Miami Heat/NBA Blog

Riley the Genius or Riley the Ruiner?

2008-02-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

As the Shaquille O'Neal deal is now official, some things come to mind. How did Pat Riley pull off this trade? How did Pat Riley trade a 36-year old declining center with hip and knee injuries to the best team in the Western Conference for a 29-year old Shawn Marion and a young point guard in Marcus Banks? Furthermore, how has Pat Riley pulled off half the deals he has in the past? Lets look at some of the trades he has done in the past:

2008- Traded center Shaquille O'Neal for forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks.

- Shaq is 36 and has 2 years and 40 million dollars left on his contract. Marion is 29, has better stats than Shaq, and an expiring contract. While I don't like the fact that Riley showed no loyalty to Shaq, it was still a genius move in that it benefits the Heat hugely in the future. They will have massive salary cap space to sign a free agent in the off-season and will be able to build the team around Dwyane Wade.

2007- Traded PF Antoine Walker, C Michael Doleac, and PF Wayne Simien to the Minnesota Timberwolves for SF Ricky Davis and C Mark Blount.

- This deal was completely amazing. The T-Wolves were astonishgly ripped off. Why? Antoine Walker's decline into a terrible player was faster than Eli Manning's demand to be traded to the Giants after he was drafted by the Chargers. Not only are his stats dramatically down, he is just an erratic player. His dribbling, court awareness, and streaky shooting were bringing the Heat down and will bring any team down for that matter. In addition, we got rid of seldom used players in Doleac and Simien, both who average under 3 points a game and make very little impact. In return, we recieved a perrenial scorer in Ricky Davis and decent post player in Blount. Davis can create his own offense, play good defense, and is a decent shooter. He is averaging 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal for the Heat this season. That is much better than Walker's stats in Minnesota. Although, Davis's stats haven't transalted into wins for the Heat, he is still better than having Walker chuck up 3's and getting in trouble for being too fat. Blount on the other hand has been doing very good of late, boosting his average up to 8 points a game and cracking the starting line-up in Shaq's injury absence. Once again, this is a lot better than Doleac and Simien's performance with Minnesota, considering Simien was dropped from the team and Doleac barely plays. So, the Heat got two rotation players for Antoine Walker. I'd say Pat Riley pulled off a good transaction.

2006- The Heat trade Eddie Jones, Rasual Butler, Qyntel Woods, and two 2nd round draft picks for Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, and James Posey.

- Once again, the Heat got the better end on this one. In 2006, the Heat won a championship with these 3 players, so nothing else should be said. But, to prove that it was better, lets look at where everyone is now. Eddie Jones is in Dallas, averaging 3 points a game and only getting 19 minutes a game. Rasual Butler is in New Orleans, barely cracking the rotation. And, who is Qyntel Woods? Isn't that the guy who beat up his dog? In return, we got 1 productive season from Antoine Walker, a very clutch 3 point and defensive specialist in James Posey, and our current starting point guard in Jason Williams. All 3 of them helped us win a championship, so the Heat defintely won in that deal.

2004- The Heat trade Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, and a 1st round pick for superstar center Shaquille O'Neal.

- While that deal might not look so hot right now considering the Heat just traded Shaq to the Suns, it still was another mighty genius move by Riley. Lets look at what happend to everyone that the Lakers recieved in that deal. Undoubtedly, Caron Butler was a huge loss for the Heat. He is now a 2 time All-star and is thriving with the Wizards. But, he is on the Wizards not the Lakers. The Lakers shipped him to the Wizards after just one year for Kwame Brown. I bet the Lakers wish they could do that one over. So, since Butler was only on LA for one year, he can hardly be considered part of the deal. Lamar Odom is still on the Lakers and has been consistent for them for the past 4 years. Brian Grant had a massive, undeserving contract and Riley was able to unload it on the Lakers. What happend to Grant? His knee injuries were too much and he is now in retirement. So, the Heat got Shaquille O'Neal for Lamar Odom and a first round pick. The Heat won a championship and the Lakers struggled to make it to the playoffs for the last couple of years. Lets also point out the fact that the Heat got to keep their leading scorer from the previous season in that trade (Eddie Jones) and got to keep a young Dwyane Wade. I heard Wade evolved into a superstar and was the MVP of the NBA Finals, so he must be pretty good. All in all, the Heat ripped of the Lakers so bad in that trade that it makes Isiah Thomas look like a good GM.

