Saturday, November 13, 2010

James and Wade lead charge past Raptors

Wade lit up the score board tonight with 31 points
Miami came out and took care of business tonight. We saw a determined team that was not about to lose to the Raptors, and when the game got close, Wade and James put together a nice little run that ended up winning them the game. Lets take a look at what happened this game to give Miami the skid-ending win.

Miami shot better. The Heat's 50 percent shooting from the field topped the Raptor's 45 percent. We saw a lot of consistency from everyone on the team, and they looked very fluent with every shot they took. At the end of the day, the team that makes more shots is going to win. Miami shot the ball very well tonight. 

The Heat had less turn overs. Miami's 9 turnovers was less than Toronto's 11, and LeBron and Wade took care of the rock. The Heat did a great job protecting the ball today, and it helped them substantially in the final minutes of the game. 

Big Z started. I loved Z in the starting line up today, and he put up great numbers. 12 points from the big guy, and the outside threat gives Wade and James a wider lane to work with. Big Z in the starting line up helps LeBron out a lot more, and adds a nice scoring threat. Great move. 

Wade recovered very well from Boston. We saw him drop 31 points with 8 rebounds, and he made the Raptor's defense look silly. Wade is a pure scorer, and when he puts up numbers like this it helps to get everyone else started. On this Miami Heat team, he is going to be the guy that puts up plus 20 consistently. If all else fails, count on him or LeBron and throw down the momentum shifting dunk.


LeBron kept the game in control. King James did his best to control the pace of the game, while adding a double double with 23 points and 11 assists. He found Wade open numerous times, and the combination of Wade and James tonight was lethal. When LeBron can control the tempo and play his way, the whole team benefits. Which brings me to my next point.

The bench play was great tonight. Although Miami does  not have a very deep bench, Jones and Haslem combined for 24 points. Haslem's consistency continues to be a factor, and I really enjoyed the fact that we have been seeing more minutes from him lately.

Bosh's game was off tonight. You can tell he was frustrated, and it was obviously aggravating to not be able to put up serious points against your old team. With LeBron and Wade syncing so well, you can imagine Bosh's frustration that he isn't quite their yet. I believe he is trying too hard to impress people. Chris is a great talent, and has nothing to prove. Once he settles down and just plays his game, everything is going to come to him. We saw LeBron talking to him towards the end of the game, so it is clear that everyone else on the team is going to support him until he gets into a groove. On top of that, the points he puts up really do make a difference in the game. So overall, I am not worried about Bosh's play. He did his job and made a dent in the scoring column. In my opinion, as long as the Heat get the win, Bosh did what he had to do. 


So overall we saw this game as a step in the right direction. We saw LeBron and Wade's dominance when they are both on the same page, solid bench play from Jones and Haslem, and a line up change that proved successful. The Heat have plenty of time to rest between now and their next game on Wednesday, so expect to see a lot more improvements. Their is no ceiling for Miami basketball. 

Get em. 


Miami vs Toronto tonight at 7:30

Miami is welcoming Toronto to South Beach for the first time this season . Toronto is not having the best start coming in (2-7), and playing against the big 3 is not going to help anything. Lets take a look at what I expect to see this game.

A lot of different line ups. Coach is going to do everything he can to try and make this team gel the way he wants them to. I expect him to use this game against a suspect Raptor team to try some new offensive and defensive sets as well as some new line ups. Look to see more minutes from Haslem, Big Z, Chalmers, and Stack. The Heat have to try and find the offensive units and defensive units that play together the best. Tonight's match up gives them that opportunity.

More conservative play from the big 3. We all know that LeBron, D Wade and Bosh can go off, that's a given. But lets see what everyone else can do tonight. Look for the ball to be spread around a lot to give some of the bench players looks at the hoop. The Heat have to find out what this bench can really do.

Leadership from LeBron and Wade. These guys have struggled in games before. They know they can bounce back. At the same time, there are some players that we know that are quick to hand their heads. I expect LeBron in particular to step and be the team leader in tonight's game. This will including running the point from time to time, scooping up the necessary boards, and taking it to the cup when it is needed. I expect LeBron to rub off a little on everyone tonight.

Points from Bosh. Everyone wants to play well in front of their old teams. Look for Bosh to do the same. He knows he has had a slow start and he knows all of Toronto is watching him. I expect big things from this guy.

