I would earn playing time is by going out there and stopping people," said Richardson, who has played in up-tempo, run-and-gun systems in Phoenix and New York. "That wasn't a surprise to me. Maybe it was to the general public. I come from a system where there weren't a whole lot of (defensive) principles. This is the most defensive-conscious system I've been in by far. People are being held accountable."

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

KANSAS CITY - This one was mainly about Mario and Mike. So it goes without saying that there was no lack of motivation entering Thursday night's preseason game against the New Orleans Hornets.

This was a homecoming of sorts for Heat forward Michael Beasley and point guard Mario Chalmers, who played their college ball at Kansas State and Kansas, respectively. Returning to the same court where they led their college teams in Big 12 Conference Tournaments, Beasley and Chalmers helped the Heat end its preseason skid.

Thursday's 97-81 victory against the Hornets won't count in the standings, but the team certainly didn't render it meaningless. After losing its first four preseason games, the Heat wants to finish the seven-game exhibition slate with some momentum going into the Oct. 28 opener against New York.

Chalmers continued to turn around his slow start to the preseason with his third straight solid performance at the point, guiding the Heat's offense and spearheading its defense. Beasley nearly had a double-double in the first half, but was slowed by foul trouble before finding his rhythm again late to close with 11 points and 11 boards. Cook continued his hot shooting of late from three-point range.

"What he saw from me tonight, coach said he's going to need that all season," Chalmers said. "I was hyped. It felt like we were running in the Fieldhouse at Kansas again. I liked that feeling." 

About the only bad thing to come out of Thursday's game was another ailment for Dwyane Wade, who started after missing two games but left with five minutes left in the third quarter with a calf bruise.

D. WADE'S DOINGS: Wade was back on the court after sitting out two games with a strained muscle in his left rib cage. He made several explosive plays, including three dunks. He finished with 14 points, six assists and three rebounds in 23 minutes. But Wade was knocked to the floor twice in the third quarter and left the game with five minutes left in the period with the calf bruise. He was treated by trainers and team physician Harlan Selesnick while sitting on the bench and did not return. With the Heat out of action until Wednesday's home game against Memphis, Wade could use the rest. "I think I kicked myself," Wade said. "It's just a bruise, hopefully. We'll have to see after therapy. I'm used to it. You do what you have to do to get back and ready."

TURNING POINT: Perhaps it was the pregame introductions. The announced attendance of 17,116 at the Sprint Center was clearly behind the Heat. And when Wade, Beasley and Chalmers were introduced, the place went crazy. That momentum carried the Heat out to a 26-19 lead in the first quarter. Miami never looked back. By the early stages of the second half, the Heat was ahead by 24 points. They made the game look relatively easy this time after finding plenty of ways to falter in earlier games.

WINNING EDGE: The numbers in two key areas tell the story. The Heat had 23 assists and 10 turnovers. It helps when the starting backcourt of Wade and Chalmers combine for 11 assists and just 2 turnovers. Nine different Heat players had assists, with four dishing at least three. "When we share the basketball, good things tend to happen," Spoelstra said. "That's been the other way around in some other games."

HEAD-SCRATCHER: Beasley, Chalmers and Hornets forward Julian Wright held a joint pregame press conference because of the media demand surrounding their return to the region where they were college stars. Beasley played at Kansas State, of course. Wright and Chalmers were at Kansas. During the conference, Beasley was asked what surprised him the most about his adjustment to the NBA. In typical Beasley fashion, he turned the question into a setup for a punchline. His answer: "First thing I noticed is how big my family got." And Beasley wasn't talking about his infant daughter. He was referring to the cousins, uncles and other long, lost relatives who resurfaced.

KEY CONTRIBUTION: Let's split this between Carlos Arroyo and Joel Anthony. Arroyo, playing his second game since joining the Heat on Monday, had six points and three assists in 18 minutes as the backup point guard. You can see that his timing is coming around. He was off in Wednesday's game, but turned that performance around Thursday. Anthony was 4 of 4 from the field. Yes, that Joel Anthony. He had 8 points and 3 blocks. The Heat got 6 blocks from the center position, with Jermaine O'Neal adding 3.

NEXT UP: Grizzlies at Heat, 7:30 Wednesday (AmericanAirlines Arena)

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

Clearing out the mind and notebook as the flight to Wednesday’s Heat-Thunder preseason game reaches cruising altitude. Consider it the misdirection exhibition tour.