Pat Riley has pulled off many other deals in his illustrious career: Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, and Jamal Mashburn to name a few. Riley should defintely be considered a Hall of Fame General Manager in addition to being a hall of fame coach.

One of the main reasons the Miami Heat won the title is because of Pat Riley's executive decisions through the years and his ability to put together a talented roster.

While some of his moves are questionable, he should be hailed Riley the Genius not Riley the Ruiner.

Tell me what you think.....

Diesel Ditched, traded to the Suns

2008-02-07T12:26:00.000-08:00

With this trade, only 1 thing comes to my mind: The Diesel was DITCHED, The Big Aristotle was used like an old rag and then thrown away. So you might be thinking, we got someone 7 years younger than the big fellow, we freed up cap space, and we got a 4 time All Star. But, trading Shaq is like trading away a piece of this Miami Heat franchise. How can Pat Riley be so quick to get rid of Diesel just 2 years removed from an NBA Championship? How can Shaq not be credited for winning Miami it's first championship in franchise history? How can Shaq just be used to win us a championship and then disposed a measely four years later? To me, it is very unfair to Heat fans and shows that Riley has shown no loyalty to the Big Fella whatsoever.

I can't help but be saddened by this trade. When Shaquille O'Neal arrived to Miami in 2004, it was the biggest news the city of Miami ever recieved. We were getting the most influential person ever to come to South Florida sports other than Dan Marino. An entire parade was thrown for Shaq when he arrived in the summer of 2004. Heat fans were raving, the media was excited, the hype couldn't be bigger. Now, just 4 short years later, that man is shipped to the Phoenix Suns?

It simply is a travesty to see the Miami Heat's most influential player ever leave this team. It is truly sickening that we won't see Shaquille O'Neal retire in a Heat uniform, with his number 32 hanging from the rafters in American Airlines Arena along with Michael Jordan. Shaq did more than just win the Heat a championship, he brought new life to the city of Miami, and restored popularity to basketball in Miami.

Shaquille O'Neal will always be remembered as one of the best Miami Heat players to enter this franchise. He ranks up there with Miami Heat legends Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Glen Rice, Rony Seikaly, and he did all in 3 1/2 years. O'Neal will always be remembered for his services here in Miami. He brought the city of Miami revenue, he sold tickets, made the Heat sky rocket to the top of the league in ticket and jersey sales, and most importantly made Heat fans happy. Shaq did not overstay his welcome. Just because his stats are declining and he is injured gives Pat Riley and Heat fans no right to turn their backs on him. He deserved to retire in Miami and to desert him this quickly because of 1 bad season is truly unfair.

I hope Shaq will be remembered as a Heat legend who won the team a champion and will not be seen as an injury prone center who was just bringing the team down.

Shaq, hopefully you will be missed...

Tell me what you think...

The line-up of the future

2008-01-07T17:18:00.001-08:00

While most people have given up hope on the Heat for this season (rightfully so), there are still some things to be optimistic about: the Future.

This 2007-2008 Miami Heat season is long gone. The Heat are 8-28, last place in the Eastern Conference, lost nine in a row, and have dug a hole that's too deep to climb out of. To make matters worse, they have a worse record than the lowly New York Knicks. Finally, they have been hit by the injury bug again for the 4th season in a row. Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade, Jason Williams, Dorell Wright, and Chris Quinn have all been or are on the injury list this season. Surprisingly, some good things have come from their injuries: Discovering the line-up of the future.

With all the injuries, Pat Riley has been forced to look for new line-ups and experiment with the young players on the roster. And what Riley and all Heat fans have discovered is that almost every player on the roster can play ball. While in the past, The Heat were forced to use a 8 or 9 man rotation- this year they have been able to use a 13-man rotation. Not only has Riley discovered his young players can play, he has discovered they work well together. Chris Quinn, Daequan Cook, Dorell Wright, and Earl Barron have all proven to be impactful players that can form a serious line-up in the future. While you hate to see the veteran players go down with injury, it is refreshing to see that the Heat has some hope for the future.

