Five wins in a row. Given that we were coming off 5 losses in a row, it's surreal.
Even more so since #5 came on the road against a solid team without Dwyane Wade.
The bipolar nature of this team continues to confound. Without Wade, everyone picked their game up a bit to compensate. JO was again a presence with 18 big points and combating Memphis' size advantage. Q was everywhere; timely 3s, great assists, high energy on the glass, drawing crucial charges. Cook showed he wasn't allergic to defense. The newly returning Mario Chalmers made you alternatively cringe and cheer, but overall he was definitely a plus. A big one.
Michael Beasley functioned as the go-to guy and finally got over the 28 point hump, setting a career high with 30. Anyone watching him afterward knows the kid knew what he had done. He hit needed shots all game to keep the team in it. Would have like to seen him get a better look at that potential game winner, but with 2.8 seconds, I'm not going to complain ...much.
Udonis Haslem. Wow. After a rather uneventful 53 minutes, he unleashed the Caged Boozer. Haslem was a force late, no doubt. Feelings about Beasley's place on the team aside, UD is not a bad guy to have on your squad. The Grizzlies couldn't handle the grit.
I was even mostly pleased with Spo tonight. Good timeouts, good points of attack, good usage of switching man and zone defenses, rotations weren't as WTF as usual (could have been tighter in some spots; Beas in earlier in the 2nd and 4th, more Big Kat). Enough with the misnomer that Beasley can't play down the wire. Where was Dorell though? I'm not sure the Arroyo/Chalmers backcourt is something we need to really to feature. Hey, it worked tonight though.
Man, Memphis really can't shoot. Bitch all you want about the zone, Z-Bo. It's called 'making a shot'.
Taking on the new look Mavericks at the other building sponsored by American Airlines is tough enough in itself. On the tail end of a back-to-back after a 2OT endeavor is pushing it. Whatever. We've got our best winning streak in over two years. This stretch of games has been a success, but I certainly wouldn't mind if we got greedy. Go Heat!
Only 6:02 for James Jones. Unacceptable
ReplyDeleteThen brace for the harsh reality that this will be the most heartbreaking summer in NBA history. Six teams have cleared sufficient salary-cap room to offer a maximum contract to free agents this summer: the Knicks, Bulls, Heat, Nets, Clippers and Wizards. And it's possible none of them ends up with LeBron James. Or else he does go somewhere, disappoints the other five suitors and absolutely devastates the city of Cleveland.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I realize there are other free agents. That's exactly what they are -- others. As one general manager put it, there's LeBron and then there's the rest. He is the only one who can single-handedly elevate a team into contender status. Sure, Dwyane Wade has shown he can lead a team to a championship. He also couldn't get the Heat past the first round of the 2009 playoffs coming off the best season of his career
from JA Adande
what about jones and the two #1's this summer for chris paul? if we move cook or make another roster move, we may still have enough to offer a max contract?
ReplyDeleteYea Paul injury may be a blessing in disguise if we could get him with Wade an beasley that's dangerous
ReplyDeleteIt's shame it took this long for beasley to get some positive attention but he has carried us to two huge WINS extending our season long winning streak good for him an good for the team
ReplyDeleteAwesome win, could have used more Beasley earlier in the 4th, but I'm not gonna complain. Let's Go Heat
ReplyDeleteAlso, on my usual James Jones update, he has broken his streak of 5 straight 3 pointers made, as his first shots of the game. Hopefully he'll start a new one.
I just read what Adandae said. That dude is a joke. There is no one single player that can make your team a contender without other pieces around it. Hes trying to give Wade flak for not getting out of the first a year when he was hurt? Give me a break. I wonder what he has to say about Lebron actually being healthy and not making the playofs until his 3rd year.... Lebron can go to NY for all I care but if nobody goes with him, that team will be an 8th seed at best. Adandae is another ESPN dickrider for KObe and Lebronx.
ReplyDeletewade didn't get out of the first round last year because they lost 2 of their starters, jermaine and moon, to injuries. would the hawks had beaten the heat if they lost marvin williams and horford?
ReplyDeletebeasley averaging 26.5 points, 9.5 rebounds on 54.7% shooting in the last 2 games without wade.