Rebounds. They should be stressed tonight. The Heat need a presence on the glass, and I expect to see it tonight. Also, expect to see the lock down defense. D will be stressed tonight as well, and I expect it to be top notch.

My prediction- LeBron does his work all around, Bosh scores big, Wade is active, and strong bench play. The Heat will win by around 12 points. Lets get em.

Also, thank you guys so much for leaving comments on the last post. I really appreciate and hope that with them, my writing can improve and I can focus on what you guys want to see. I received a question about Arroyo and Chalmers on my last post, so I am going to take the time and answer it now.

Arroyo has not been playing his best basketball this year. He isn't getting the assists he should, and his shooting just has not been there. However, it is just as hard for the other members of the Heat to adapt to playing with the big 3 as it is for the big 3 to adapt to playing with each other. Imagine if you had these 3 superstars surrounding you and you had to try and get them all involved, while also letting them play their game. I guarantee you it would not be an easy task. It is a learning process for everyone involved, and in the first few weeks their is going to be confusing both offensively and defensively. I expect Arroyo to get on the same page as the big 3 in coming weeks. With that, he will have greater knowledge of their tendencies, and that will make playing with them 1000 times easier. So lets not be so quick to jump on Arroyo. Given the situation, I think there is plenty of room for improvement.

As for Chalmers, he had a solid season last year and came into this season with high expectations. I want to see him a lot more tonight, and in the coming weeks. He needs some on court time with the team to develop the cohesion they need to get big wins. I think that his involvement will be key late in the season, so lets see if he gets some more time in these next few games.

Thank you guys for the questions. Please continue to leave comments!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Why LeBron will overcome

LeBron James has faced a lot of scrutiny since he chose to go to Miami, to say the least. Now, on top of that, he has to deal with being on a team that did not meet the world's ridiculously high expectations in the first two weeks. This is a lot to deal with for any man, but I think LeBron is going to respond positively, and heres why.

From being called king at the age of 16, to being handed a 90 million dollar contract before setting foot on the court, LeBron has always carried weight other than his on his shoulders. Quite frankly, I think he has to be getting used to it by now. I mean, he had to deal with living up to expectation when he went  to private school, and then living up to the expectations of every draft analyst ever, living up to the expectations of the Cavs and the basketball nation. He has gone above and beyond so many times, and with him entering what should be the prime basketball seasons of his life, he is more revved up then every to get the job done.

People are so willing to throw the big 3 under the bus right now, and LeBron is their first choice. But I do not know why someone expected them to play so well so early on. Wade was hurt with a foot injury and Bosh and James had to adapt to a new offense. Personally, I am very satisfied with what I am seeing so far. Sure, there are holes, but that is part of the building process. Sometimes we need to break the walls down in order to build stronger ones.

James is a born leader, it does not take an genius to see that. He is going to prove everyone wrong and go above and beyond expectations as he has many times before. I have the utmost confidence in his ability and leadership qualities, and I know that when it gets down to crunch time late in the season and playoffs, he will do ANYTHING to win. Lets not throw those championship hats away just yet, there is still a whole lot of basketball to play

Pierce gets ahead of himself, LeBron and friends look to make improvements

Okay Paul Peirce, you got us. Last night's tweet by Pierce read, "It was a pleasure to take my talents to south beach, now onto Memphis,"

Good one Paul Pierce. Very clever. You make some good points, especially since the Celtics were such a dominant force in the years preceding Garnett and Allens arrival. Oh wait, whats that? Oh yeah, THEY SUCKED. Pierce couldn't lead a rat to cheese before two BETTER PLAYERS joined the team. Wasn't it the Celtics that got knocked out in the playoffs by the Nets almost every year before KG and Ray came along? You should be really proud of yourself Paul, but let me tell you something. Before the big 3 in Boston was formed, LeBron got much deeper in the playoffs than you, scored more than you, rebounded more than you, assisted more than you, and played better than you. Do you know why you will never be considered one of the best Paul? BECAUSE YOUR NOT. Your starting 5 consists of one of the best centers of all time, the big ticket, the best shooter of all time, and an outstanding point guard. The Celtics only really need a warm body in your position to win games. If you were not around, Allen and Garnett would take bigger roles and do just as well. However, we all know what happens when they are not around, you did NOTHING. I hope you have fun now, being that your first two meetings against the Heat were in the first few weeks of the season. You wont be so lucky in the playoffs. And hey,if the game is ever too close for you, you could always just fake another injury,right?