Quinn, Cook, Wright, and Barron are all young players and they are all different positions. Chris Quinn, who has been filling in for the oft-injured Jason Williams, has been a valuable 2nd year point guard that can shoot 3's and play good defense. Daequan Cook has proven to be an excellent draft pick for the Miami Heat. The former Ohio State guard has been lights out scoring recently and most importantly he has been unbelievably clutch for a rookie. He has been hitting clutch three pointer after clutch three pointer in many games this season. His development is crucial for the future of this squad. As for Dorell Wright, its nice to see him finally find his role in the Miami rotation. He has cracked the starting line-up and been making an impact. Before he went down with his recent ankle injury, Wright had been a rebound and block machine. Some of the players are calling him "Little Zo." That is quite a complement for someone who was lucky to get garbage time 2 years ago. Wright is averaging 7 points, 4 boards, and 1 block a game. He has gained weight, grown into his body, and is playing at a high defensive level. Finally, Earl Barron has been making strides to becoming the center of the future. He has finally made his way into the rotation and has been able to score a little and has been a good post player.

While this season has been ugly and very forgettable, the future looks bright for the 2006 NBA champions. While right now, it might not sound good- think 2-3 years from now. Just picture this line-up:

PG- Chris Quinn
SG- Dwyane Wade, Daequan Cook
SF- Dorell Wright (Ricky Davis if he stays)
PF- Udonis Haslem
C- Mark Blount, Earl Barron

Doesn't seem too bad.. and with a high draft pick on the way, the Heat's future is looking up.

Tell me what you think...

The Heat's offense is rising

2007-12-31T16:52:00.000-08:00

With the Miami Heat season feeling all but over and the fans becoming hopeless, there are still some things that the Heat have improved on since the beginning of the season (let me give you a hint: ITS NOT WINS).

The main thing the Heat have improved on is their offense. They began the season off averaging an abysmal 92 points a game, which was good enough for 2nd worst in the league. Since then, their team point average has risen to 94 points a game, which is 23rd in the league. This doesn't sound so spectacular, but you have to look at the Heat's recent statistics.

A lot of the Heat's recent offensive rise has been due to the return of Dwyane Wade from injury. Wade missed the first 7 games of the season, and the Heat averaged 83.2 points a game. Since Wade's return, the Heat have averaged 97.1 points a game. That's a rise of 14 points a game. This obviously shows that Wade's 25 points a game has been a huge boost to the offense and that the Heat are scoring more as a team.

Also, before Flash's return, Miami had just one 100+ point game. Since his return, the Heat have had eleven 100+ point games. While this is good that the Heat's offense is improving, this still isn't translating into wins for the squad. Out of their eleven 100 point games, only 4 have translated into wins. One of the main reason's for this is the lack of the Heat's defense and inability to make clutch stops in late game situations. The Heat have had 3 overtime losses, in which they have been unable to stop 3 pointers or missed a key defensive rebound.

Hopefully these frustrating losses will stop and the Heat will be able to keep up their offensive improvements, but also improve their defense. Maybe the combination of these two will salvage this season and give Dwyane Wade a reason to stay in Miami.

Tell me what you think...

A sad day in Miami Heat history

2007-12-24T19:55:00.000-08:00

And just like that, the glorious career of Alonzo Mourning is over. With a blink of the eye, 15 years of hard-work, dedication, and an unparalleled hustle is over. Mourning's career had so much impact on the game of basketball and to see it end like this just did not seem fair. When I saw Mourning fall to the ground and clutch his knee, I knew it could not be good. I knew a 37-year old center clutching his knee in pain could mean a sad day in Heat history. As I expected, ESPN announced the next morning that Alonzo Mourning tore his right patellar tendon and that it would require season ending surgery. And with this being Zo's final season, it would mean his career would come to a sad end. For a player that had so much tenacity and love for the game, you didn't expect him to end his career with a knee injury. But, he did it doing what he did best- playing defense.

In a season that many considered lost for the Miami Heat, Alonzo Mourning still believed in his heart that the team could turn the season around. Every game of this pathetic season for the Heat, Mourning tried his hardest and was always hungry for a win. He did not have to do what he did. He already had won a championship, already owns every record in the Miami Heat record book, and was easily on his way to the hall of fame. But Zo wanted to win another championship and wanted to deliver more happiness to Heat fans. But while trying to accomplish that feat, he sustained a career ending injury. Zo had such a big heart and wanted to make every one happy. Although Zo's last season won't be remembered for being drenched in champagne after a Miami Heat championship, it will still be remembered for his best quality: his toughness. Zo ended his career playing defense and did while doing another thing he did superbly- blocking shots. Zo's attempt to block a shot by Hawk's guard Mario West epitomized his legacy. He was a player that never gave up on a play, always thought he could block a shot no matter how big or tall the person was, and always put forth full effort.