 

After the game in Tulsa against Oklahoma City, the Heat heads to Kansas City to play New Orleans. Go figure. Still trying to figure out how last preseason offered a trip to Paris and London and this year counters with Tulsa and Kansas City. Again, go figure.

 

THE ARROYO-AL TREATMENT: There was a slice of it after Tuesday’s practice, when new Heat guard Carlos Arroyo had what amounted to his own personal media day The Puerto Rico native and former FIU standout signed with the Heat on Monday.

 

TV, radio and newspaper reporters from Spanish media outlets engulfed Arroyo after Tuesday’s practice. Considering the market, there was a genuine excitement and interest. Arroyo is believed to be the first native Spanish-speaking player in Heat history. And who said his signing with the Heat wouldn’t have an impact on and off the court?

 

“It’s been great,” Arroyo said of the reaction. “It’s an honor to be here and to be home.”

 

BEASLEY’S WIN-WIN-WIN SITUATION: Count forward Michael Beasley among Heat players who believe Arroyo is just the sort of addition second-year starting point guard Mario Chalmers needed. With a savvy, proven veteran to contend with in practice every day, Chalmers gets a taste of what Beasley goes through with Udonis Haslem.

 

“Some of the guys who have been in here – not to downgrade guys, but – (Chalmers) has been a landslide better than them,” Beasley said of a group that has consisted of Chris Quinn, Marcus Banks, Shaun Livingston, Luther Head and current camp hopeful John Lucas. “Carlos can do it all. (Chalmers) not only has somebody to go head to head against, but somebody to look up to and to learn from.”

 

WADE AND SEE: Dwyane Wade acknowledged Tuesday that his current rib strain is near the same spot as the injury he sustained during the 2004-05 season that lingered into the playoffs. But Wade said this recent ailment pales in comparison to the anguish he felt four years ago.

 

“If it was that bad, I wouldn’t even be out here,” Wade said after practice. “I wouldn’t even be trying to play.” Wade worked out extensively the past two days, with a focus on conditioning. He essentially wore a “yellow jersey” in scrimmage sessions, meaning he was completely off limits for contact. Wade said he would consider wearing protective padding around his rib cage if he plays this week. From the sounds of Tuesday’s practice, Wade, at best, might appear in one game and skip the other.

 

SPARRING SESSION: Jermaine O’Neal said he expects to play the back-to-back set against the Thunder and Hornets after he missed the previous two games with a bruised foot.

 

There is absolutely nothing he could face in those games more demanding and brutal than the low-post sparring sessions he’s had after practice against assistant coach Keith Askins. Make that Askins and two huge, thick “bash pads” Askins basically used as weapons to pound on O’Neal as he practiced low-post scoring moves. O’Neal managed to hold his own at times, but Askins did little to hurt his reputation as “Kick Ass-kins.”

 

“It’s a different kind of conditioning in here,” O’Neal said. “I look forward to getting back on the court and getting my timing and everything back.”

 

FUNNY EXCHANGE: Beasley, if nothing else, is still providing the comic relief. Before Sunday’s game against San Antonio, Beasley and Yakhouba Diawara had a hilarious exchange. Beasley picked on Diawara because of his deep French accent. Diawara, a Pepperdine grad, shot back: “I’m an educated man. Put Pepperdine against wherever you went, college dropout. Did you even stay long enough to major?”

 

Beasley, who spent one season at Kansas State before leaving to become the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft, didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, I had a major. My major was Bucketology. You don’t know about that. I mastered in getting buckets.”

 

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

Finally.

It took three preseason games, multiple injuries that depleted the backcourt depth and shaky play from the starter at the position. But the Heat finally added a much-needed, veteran presence at the point.

The team on Monday signed free agent Carlos Arroyo (pictured right, driving against Wade) to a non-guaranteed, make-good contract. And if anyone has seen either Arroyo or the Heat play recently, the assumption is that not only will he make this roster, he might even play a meaningful role.

First things first. This is not a referendum on Mario Chalmers. The kid is the starter. He'll be the starter as far as the team is concerned. But now, Mario finally has a legitimate push to get better every day in practice and to perform at a consistent level in games.

No, Carlos Arroyo isn't an absolute answer at point guard. That much should be taken from the fact that he was sitting at home in Pinecrest three weeks into the NBA training camp season for the first time in his career without a team. But Arroyo, 30, does add the playmaking skills to effectively run the Heat's pick-and-roll.