ReplyDeletehe is already an all-star. mayo better than beasley? hahahahahaha
you guys should see i-win on ira's blog. he has become a fan of beasley. pretty hard not to be a fan of beasley.
do you think that riley really did offer beasley for amare? i find that very hard to believe.
I watched the game where Hickson dunked before Wade could close out on him with my father and he was really upset about the unprofessionalism and ridiculousness of Reggie Miller. I was actually embarrassed for Reggie, I couldn't believe he could be so ignorant.
ReplyDeleteMy dad and I actually had a lengthy discussion about this issue recently... how few players are willing to challenge shots at the rim because they don't want to end up on the highlights and get ridiculed unfairly.
As long as you are not routinely giving up "and 1's" it is always the right play to defend the basket. If someone dunks over you, you have to accept you got posterized (like Varejao did by Wade)... however Wade was trailing on the play, you have to believe that Reggie knows better than that.
On Saturday 20th February 2010, @dwadeofficial said:
ReplyDeleteI'm the 1st 1 2 get on him when he's not playn well. But I'm also the 1st 1 2 praise him when he is playn amazing. Beasley deserves sum credit the kid is balling
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Spo has got to find a way to use both of these guys to raise the ungodly amount of offensive hell that they're capable of.
Reggie Miller is a clown. Always has been.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the game, good energy through-out.
ReplyDeleteBut, was fustrated with how they handled Beasley again. He had a great 1st quarter and then sits the first 10 minutes of the second quater. Plays first 10 minutes of the third (mostly ignored by the point guard though...ignored by both point guards) and then has to sit the remainer of the 3rd and half of the forth.
He ended up with 40 minutes (but that's because he played 10 minutes in overtime)...I think as your #1 scoring option, 30 minutes is a little low (and it was fustrating that we went thru two draughts and he was mostly ignored during them).
I was happy with the way Beasley played, but just 1 assist Beasley? ...really?
I don't think our point guards do enough to feed him the ball in spots, it seems like he's lucky just to get the ball at the 3 point line, some of that needs to be looked at by the coaching staff, getting Beasley the ball at the baseline, elbow, or free-throw line would definately be better sweet spots (of course this assumes that Beasley is out on the 3 point line screening because that's what the coaches are calling).
Love the zone defense, always thought it was a mistake that Riley ignored it. Zone shouldn't be your defense, but against teams that are great inside and not so much outside, its a game changer.
Where was D-Wright towards the end. Chalmers played well enough (if you don't count the 4 TOs), but D-Wright would have been a much better idea at the SF, shifting Richardson back to his best position (SG). I hope Slo hasn't forgotten that Q.Rich is really a SG playing SF because he doesn't want to sit on the bench waiting for Wada's scraps.
ReplyDeleteWith the current team, I'd be playing (Wade replacing Alston when he returns):
ReplyDeleteArroyo
Richardson
Wright
Beasley
O'Neal
A random thought with how well Darren Collison has been playing for the Hornets replacing CP3 do any of you guys think they'll trade Paul this summer to unload his big contract?
ReplyDeleteAre you insane?
ReplyDeleteHD#1
ReplyDeleteNo. I don't think that's even an option....if it were, yes, I'd want him with Wade and Beasley...nothing else needed.
Are you insane?
ReplyDeleteFebruary 20, 2010 11:52 AM
lol no the Hornets are known for trading away big contracts even if it's a star player if they can save money like when they traded Zo or when they traded Baron just to name a few
Collusion, just has a monster game, 18/1/12....oh but 8 TOs.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't get that excited, 8 TOs is HUGE.
Collusion, just has a monster game, 18/1/12....oh but 8 TOs.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't get that excited, 8 TOs is HUGE.
February 20, 2010 12:01 PM
Just saying the Hornets are in a big hole financally and only by trading CP3 will they be out of it don't forget this is the HORNETS we're talking about they trade star players away all the time besides I wasn't talking about CP3 coming here don't think he'll be a good fit next to Wade.
Wade played pretty well next to CP3 in the Olympics...I wouldn't bank on CP3 coming here, but you don't turn down a superstar point guard if he wants to come here...anyone else read that Deron Williams is really pissed off about the Jazz trading Brewer? Looks like 2011 could be a huge offseason for free agent point guards...don't sleep on 2011 free agency!
