Game Thread: Miami Heat Game Thread for December/January

[bksballer89]

Next 5 games before shit gets real beginning on January 8th looks like this:

@ Memphis
VS Dallas
@ Washington
VS Indy
VS NYK

We need to win 3 of 5 and aim for 4 of 5. That would put us at 21-14 or 22-13 which would both be a solid record entering that stretch. Any worse than 2-3 is going to set us up for a really bad stretch and will likely means we end January barely in the playoffs.

 

[bksballer89]

The McRoberts era is coming to an end.....Thankfully

 

[Paolo305613]

Tmr is a must win

Every game is. The problem is, not every game will be a win.

Reasons we lost tonight -- Outside of horrific officiating, a slow start to the second half

We did reach and surpass my suggested benchmarks of 20+ FT attempts and assist, but also attempt far too many 3's and did so early not late when we were playing from behind

Not enough from the bench 79 minutes totaled by our bench for only 15 points just not good enough.

14 turnovers too much and far too many of the unforced variety which too often plagues the Heat

Dragic got going early but then not so much - Deng came on late

Ive been thinking this for a while but seemed unnecessary to say during wins but needs to be said after a frustrating loss

To me it seems that the Heat are often outplayed for stretches of games or entire games by lesser teams be it due to record or roster make up -- is because a lot of these teams don't have two , or some times even 1 of the top tier players in the league - so, they must get through games and gut out wins as a team. They don't have that one or two guys who can dominate - it has to be done as a team, thats helpful to the confidence of each and every player

Thats what happened tonight with Brooklyn and has happened so many times against lesser teams - Brooklyn had to find SOMEONE to get it done when it matter most and just about anyone on their team did - For the Heat and most elite/good teams there is a go to guy or guys - and its that or bust. This is why, when games come down to the wire for the Heat, they need to start to AT LEAST TRY and give other guys the chance to be the go-to guys -so that they can more consistently come through and play with confidence as needed

 

[Paolo305613]

The McRoberts era is coming to an end.....Thankfully

Not necessarily. It doesn't have to be the end. The Heat can go deeper into their bench if healthy and if they chose to - limited as their minutes may need to be - no reason why the Heat can't more often go to guys like UD, McRob, Udrih, etc when healthy. The only guys that showed more consistently get DNP's are Richardson and Tokes when he is up here - the rest of the guy you can find a minute or two in games to plug them in and contribute somehow.

 

[Paolo305613]

We need to win 3 of 5 and aim for 4 of 5. That would put us at 21-14 or 22-13 which would both be a solid record entering that stretch. Any worse than 2-3 is going to set us up for a really bad stretch and will likely means we end January barely in the playoffs.

Thankfully the playoffs don't start at the end of January

 

[Paolo305613]

Winderman's view: Nets 111, Heat 105

Guess Ira and I agree that the lack of bench production was not helpful to our cause tonight - lets see tomorrow night

 

[bksballer89]

Wade has a bruise hip and may not play tomorrow

 

[bksballer89]

Winderman's view: Nets 111, Heat 105

Guess Ira and I agree that the lack of bench production was not helpful to our cause tonight - lets see tomorrow night

It is never helpful. If Gerald isn''t scoring we get nothing from the bench. It is Gerald or bust

 

[bksballer89]

 

[bksballer89]

 

[bksballer89]

 

[bksballer89]

Looking at the box score from tonight here is what frustrated me.

Bosh had 24 points on 8 shots. Wade had 24 on 11 shots.

Considering how much we struggled for much of the 2nd half on offense (until the final 3 minutes) there is no reason why our 2 best players who were both red hot shooting tonight did not get more looks when it was needed especially for the entire 3rd for the first 7-8 minutes of the 4th. That's frustration that those guys needed 19 combined shots to score 48 points but was not able to get any more looks

 

[Paolo305613]

Considering how much we struggled for much of the 2nd half on offense (until the final 3 minutes) there is no reason why our 2 best players who were both red hot shooting tonight did not get more looks when it was needed especially for the entire 3rd for the first 7-8 minutes of the 4th. That's frustration that those guys needed 19 combined shots to score 48 points but was not able to get any more looks

As far too often is the case with the Heat, especially at the start of most second halves -- the ball stops moving - And be it when we get leads like we had last night or trial as we did once we lost the lead, our guys just quit - the hustle stops. I figured with it being the front end of a back-to-back, that the Heat would tone down their effort at some point - I just didn't expect it to be the start of the second half after the lead we got - I gave them too much credit.

I hate blaming refs - and refs is not the only reason we lost - but this game was horribly officiated. Ira Winderman always tweets out about any comments made by the league about controversial calls involving our games - interested to see what is said about some calls from last night.

Somehow, someway Spo always gets blamed because thats just the way it goes - but no bench production killed us - playing TJ early off injury wasn't a good idea - stick with Udrih behind Dragic - no reason not to play him.


I expect a better showing from the Heat tonight - and that to me at least will be just as frustrating as the lead slipping away and resulting in a loss because I know this team is capable of more when they decide to be better.

 

[Paolo305613]

Again, I know blaming Spo is the thing to do - And just pointing fingers and making excuses in general is the thing to do here when things get sour for the Heat

But, lets credit Brooklyn, they couldn't play worse than they did in the first half they made what looked like a subtle change in their lineup to start the 3rd quarter - and it was as if the Heat were playing blind-folded the first few minutes of the third quarter

My hope for the new year, is that some day soon, if they want some calls to go their way from the refs - they must be the aggressor early and often and attack more - the crap that went on last night and far too many times already this season only happens when they stop attacking.

 

[Paolo305613]

 

[Paolo305613]

Chris Bosh: Miami Heat players, coaches aren’t paying attention | Heat Zone

aka a lack of mental toughness

 

[Paolo305613]

Letting things linger is the biggest problem for this team - they don't know how to use frustration to their advantage

 

[Paolo305613]

 

[bksballer89]

 

[Paolo305613]

Wade will play . Winslow out