He also knows how to shoot and score. Is he a pure defensive stopper at point guard? Hardly. But who is in this league right now? Is he a solid upgrade at a position where the Heat was essentially scratching the NBA's equivalent of rock-bottom behind Chalmers? Absolutely. And on top of that, this makes Dwyane Wade a bit happier. That could be just as vital.

Arroyo has been in this sort of role before. Just two years ago, he was in Orlando and considered a serious threat to the anointed point-guard-of-the-future there. A guy by the name of Jameer Nelson. Arroyo left as a free agent two summers ago. The only time you can really question his decision making was when he and agent Leon Rose thought too highly of his open-market value and turned down NBA jobs to play overseas.

Now Arroyo is back in the NBA. He says he'll accept any role he's given by the Heat. But he made certain to mention that he could "run the show."

"It was about being in the right position," Arroyo (pictured left, having his FIU jersey retired last year) said after his first practice with the Heat on Monday. "I had to be patient to wait for this opportunity. To be honest, I've never been at home at this time. I'm usually in training camp. I've been working out and waiting on the call. For the first time, I can use my house and not have to move."

Arroyo, who lives in Pinecrest and was a star at FIU, said he's been trying to get on with the Heat since he left college. But timing and contract amounts always prevented it from happening. He now comes at the right price for the Heat, on a non-guaranteed deal that will pay him the veteran's minimum of $1.1 million for a player with seven seasons of experience. That's only if he's still around in mid-January.

He also comes at the right time in terms of having a chance to address the Heat's needs. Mario shouldn't feel threatened, but he will certainly be challenged. Dwyane Wade essentially agreed Monday, when he said he wouldn't try to console Chalmers if there were any feelings of anxiety right now about his status, which there aren't. But he was still making a point.

"It'll be good for (Chalmers)," Wade said of the day-to-day competition Chalmers (below right) will face.

If things work out as planned, the Heat gets a solid backup point guard on the cheap who also happens to be a hometown hero of sorts. Don't discount the fact that Arroyo could be a crowd favorite, especially among the Latino and Hispanic communities if he performs up to task. And that can't hurt the Heat's bottom line at a time when it has to curtain off the upper deck of the arena to hide empty seats.

This means Chris Quinn, who is out at least a week with a sprained right foot, will fall back to a third-string option, which is probably where he belongs. No shame in that. The kid works his tail off and will qualify for an NBA pension after this season.

This means that John Lucas became even longer of a long shot to make the roster, despite being one of the really good guys in camp who also happens to be a productive spark plug off the bench.

This means team president Pat Riley is off the hook for now in his reluctance, albeit understandable on many levels, to initially address the point guard position before unfortunate things had to happen.

This means coach Erik Spoelstra no longer has to cover up what might be his true feelings about his concerns at the position, even though the good soldier Spo offered this gem on Monday: "We've been going through a lot of decision making. Unlike, I guess, some of you (media), we weren't in a panic situation. We wanted to make the right move. And this is the right move right now."

Most of all, this means the Heat stacks up a little bit better - top to bottom - at the point than it did yesterday. And that's the ultimate point. The most obvious void on the roster is a little less obvious right now.

Finally.

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

No Dwyane Wade, no problem. Well, not quite. Not even in the preseason.

One thing Daequan Cook (pictured right), Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley proved in Sunday's 95-93 home preseason loss to the similarly depleted Spurs was that they are capable of getting things done when Wade, Udonis Haslem and other veterans aren't there to do it for them. The difference Sunday was that Cook's 3-pointer to win it bounced off the rim. "We really didn't want it to go to overtime," Cook said afterward.

Now, if they can just carry that same aggression into games when everyone is healthy. That's when this preseason will really start to matter and mean something for the Heat. Beasley, Chalmers and Cook combined for 53 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 21 of 46 from the field, including 6 of 12 from three-point range. That's production. That's progress. More importantly, that's promise.

Now, will it persist?

There's also potential for the Heat to do big things if they can somehow bottle up that level of play and deliver on a consistent basis during the season. Wade continues to nurse a strain in his left rib cage. Jermaine O'Neal is still dealing with a left foot bruise, but is expected to practice Monday. Chris Quinn (foot, out at least a week) and Quentin Richardson (ankle) are still down.

So there's no time like the present for the Heat's young core to take advantage of these opportunities.

"We all stepped up today," Chalmers said. "I think that's just what coach was looking for, and we went out and proved it."