Alonzo Mourning will not only be remembered for his great statistics, great defense, and great effort, but will also be remembered for his big heart. Alonzo Mourning's legacy is a story like no other. Just 4 years ago, Mourning was fighting for his life when he found out he had a life threatening kidney ailment. But Mourning did what he always did, he fought through it. He fought through his illness and won an NBA championship. His legacy will always be remembered.

With the loss of Alonzo Mourning, The Heat lose a legend, a Miami Heat icon, and a player that will never be forgotten. Alonzo Mourning's number 33 will be hanging in American Airlines Arena forever and will be remembered by not only Heat fans but by the entire basketball community. Zo- thank you for the great memories and all the things you accomplished for the Miami Heat organization.

How about Daequan Cook?

2007-12-06T21:38:00.000-08:00

The start of the Miami Heat's season has certainly been a forgettable one. They own the Eastern Conference's worst record at 4-13 and have the 3rd worst record in the league. A huge drop from a team that is only 2 years removed from a championship. But in a season with not much to brag about, there has been one bright spot: The immediate impact of Daequan Cook.

Daeqaun Cook, drafted out of Ohio State in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers, and then traded to the Miami Heat for their first round pick, was not expected to do much for the Heat. He wasn't even expected to make it off the bench. But not only has he accomplished that, he has made an immediate presence on this struggling team. Cook, the Buckeyes 6th man in his one and only year with Ohio State, has averaged 10 points a game in just under 20 minutes a game. Not only that, his speed and athleticism has been welcomed on a veteran and aging team. In addition to that, he has been able to knock down the occasional 3 and is 3rd on the team in field goal percentage. And this is all in just his rookie year. Unlike the Heat's past 2 draft picks, Dorell Wright and Wayne Simien, Cook has been a success and will be a huge piece of this franchise's future when Jason Williams is gone (which could be soon). The Heat were in desperate need of a point guard and the draft of Cook was very smart and will definitely pay off.

So in a season of failure and desperation, Daequan Cook has at least given a look into what the future could look like for the Miami Heat's point guard position. Hopefully the 3 D's, Dwyane Wade, Daequan Cook, and Dorell Wright can form their own "Big Three" and get the Heat back to championship form in the future, or maybe even this year?

Tell me what you think...

Toss Up: Boston or Orlando- whose better???

2007-12-04T12:29:00.000-08:00

Ok, so the Boston Celtics have more media attention right now than when Britney Spears shaved her head. The Celtics have the best record in the entire NBA at an impressive 14-2. They are 9-0 at home, 4-0 in the Atlantic division, and are 4th in the league in both 3 point percentage and field goal percentage. Along with that, their defense has been impeccable as they allow the least amount of points per game in the league. Also, the "Big 3" is gelling together perfectly and there counterparts are doing just fine. But is Boston really as good as they seem? I don't think they are and this is why:

- Although the Celtics only have 2 losses, look at the two teams they lost to- The Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dwight Howard's Magic have the 3rd best record in the league at 16-4, which makes them an elite team. Cleveland is 9-9 and currently in 2nd place in the Central Division. Both teams Boston lost to are very good teams. Now lets look at the teams they beat. Eight of their 14 wins came against teams that are under .500. Five out of the remaining 6 wins have come against teams that are barely hovering at the .500 mark. Their only win against team that was completely over the .500 mark was the Denver Nuggets. So only 1 win out of 14 has come against a really reputable team. People make the argument that they are blowing out teams left and right. While this is true, you also have to look at the fact they only beat a LeBron-less Cavaliers 90-80 last Sunday.
S0 while Boston does own the NBA's best record, I still don't think they are the "Beasts of the East". I think that title deserves to be given to the Orlando Magic. Furthermore, I still think that the San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, and Dallas Mavericks are all better than the C's and in a head-to-head match up, I think all 3 Western Conference teams would prevail.

In conclusion, I think if any of the "Big Three" goes down to injury, Boston's Cinderella story year might come down crashing. So, Boston fans better hope that they stay healthy and keep feasting on the weak teams in the East. Come January and February, the Celtics have match ups against San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas, and Detroit. Most importantly, Boston gets a rematch with Orlando on December 23 at the Banknorth Garden. I'll be sure to tune in on that game to see if I can be proven wrong.

