Game Thread: Miami Heat Game Thread for games December 23- January 4th

[Paolo305613]

Subtract Wade/Bosh from THIS roster and your a couple steps above a D league team.

I would agree without Bosh we wouldnt be that good, but vs Boston we didnt have Bosh obviously and Diva once again SAT OUT another game, and we won - last night, Diva played and we lost. It is obvious he is the weak link on the team. He is the flaw on the team.

We need Bosh back desperately, we will go nowhere with a diva leading our team.

 

[Paolo305613]

JR Smith reportedly commited to signing with Rockets - so that puts an end to that. This bipolar fan base can now express their happines about him not joining us as they would have if he did

 

[Paolo305613]

Spoelstra expects Bosh to be out again Thursday.

per Ira Winderman.

Maybe if Diva is also out, we may have a real shot at winning the game

 

[Andresrenee]

I seem to be in the minority here but I want nothing to do with Josh Smith. He is an idiot who takes horrible shots.

Not in the minority. Most of us agree.

 

[Andresrenee]

The structure is not flawed - the roster is not flawed... The effort of the players and that of the so called best players is whats flawed

The structure is flawed, the defensive scheme is flawed for our personnel, the coaching staff is flawed, and the roster is most certainly flawed. Thank your lucky stars that Wade has had a revival and shooting over 50 percent and that Bosh has been solid otherwise this would be a dumpster fire ALS the team that beat us at home yesterday....:yuck:

 

[Andresrenee]

per Ira Winderman.

Maybe if Diva is also out, we may have a real shot at winning the game

Our only Hope is Spolestra being out with a bad case of the runs and Riley coming to coach this game.

 

[Andresrenee]

Smith to Rockets......

 

[Paolo305613]

The structure is flawed, the defensive scheme is flawed for our personnel, the coaching staff is flawed, and the roster is most certainly flawed. Thank your lucky stars that Wade has had a revival and shooting over 50 percent and that Bosh has been solid otherwise this would be a dumpster fire ALS the team that beat us at home yesterday....

A flawed team for a flawed fan base - in that case, this is the team Miami was really meant to have

 

[bksballer89]

Tmr will make it 15 out of 30 games that either bosh, wade, or both missed. Need both in the lineup to have a solid season

 

[Paolo305613]

Paolo can you post the last article you linked. I cant view Sun Sentinel.

How? -- (Asked in various forms by dozens to this forum).

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like this whiteside kid please play him c what we got we know ud and bird spo there old and done same with granger
ANDYBRE
AT 1:24 PM DECEMBER 24, 2014
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A: Because without Chris Bosh, this team has about zero margin of error. The reality is that without Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in the lineup together, the Heat are a lot closer to Kobe and the Lakers, or Carmelo and the Knicks, than a playoff team. What separates the Heat from those two is the ability to feature a pair of quality players, which in the Eastern Conference should easily get you in the playoffs. But because Wade won't be there every night, and because Bosh already has missed so much time with his injury, there has to be a Plan B that is easily accessible, one that includes specific play calls that are tried and tested in practice, that can work when Wade Hero Ball isn't working. Instead, there was a mess of scrambled and jumbled offense when the 76ers stepped up their defense. There was no Plan B and it was humbling. How (you all asked)? Because if Wade isn't facilitating, no one else seemingly does. Michael Carter-Williams is far, far better than anything the Heat have at point guard. With Bosh, there at least can be relief points in the post or mid-post. Without Bosh, there have to be more screens, more movement. Precision. When there isn't, Tuesday is the result.


Q: Ira, I spent Tuesday listening on the radio about why we can't boo LeBron James. Why can't we root for Heat Nation and against anyone who doesn’t want to be part? -- Bob.

A: First, when you buy a ticket, you can do anything you want as long as it's not profane, dangerous or impacting someone else's enjoyment of the game. So if you want to boo . . . go for it. But you also would be booing someone who had some of the most positive impact in the history of South Florida sports. I think you cheer for the man and his South Florida accomplishments . . . and then you vent elsewhere -- talk radio, if you prefer -- about how he orchestrated his exit. Because that part was flat-out rude, seemingly not giving the scantest bit of consideration for those who he left behind. Had James been up front with Pat Riley, it is possible that LeBron's friend Dwyane Wade would currently have a better, or at least more complementary, supporting cast. There was no reason for LeBron to leave with a scorched-earth approach. That part is jeer-worthy. But not what he did for South Florida. That part deserves an ovation, standing or otherwise. That's your choice.

Q: Why would you spend now on Josh Smith if you might be able to get Andray Blatche later? -- Wil.

A: Look, there is no guarantee that the Heat will have their disabled-player exception in time to offer it to Josh Smith, anyway. And for now, the Heat have remained mum on the Smith subject. But a name like Josh Smith doesn't come along like this very often, at a moment when you are in desperate need, having just lost your starting power forward. Again, he is better than what the Heat have. And that's where the Heat stand. The hope is Josh McRoberts is back either later this season or next season, and the position winds up covered. Others have mentioned Jermaine O'Neal. But the need is now, not for a player either tied up in China, like Blatche, or needing extended time to get into game shape, like O'Neal.

 

[avalon2423]

So Smith to the Rockets. We had more $ to offer then Houston. We know Riley was going after him, so this is just another player who Riley struck out on. Must be hurting his ego to keep swinging and missing.