D. WADE'S DOINGS: Not much to report here. Wade dressed in uniform and waved to the crowd a few times. But he didn't offer much. After working out before the game, Wade sat out with what is called a left intercostal strain. His ribs are hurting from an injury he sustained late in Wednesday's loss at Orlando. Word from the team is that he's feeling better than he did the past couple of days. But he's in no rush to push things right now. Wade said that if it were the regular season, he'd probably play through it. But there's no reason to right now. His status for the Heat's two-game trip this week remains in question.

TURNING POINT: The Heat led 78-64 with 10:14 left in the game, but allowed the Spurs to go on a 23-8 run to take the lead. DeJuan Blair (pictured below left) was unstoppable. He beat the Heat in every way possible during that spurt. He grabbed rebounds. He nailed inside shots. He had a soft touch on his jumper. The rookie and former Pitt standout has an NBA-ready game. He also showed an NBA work ethic by dropping what easily appears to be about 20 pounds since he last played in college in the NCAA Tournament.

LOSING EDGE: This one's easy. When there's no D. Wade in uniform, it typically leads to a loss for the Heat. Especially recently. But in terms of tangible numbers, the Heat was outscored 36-16 in the paint. Perhaps that had more to do with the absence of Jermaine O'Neal, who missed his second straight game.

HEAD SCRATCHER: Hate to keep harping on the replacement officials. But every game there's a moment when something unbelievable happens with these refs. This time, it was a first-quarter mistake. Heat center Joel Anthony was fouled near the basket and went to the line for two free-throws. When the ref came to the scorer's table to report the foul, he said it was on "No. 50, black." Well, that's Joel Anthony. So perhaps he's the first player in NBA history to foul himself at the rim and get two free-throws for doing so.

KEY CONTRIBUTION: While Cook's solid shooting was nice, and while Beasley's 16 and 6 should be expected, and while Joel Anthony's 6 points, 5 blocks and 6 boards equated to another major bonus, it was Mario Chalmers (pictured right) who needed a breakthrough and got one Sunday. After struggling on both ends in losses to Detroit and Orlando, Chalmers gained a bit of confidence with 17 points, 4 boards and 3 assists with only one turnover against the Spurs. The kid sweats swagger regardless of how he plays. But there's something to be said about showing that confidence in the midst of a commendable performance on the court. The Heat still needs to make a move to address its depth at the position. But Chalmers needed this one. Even if it won't count in his season stats.

DAMAGE DONE: As mentioned earlier, DeJuan Blair was a beast. Simple as that. The rookie was 11 of 13 from the field for 28 points to go with 4 rebounds, 4 assists and two steals in 26 minutes. Antonio McDyess will have a pretty good backup in the post. The Spurs might also have the most veteran savvy bench in the league around this kid.

NEXT UP: Heat at Thunder (in Tulsa), 8:00 Wednesday.

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

Ouch.

That's about all you could say when the doors to the AmericanAirlines Arena practice courts opened to the media Saturday afternoon. At first glance, there was no Dwyane Wade. No Jermaine O'Neal. No Quentin Richardson. No Dorell Wright. No Chris Quinn.

OK. So maybe the absences of Wright and Quinn don't necessarily rise to the level of national concern. But still. Upon further review and scanning of the court, the aforementioned group was together, sitting on chairs alongside the court watching practice.

They are now the M.A.S.H. unit. Officially. Wade sat out practice and will miss Sunday's game against San Antonio with what the team is calling a left intercostal strain. What that means is unexplained soreness in the tissue and muscles within his left rib cage.

Wade insists the injury he sustained during the third quarter of Wednesday's loss at Orlando isn't serious. He said he would play Sunday if it were a regular season game. He said his breathing is relatively painless. But just the thought of Wade suffering anything close to an injury should make anyone in the Heat organization struggle to catch their breath.

"It's a precaution," Wade assured of his ailment, one he never mentioned after the Orlando game or before he underwent an MRI test Friday. "It's nothing real serious. I've got a long season ahead of me. I'm not trying to be a hero right now."

OK, cool. For the Heat's sake, the hope is that Wade's pain goes away in short order. Because the first thing I thought about after finding out about his ailment was he's had a rib issue before. One that hit during the 2004-05 season and lingered into the playoffs. Maybe those were two separate rib issues. But still.

Now, Wade is at the top of a long list of Heat training camp injury concerns. That process of trying to bounce back from two sluggish performances in losses to Detroit and Orlando has taken a bit of a detour.