ReplyDeletebtw, don't know if it was a series of typos, but Collison got a triple double with 18 points 13 rebounds and 12 assists.
ReplyDeletelol no the Hornets are known for trading away big contracts even if it's a star player if they can save money like when they traded Zo or when they traded Baron just to name a few
ReplyDeleteFEBRUARY 20, 2010 11:59 AM
are they still under the same ownership from back then though?
Dude Chris Paul is one of the best players in basketball and he's young as hell. You don't trade him.
ReplyDeleteYeah. Plus, the Hornets will take a big hit in ticket sales if they trade away C3P. I think they could live without him & should try to find a star 2 guard to trade him for since the Hornets have a good core moving forward. Still, CP3 is a top 7 player in this league. It'd take a big name to make up trading him away.
ReplyDeleteare they still under the same ownership from back then though?
ReplyDeleteFebruary 20, 2010 12:39 PM
Yup Shinn is still the owner
Yeah. Plus, the Hornets will take a big hit in ticket sales if they trade away C3P. I think they could live without him & should try to find a star 2 guard to trade him for since the Hornets have a good core moving forward. Still, CP3 is a top 7 player in this league. It'd take a big name to make up trading him away.
ReplyDeleteFebruary 20, 2010 1:21 PM
Couldn't agree more that or top 5 draft picks
We should try and get collison
ReplyDeleteThe Hornets are in a better position than they were earlier this season. From what I've read, they gotten under the luxury. Paul is under contract through 2012 and they'll have a chance to improve next when Peja and his 15M become an expiring. You never trade superstars; it always ends badly, unless you get a superstar in return. As mentioned, NOLA's ticket sales, merchandise, TV money, all takes a hit if CP3 goes bye-bye. As nice as it sounds to pair him up with Wade, it's not happening. George Shinn is cheap. He's not stupid.
ReplyDelete"As nice as it sounds to pair him up with Wade, it's not happening."
ReplyDeleteNo doubt. We don't have ANYBODY worth a Chris Paul besides Wade & that's not happening. Still, I think they'd be in a better position if they trade him for a star wing player who can help save ticket sales & everything. Don't know who, though.
First of all,great win last night,and great game by Beasley.The kid is growing in front of our eyes,and starting to show why he shouldve been the #1 pick in the draft.
ReplyDeleteFrom D-Wade`s Twitter:
"I'm the 1st 1 2 get on him when he's not playn well. But I'm also the 1st 1 2 praise him when he is playn amazing. Beasley deserves sum credit the kid is balling."
D-Wade does like this kid,and does support him.Ever since Wade opened his mouth about the offense being predictable,we have gone on to win 5 straight games.If ySpo can create some new plays for Wade-Beasley,you will start to see the beginning of a very scary dynamic duo.
On the CP3 front,I dont see how the Hornets let him go anywhere unless its for a very promising talent and a first round pick.
kind if a dead blog day, today.
ReplyDeletewhat is it about I-Win that irks me...
GodsSon521 said...
ReplyDeletekind if a dead blog day, today.
what is it about I-Win that irks me...
.......
smug jerkiness? maybe.
nothing new under the sun today. I expect a loss tonight, after last night's effort and the way Dallas has our # in the regular season. I wonder how their new pieces have meshed. don't follow much outside the Heat so I don't know.
Since the trade they are 2-1,and have won 2 straight,beating the Suns,and the Magic.
ReplyDeletewe just have to hope that playing the Magic took just as much energy from them as we used in 2OTs against the Grizzlies. Doubt we win today, but I didn't think we'd win yesterday WITH Wade. Let's hope for another pleasant surprise, I guess.
ReplyDeleteWith the way we have been playing since Wade criticized Spo's offense(5-0),and with the way the Grizzlies have been playing lately,I think we probably wouldve blown them out last night,like we were starting to do to the Nets the last couple of minutes before Wade got injured.The bench has finally woken up,JO and Q look good,and Beasley has been ballin.With Wade in the lineup,we blew out 3 straight teams,and with Wade out,we've 2 games of battling to the end,but both have been WINS.The attitude of this team has changed for the better,and everyone is getting involved.I dont think we win tonight because of the 2OT's,but when Wade gets back,I see this team making a HUGE push in these last 25 games,especially with 11 of the next 13,after tonight,at home.
ReplyDelete