Game Thread: Miami Heat month of December Game Thread

[Paolo305613]

Signs of life for Heat again... but for how long?

 

[Paolo305613]

Just posting quickly to say fuck injuries.

This game has gone about as poorly as we all probably expected. Having only 9 available players with 2 of them being a G-League call up and UD who never plays so in reality we truly only had 7 players.

There need to be some type of sense of urgency with this training staff to get these guys back faster.

They handle these players with kid gloves. Amazing. Things like this can be the reason we miss out on the playoffs.

Reminds me of watching the Marlins far too early and often -- last few seasons having several guys injured for long periods... just not helpful

 

[Paolo305613]

That was a bad sequence on both ends - the no call on bam and another TJ T.O. could do it for us

 

[Paolo305613]

3 FTs for Ellington

 

[Paolo305613]

Terrible time for Ellington to try and do too much there and get that turnover -- its just never a good thing when the Heat need 3 to tie or win they love forcing it in that situation

 

[Paolo305613]

And that will do it officially - bad positioning for the Heat on defense gives ATL an easy basket

down 5 with 23.8 to go not a promising scenario

 

[Paolo305613]

TJ fouls out - probably a fitting end to this game for him

 

[bksballer89]

TJ fouls out - probably a fitting end to this game for him

Winslow and Dragic better be back on Wednesday. Play through some freaking pain

 

[Paolo305613]

On to Boston. The hope will be the Heat are at least healthier going into that game

 

[bksballer89]

On to Boston. The hope will be the Heat are at least healthier going into that game

Good thing for us is we're only 2 losses behind Detroit at the moment for 4th....even with all the injuries

 

[Paolo305613]

Good thing for us is we're only 2 losses behind Detroit at the moment for 4th....even with all the injuries

Being able to scoreboard watch/standings watch even this early in the season with hope is really great.

It just goes to show that its a matter of just getting healthy and stringing some wins at the right time and who knows where will we be in the standings at seasons end.

In other news - sadly, Winslow is out again tonight and Goran is doubtful

 

[bksballer89]

Being able to scoreboard watch/standings watch even this early in the season with hope is really great.

It just goes to show that its a matter of just getting healthy and stringing some wins at the right time and who knows where will we be in the standings at seasons end.

In other news - sadly, Winslow is out again tonight and Goran is doubtful

This is what I don't get about the Heat training staff.

Someone explain to me how Winslow went from questionable on Saturday>doubtful on Monday>OUT tonight?

That logic is so backwards. It should be the opposite way. They need a whole new training staff. Won't be watching tonight if it is the same 8 players we had available on Monday. We'll lose by 20-30 points.

 

[Paolo305613]

This is what I don't get about the Heat training staff.

Someone explain to me how Winslow went from questionable on Saturday>doubtful on Monday>OUT tonight?

That logic is so backwards. It should be the opposite way. They need a whole new training staff. Won't be watching tonight if it is the same 8 players we had available on Monday. We'll lose by 20-30 points.

I have been skeptical of Heat injury reports since back in the big 3 era.

There is no doubt we have legit injuries that they list like to McGruder and Okaro and even Hassan to some extent -- But, as you mentioned how does one go from question on Saturday to doubtful monday to out tonight?

I just think Heat "injuries" are determined based on the matchups on a given night. The matchups determine which one of their banged up players they will play or hold out. Not sure its an issue with just the training staff as much as it is an philosophical issue regarding injuries within the organization.

The Heat probably dont view their chances as being high tonight vs BOS, injuries aside -- even though we broke their streak not too long ago. I think thats the reason for the status change on these guys even though the team tried to sound optimistic before last game.

Going into the season, given his college injury history I really thought Bam would be the oft-injured player we would be talking about.


Anyhow, on tonight --I still contend that our biggest problems continue to be shot selection and turnovers. Regardless of how many players we have available tonight, the Heat can stay in this game if they take care of the ball and take quality shots. If they dont, it will be a miserable night. And I will be watching because im a proud masochist and I love to watch my teams rip my heart out?

 

[bksballer89]

Also if Hassan is not back by this weekend, I'll be livid.

He started working out again since last Thursday.

No reason he shouldn't be available Friday or Saturday

 

[Paolo305613]

The claim with him has been that they wont clear him until he can practices/get work in two days in a row without being sore.

That said, I know expectations for this season arent the highest(rightly so), but if Hassan doesnt return this week, or any other of our recently injured players, I would start to question this teams priorities for this season.

I would think competing and trying to make the playoffs is at least a goal if nothing else.

 

[Paolo305613]

ASK IRA: Is hunger gone for Heat's paid-off free agents?

What say you about this? I wont go as far as to say some of our guys have quit after getting paid, but they have certainly become complacent and checked out in a sense.

This is one of the things that makes all these injuries unfortunate and why I hate that Spo is so quick to reduce the rotation to the same ol guys no matter what. There is no threat to some of these guys losing their spots to someone else and there is no fire for them to give it their all mentally and/or physically on the court.

And I still say Waiters is misunderstood. He struggles often and probably is one of the worst at handling adversity on the team, but I just think its a lack of control of his temper more than anything. That guy wants to do so well so bad that when its not going well for him or the team... when he isnt getting the chance to redeem himself as he sees fit, he just explodes.

If the Heat do end up being short-handed tonight, for as good as Richardson was last game early on until he came down to earth in the second half - I think Waiters should be the focal point of our offense tonight. Set him loose and get him going - it will do him and the team some good.

 

[bksballer89]

 

[bksballer89]

I honestly don't believe Dragic is hurt. Looking for a lame ass excuse behind his 2 week struggles

 

[Paolo305613]

Same starters tonight. like I said earlier, make Waiters and others the focal points on offense this time and it will go better

 

[Paolo305613]

Settling for 3s when your struggling and have no depth you just arent going to stay in the game for long