Not only will Wade miss Sunday's game, Jermaine O'Neal (foot) is expected to miss his second straight game and backup guard Chris Quinn is now out for at least a week with a sprained right foot. That one was courtesy of Michael Beasley, who fell on Quinny's foot during Friday's practice. Quinn (pictured left) was in a walking boot Saturday. His absence further weakens the Heat's depth at point guard.

And it was a spot where the Heat could least afford any losses. But if you've followed this blog the past few days, you'd know that this sort of falls in with the last topic in the previous post. Is there a silver lining in here somewhere? Perhaps. Because now, the Heat almost certainly has to address the point guard spot.

Heat president Pat Riley sat beside owner Micky Arison during Saturday's practice. Chances are, the need to put out a want ad came up during their conversation. The Heat is reluctant to plunge further into the luxury tax (it is $3 million deep right now) by adding a veteran free agent on anything other than a non-guaranteed contract. But this opens the door for a potential trade, something Riley would consider before he digs through the PGs-on-the-street scrap heap.

You've heard the names. Bobby Jackson. Ty Lue. Brevin Knight. Jamaal Tinsley. Stephon Marbury. Perhaps the Heat would be better served swinging a deal for a reunion with Skip Alston (pictured below right) or Keyon Dooling. The Heat does have options. There are $4.2 million and $800K trade exceptions. There are the $5.7 mid-level and $2 million lower level exceptions. And there is an assortment of expiring contracts.

Certainly, the Heat could pawn off a spare small forward in exchange for a spare point guard. Or maybe, just maybe, John Lucas III can make the most of his opportunity and make the roster in the process.

The Heat has reached critical condition with its point guard depth. And not even emergency options such as Daequan Cook (thumb), Wade (ribs) and Richardson (ankle) are readily available. At least not right now. Yes, the official word is that the injuries are far from being considered serious. None are expected to threaten anyone's availability for the Oct. 28 season opener.

But still. It's why one word came to mind when those doors to the practice court opened Saturday and the injury news was delivered.

Ouch.  

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

It's only two preseason games. That's the universal retort from just about every level of the Miami Heat operation - from team president Pat Riley at the top to the last man on the training camp roster.

No need to panic. No cause for legitimate concern. No reason to jump ship. And it's absolutely too soon to reconsider the matters of depth (or lack thereof) at point guard, Beasley's comfort zone (or lack thereof) so far at small forward or any other matter that has hit the Heat already.

It's only two preseason games. That's the message. And while that is a reasonable response to the nagging little issues, it is unreasonable to simply dismiss these pesky little problems that could develop into a pattern and eventually lead to major concerns.

An 0-2 start in the preseason is hardly reason enough to abandon any long-term plans and declare AmericanAirlines Arena a potential disaster area this season. But if you're starting to sweat as a Heat fan and your patience is growing a little thin already, that early onset anxiety is a bit understandable.

You were told all throughout the offseason that this team was working hard. You were told that there was a grand plan in place and to be patient this season. You were told that there would be significant internal improvement with a roster that returned largely intact from last season's first-round playoff run. You were told going into training camp that guys were shattering conditioning tests, that chemistry and continuity would equate to a hitting of the ground running, that this team would prove a lot of doubters wrong.

While all of those things could easily turn out to be true, what you've seen after two preseason test runs is that the concerns many had at the end of last season are still legitimate going into this season.

Make no mistake. This is a playoff team with playoff expectations and even loftier ambitions. Dwyane Wade's presence alone dictates that much.

But point guard play is going to be an issue. Beasley's development is going to be a lengthy work in progress. Wade's patience is going to be extensively tested. The bodies of Jermaine O'Neal and Daequan Cook and Dorell Wright may continue to be fragile. As Wade said the other day, a lot has to go right for this team to be good this season.

But if there is good news already, it might be in the fact that this team will face adversity early. It already is facing some this preseason. That's why this seven-game stretch of exhibitions can't simply be dismissed as "only preseason games" by this team or its fanbase.

No, these games don't count in the standings. But they will go a long way in determining where a lot of people stand. There's a really, really, really good chance for significant progress as the month rolls along.

There is no prosperity to be gained in the preseason. But there should be promise. Coach Erik Spoelstra said what we've seen over these two preseason games is not indicative of what took place behind closed doors during training camp. But now the lights are on. The doors are open.

And so is the public preseason inspection. It's no longer about what you heard during the offseason. It's now about what you see. Yes, patience is required. But performance does matter. Even in the preseason. Even after only two games.  

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)