Tell me what you think....

Thanksgiving Special- Will all H*ll break loose if Miami keeps loosing?

2007-11-22T10:31:00.000-08:00

Ok, so the Miami Heat have dropped yet another game, putting their record at a dismal 2-9. Not only did they lose another game, they lost another home game, putting their home record at 0-5. I don't know if Heat fans remember, but just 3 years ago, the Heat were unstoppable at home. They posted a 35-6 record at home in the 2004-2005 season and a 31-10 record in 2005-2006 season. Also, how about the fact that the Heat are 0-3 in the Southeast division this year. Lets go back 3 years ago again, the Heat were an outstanding 15-1 in the Southeast. So, what is going on??? 0-5 at home? 0-3 in the division? 2-9 overall record? They still have D-Wade and Shaq. But I am fearing that could change in the near future.

Once a team wins a championship, they are expected to continue the success and keep winning. But once that team starts to fall off the map and begins to get older and not be the team they used to be, changes start occurring and players/coaches/fans start to get restless. This happened with the Los Angeles Lakers when they lost to the Pistons in the 2003 Finals or after the Nets, Pacers, and 76ers lost to the Lakers in the finals . The team starts to break up: Trades happen (Shaq to Miami), free agents don't resign (Kerry Kittles, Kenyon Martin), Coaches quit or get fired (Phil Jackson, Larry Brown), and teams start looking towards the draft. The Miami Heat are looking like they might be heading towards this direction and I am worried. I really hope this doesn't happen, but its a possibility and this is why:

We all know what Pat Riley has done in the past when the Heat start to falter- He quits or "leaves temporarily". After the Heat had their 25-57 season in 2002, Riley quit as head coach and gave the reins to Stan Van Gundy. Then last year, when the Heat got off to their dismal start, Pat Riley decided to leave mid-season to get hip surgery and gave the team to Ron Rothstein. So, what will happen this year if the Heat keep loosing? Will he leave the team due to psychological damage due to his team's inability to win?

What about superstar Dwyane Wade. He is in his first year of a very short contract of 3 years. Will he refuse to resign with the Heat in 2 years when his contract expires if his team keeps loosing? Although he says he is not worried about the Heat's slow start, you have to think that he is frustrated. A player of his ability will not stay around with a team that is wearing away by the day.

What about Shaquille O'Neal? He still has 3 years left on his contract, but that's not what I am worried about. I am worried that he might get fed up with all the criticism that is being placed on him by Pat Riley and will end up just opting out of his contract or pulling a Stephon Marbury, and leaving the team altogether. He is a player known for speaking his mind and if things start to hit the fan, I wouldn't be surprised if he showed no loyalty to the Miami Heat.

What about the rest of the team? Ricky Davis, Jason Williams, Penny Hardaway, Dorell Wright, Chris Quinn, Smush Parker, and Earl Barron are all in contract years. Will any of them want to return to the Heat if they don't make the playoffs and superstars Shaq and D-Wade are disgruntled?

Also, Pat Riley is already telling the Miami Herald that ''There are no assurances," and "I'd like to see this team develop into a consistent winning team without much change. But I think the wins are what it's going to be about. We'll see over the next month.'' The Heat just made a trade for Ricky Davis to become the team's 3rd scorer, and their already talking about making more trades to improve the team. What trade pieces do they have? Who are they going to trade? Udonis Haslem? Dorell Wright? Either way, this shows Miami is already starting to push the panic button.

Hopefully, everything I said will not happen and the Heat will turn it around. Hopefully, D-Wade is not worried for a reason and he will be able to turn this team around. Hopefully, Shaq and Ricky Davis will step up and the trio of Wade, Shaq, and Davis will become one of the best trios in the league. Hopefully, Pat Riley will get them motivated and get them back to their championship form. Hopefully, just hopefully, they will realize that they really do have a great starting five and a Hall of Fame coach and will be able to turn this season around and avoid all H*ll breaking loose.