 

[Paolo305613]

Why does it mean he struck out? Maybe he just wanted to go to Houston because he was guranteed a starting spot - Has a greater chance of a title there. And, maybe it has to do with some of what was said here by a few, including you at one point - saying he was probably not a good fit because he didnt fit our defensive philosophy. And he is also not the best locker-room guy. For as many reasons there was to get him, there was just as many, if not more - not to get him.

The complaints in here are often about the lack of rebounding and size inside - Smith is 6’6. Therefore would not help in that regard.

I dont think the fact that the Heat were rumored to be interested , and ultimately not getting him means they struck out - it simply means he wasnt a good fit - And we are holding out for a better fit to become available.

To this point, the league hasnt even granted the Heat their player exemption anyway

 

[Paolo305613]

Ira, ENOUGH. Read your Twitter comments. No one wants to keep reading about LeBron James. He's gone. You and your newspaper have to get over it. -- Kevin, Miami.

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"That's an issue with the Heat's wings." I disagree. It's an issue with the coaching. Players can't be allowed to stand around watching Wade when he is doubled.
JOSH22
AT 10:39 AM DECEMBER 25, 2014
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A: Agreed. But this is different, this is special, his first visit back. There still are/were many storylines that needed to be tied up, answers that only now could be addressed. And the reality is when you have/had a star player, his legacy never disappears. In this case, even with James gone, you're still going to have Dwyane Wade talking about and in touch with his close friend. Look, when Shaquille O'Neal left, his presence still could be felt in the organization, from that fallout. The same is the case with LeBron, especially with him surrounded by former Heat players such as Mike Miller, James Jones and even Shawn Marion. What I do/will agree with is the fact that it is time to move past the what-would-have-been and what-could-have-been. I agree that the focus should be forward thinking, about what comes next. But if Wade, Erik Spoelstra or Pat Riley reference LeBron, then it still is a talking point. Has there been LeBron fatigue in this market? Sure. What the team and its fan base had to endure this offseason was exhausting. But what came before was exhausting, as well, because of how exhilarating. Now it's time for new chapters. But those chapters almost certainly will be tied to the era when LeBron James made the Heat the most relevant franchise in the NBA for more than 50 months straight.


Q: We need another wing. Philadelphia doubled Dwyane Wade and every other player went to sleep. It's like no one could do anything -- completely helpless. It was just giving the ball to Wade to go one-on-three. Then 3-point shots. The 76ers' pressure intimidated them so much. -- N.T.

A: That's an issue with the Heat's wings. Luol Deng has never been known for his ballhandling or on-ball play and James Ennis can be a wreck at times with his ballhandling. A lot of this comes down to the Heat failing to find a true backup shooting guard behind Dwyane Wade. First Shannon Brown didn't pan out, and now Andre Dawkins is more developmental than contributor. And for all he accomplished earlier in the season, Mario Chalmers simply is not a full-time answer for such a role. Perhaps it yet can be Danny Granger, but he continues to play tentatively after missing so much time.

Q: Andre Dawkins looked great in the D-League. Why not give him a chance when Norris Cole or Mario Chalmers can't hit a shot? -- Gio.

A: Because he's not a point guard. But if Dawkins can shoot like he did with Sioux Falls, then it would be intriguing, once the Heat get back to something closer to whole, to see if Erik Spoelstra would consider playing Dawkins in a backcourt alongside Wade. Again, the issue there would be who would guard the opposing point guard. The last thing the Heat can afford is Wade chasing quicker, younger opposing point guards, considering his offensive workload.

 

[Paolo305613]

Diva Wade second among East guards in NBA All-Star Balloting. That is tragic. Someone much more deserving will be left out. Thats why the voting system is a bigger joke than the game itself

 

[Paolo305613]

Anyone know when tip off is actually set for? You know, when all the pre-game Queen James SportsHoopla is over and we can actually get to the game, which is the ONLY thing that matters?

 

[Andresrenee]

Diva Wade second among East guards in NBA All-Star Balloting. That is tragic. Someone much more deserving will be left out. Thats why the voting system is a bigger joke than the game itself

Merry Christmas Paulo! Hope your mom got you that Shane Battier Karaoke T-shirt you wanted! If not, I can get you one. Also, it was must have been an early Christmas present for you when you heard Shane was doing his Karaoke event in Miami. See ya on the red carpet.

And by the way, the only travesty is you not getting to enjoy a Heat team this year without Wade. You would surely deserve that. Wade is right where he should be....he has been the 2nd best shooting guard in the league. Look at his complete game including field goal percentage. He could work on his assist to turnover ratio and could get back a little quicker but he has been very, very good this year.

 

[Andresrenee]

5PM supposedly but doubt they tip until 5:15 or so....don't be such a grinch. Tape the Lebron tape. The man took this organization to new heights and especially their head coach. Hope we don't get beat as badly as the Wizards are beating the Knicks at home right now...

 

[Logicallylethal]

Looking forward to the game today.

Merry Christmas fellas

Should we make a separate game thread for today's game?

 

[bksballer89]

I think we will play well.

I actually like the new starting lineup in terms of offensive production. Chalmers over Cole and Williams over Hamilton were good decisions.

As for the idiot bitching about Wade being 2nd in AS voting for guards. Wade is avg 23 PPG (highest among east guards) and is shooting 51% which I'm pretty sure is #1 among guards and Small Forwards who attempt 13+ shots per game, and he is 2nd in PER (Player Efficiency Rating) among guards out East

 

[bksballer89]

Looking forward to the game today.

Merry Christmas fellas

Should we make a separate game thread for today's game?

If you want to avoid the idiot (Paolo), I made a Christmas Day games thread on the general board