Why D-Wade is the team's savior

2007-11-19T14:44:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, I was playing basketball, just shooting around with some other kids when I heard one of them say "Did you see Dwyane Wade last night?" (referring to the Heat vs Celtics game) And his friend said "Yes, he did pretty good for his 2nd game back." But then I heard the first kid say "Are you kidding me, he was terrible, he missed the game winning shot like usual" and "He has no basketball IQ, he's always doing stupid stuff like that." I was about to respond and argue but then I realized that this would be a full scale argument that might have ended up not so good. I thought to myself how could someone say such a thing about Dwyane Wade- that he is terrible and has no basketball IQ? Then, I realized he has a missed a few shots in the past and that his would-have been game winning shot against Boston was kind of unorganized in that he wasted the entire clock and didn't even try to drive to the basket and get fouled.

But then I was like wow, what am I thinking? He just came back from 6 months of inactivity and is a little bit rusty. Not to mention, he is the 2006 Finals MVP, as well as being the entire reason we won the NBA finals, and has made numerous of clutch shots that have saved the Miami Heat in his short career.

So my argument to the kid that said D-Wade has no basketball IQ, is that you are completely wrong Sir and you have no IQ yourself. And these are the reasons why:

1) Dwyane Wade was the most valuable player of the NBA Finals in just his 3rd year out of college. To show such maturity in just your third year and to be the Finals MVP before the Great One- Michael Jordan- is saying something.
2) He creates double teams, he gets his teamates open for shots, and is consistently at the free throw line- all these attributes show high basketball IQ.
3) Most of the time when the game is on the line, he is able to make the game winning shot. During the NBA finals, in the last few minutes of game 3 and game 5 when the game was close, he found ways to get himself to the free throw line, even if the fouls were a little questionable. Regardless, he found ways to get his team the W.
4) The man just got back from offseason surgery on his knee and shoulder and has already turned the team around and gotten them their 2nd win of the season against the New Jersey Nets- showing his ability to be a leader of this frazzled team.

So, that is why D-Wade is the Miami Heat's savior and he will continue to turn this squad around into a championship contending team.

Heat loses to Boston; but Dwyane Wade's impact is immediate

2007-11-17T13:42:00.000-08:00

And the hole continues to grow deeper for the Miami Heat. The Miami Heat continued their losing ways with an 92-91 loss to the undefeated Boston Celtics on Friday night. Although Miami kept it close, a loss is a loss.

The only bright spot for the team is the fact that Dwyane Wade's presence has immediately been felt. In his first full game back, Wade lead the team with 23 points and 6 assists after being inactive for 6 months while recovering from offseason shoulder and knee injuries. Just the fact that Wade is back with the team made it possible for the Heat to keep it close with the best team in the Eastern Conference (Celtics) and arguably one of the best teams in the NBA.

Another good thing that came out of this loss was the fact that Miami put up 91 points. Prior to the game, Miami was averging the worst offense in the league, averaging around 80 points a game. The fact that they were able to put up 91 points proves that their offense is immediately improving with Wade back in the lineup.

Miami stayed pretty close with Boston for most of the game besides a few parts of the game when they fell behind by 10 or 11 points. For most of the 4th quarter, the Heat were down by 7-11 points but came storming back in the final 4 minutes of the game. It started with a Wade miss and put-back monster dunk by center Shaquille O'Neal. It followed with a Celtic miss and a pull-up 3-pointer by Ricky Davis. Then a steal by rookie Daquean Cook led to a breakaway And 1 dunk, but he missed the free throw. Miami proceeded to fall behind 84-80 with 1:30 left in regulation. Miami stormed back with 4 straight points and ended up taking a 1 point lead on a Shaq free throw, but that was the last time the Heat would lead. Paul Pierce then ruined the Heat's chances of getting their 2nd victory of the season with an easy layup around Udonis Haslem. One last desparation shot by Wade rimmed out and the Heat's record fell to 1-8.

Although the Heat lost their 3rd straight game in a row and 8th overall, Heat fans must be at least content that D-Wade is getting back to his explosive form and making an immediate impact on the team. I think without him in this game, especially being on the road, Miami would have lost by a lot more than 1. Hopefully the Heat will take advantage of Wade's presence and start winning some ball games.

Are the Heat really this bad?

2007-11-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

1-7? 1-7? 1 AND 7?

Thats the Miami Heat's record as of today. That pathetic record has them in dead last in the Southeast division and is downright embarassing. It completely mindboggles me that a team 2 years removed from a NBA championship is this bad. Their record makes it look like they pulled a "Marlins" and firesaled the whole team. But that couldn't be farther from the truth.

The team actually improved, well at least on paper.
- They added a high-scoring forward in Ricky Davis, who is defintly a huge improvement for a 3rd scorer over Antoine Walker.
- They added 7-footer Mark Blount, who averaged 12 points and 6 boards last year.
- They added PG Smush Parker, who has averaged over 11 points the last 2 years.
- They got rid of Antoine Walker (finally), who couldn't stay skinny and was just abominable from the free throw line and pretty much just shooting in general.

So, what I am trying to say is how are they this bad, I mean look at the stats.
Ricky Davis averaged 17 points last year, Smush averaged 11, and Blount averged 12. They added 40 points a game in scoring and they lost Walker's 8 points. So, in essence, they gained around 32 points in scoring. Your probably thinking well they didnt have 2006 Finals MVP Dwyane Wade for their first 7 games. But, the 32 points they gained in scoring should have overwhelmingly made up for Wade's 27 points a game, at least for 7 games. I'm not talking about half the season- I mean 7 measily games, and they could win more than 1?

I love the Miami Heat, but I just dont understand why their this bad, seriosly look how good their lineup is even without "Flash".

C- Shaq/Mourning
PF- Haslem/Blount
SF- Dorell Wright/Penny Hardaway
SG- Ricky Davis
PG- Jason Williams/Smush Parker/Daequan Cook

I'm sorry- but that lineup is pretty scary and with the addition of Dwyane Wade it can be considered elite. I know Shaq, Mourning, and J-Will are old but they still make a huge impact on this roster and are still able to put points/boards/blocks.

So, why are the Heat this bad?

Is it the absence of Wade in the first 7 games- which I don't consider an excuse...
Is it because Ricky Davis hasn't stepped up enough?
Is it because Shaq's contribution is not nearly close to what it should be?
Is it because the new members on the team aren't gelling?
Is it a combination of all them?
or Is it just the end of a mini rein that the Miami Heat had in the eastern conference and time to start thinking about the draft?

I would like to hope and think that its a combination of all of them except for the last one and that if Ricky Davis starts stepping up and Shaq plays like we know he can, and D-Wade returns to 100% health and plays like he has for the last 3 years that we can return to an elite team in the Eastern Conference and make it to the NBA Finals.

Tell me what you think.....

The improved play of Jason Williams and Udonis Haslem

2007-11-14T12:53:00.000-08:00

While all Heat fans know that Miami is off to an embarrassing 1-6 start, which is good enough for last place in the Southeast Division, there have surprisingly still been some bright spots for the team. The brights spots have been mainly with the improved play of PG Jason Williams and PF Udonis Haslem.

PG Jason Williams: Williams is in his 3rd season with the Miami Heat and arguably doing his best out of the 3. A probable reason for his improvement is because he finally got rid off his knee ailments that have been plaguing him for the last 3 years. During the off-season, he had knee surgery and lost 15 pounds. He publicly said that "he was in the best shape of his career." So, with improved health and conditioning, he has gotten back to his old speedy, explosive form.

As of today, Jason Williams is averaging 11.3 points per game, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, and close to 2 steals a game. Along with those impressive numbers, Williams field goal percentage is 40% and he is averaging 36 minutes a game, which is a 6 minute increase from last year and the best of his entire career.

Almost every single statistical category has improved from last year and the former Florida Gator is acting as a point guard that is controlling the offense effectively. Another headline about Williams stats is his 7 assists per game. That's the best of his Miami Heat career, and an increase of almost 2 assists per game from last year.

Overall, Jason Williams has been very effective for Miami this year and he looks to run the offense even better when super-star Dwyane Wade returns from injury.

Now, Udonis Haslem:

PF Udonis Haslem: Wow, there's almost too much to say about this hard-working kid. As of the beginning of the season, UD had the honor and privilege of being deemed The Captain of the Miami Heat by head coach Pat Riley. "We didn't have any official captains last year, but Udonis is really the heart and soul of this team now," Riley said.

Along with being named team captain, Haslem is by far enduring his best statistical season in his 5 years as a member of the Heat. Although the season is still very young, Haslem is averaging an impressive double-double, with 14 points and 10 boards a game. But, Haslem is also doing things that don't show up in a box score. He hustles and plays out his heart and soul every single game. Whether it be diving for a ball or getting multiple offensive rebounds or never giving up on a play, Udonis is really proving why he should be the captain of the Miami Heat. Hopefully his play, along with the return of D-Wade, the Heat will get back to their 2006 championship form.