Sorry, I had to blow off a little steam. Enjoy your wins now Boston, we'll see you around.

Now that we have that all cleared up, lets move on. Miami has come a long way in the first few weeks, but there is still much more work to be done. For starters, the Miami defense is amazing when it is in sync, but there has to be some level of consistency in every game. This is simply something that is going to take time. In the future, I expect to see a defense that will hold teams to under 90 points every single game. But for now, we have to let this team develop.

I think everyone is disappointed with Miami thus far, when they really shouldn't be. They play tough defense, have come backs, and can light up the score board in no time. What is missing is the level of consistency. This is why I think Haslem needs to see a lot more time in games. He is Mr. Consistent, and should be able to set a tone that Wade, James, and Bosh can build on. I look to see him a lot in the future. LeBron and Wade are born leaders, and I believe the two of them can take Miami to the promised land. LeBron just needs to keep playing that all around game we love, and Wade needs to keep scoring while they both play top notch defense.

Rebounding is going to be a problem all season long. It is obvious that a hustle player is needed on this squad. I think that with time someone will emerge as the rebounder for this squad. Someone will know what has to get done and will focus their whole game plan on clearing the boards. A Dennis Rodman type player who's sole purpose is to hound the backboard at all times. By December I believe that someone will do this for the Heat.

Miami has NOTHING to worry about. If they just continue to try and develop a solid identity, the victories will come. I predict this to happy around late January. Once the Heat know who they are, the NBA is going to be in for quite a shock. In the mean time, play your game Miami, get better every time you step out on that court, and keep fighting.

Get em'

P.S If you guys read these posts and like them feel free to comment. I want to hear your voice. Please let me know your opinions, what you want to see on the site, and anything else you can think of!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Heat fended off by Celtics

Alright so, there are a lot of things to take away from this game. First of all, rebounding was non existent tonight. The Heat have to crash the boards hard if they want to win against powerhouse organizations. Personally, I would like to see Haslem in the starting 5. I think he is one of the most consistent players on the team, and fights extremely hard for rebounds. He deserves a shot in the starting line up.

Wade was off. He tried numerous times to get himself going and it just did not happen. I am glad he had the sense to give the ball up to LeBron and Bosh. Sometimes, it is better to know your not feeling it then to keep trucking it to the whole or pulling up.

Ray Allen had a career night. For three quarters this guy shot lights out, and it didn't matter who was guarding him. When Ray is hot like that he is unstoppable.

The defense fell apart to times. We saw a lot of choppy defense and the ball was getting into the paint way too easily. For Miami, I believe defensive synchronization will be more important than offensive. These guys have to trust each other.

I liked the way LeBron played late int he game. He knew he was hot and did his best to score while facilitating Bosh and Haslem. James Jones was not his normal lights out self, and LeBron had a little trouble with his range tonight. Having said that, the Miami Heat still made it a game. That is one positive we can take away.

This early into the season is no time to panic. Yes, this was a big game. Yes, it was extremely hyped up. However, it is not the end of the world that they lost. Miami has a days rest and then they play Toronto, which should not be that tough of a game. Miami needs to take some time and really focus on gelling so that they can be the best team possible.

I would like to see the Heat try a couple different looks in the rotation. I think big Z and Haslem are your most consist players off the bench, and perhaps they can set the tone for consistency in south beach. When I watched tonight's game, I really didn't feel like members of the Heat were confident in each other, and we didn't see much happening in the half court offense. What I did see was Pat Reilly taking some serious notes, so I assume he will have something to say. Reilly has handled big names before, and I am sure he will keep the Heat in check.

We all have to remember that this is a process. This is not NBA 2K or Madden where you can have a fantasy draft and all the players play amazing basketball together. LeBron, Wade, and Bosh need to understand their game, each others game, and the game of the rest of this team for the Heat to truly be successful. Dwayne Wade said himself that he does not expect them to be going full force until January of February, and Mike Miller will be a great addition. All and all, I saw a lot of things I didn't like, but a lot of things  I did. The Heat have all the potential in the world to be an amazing team this year, you just have to give them time. I believe in the next two weeks that the Miami Heat will collect themselves and become a consist offensive and defensive organization. Once they establish and identity on both sides of the court, they will be a tough squad to beat.

It is not over between Miami and Boston, not by a long shot.

Miami looks to send a message to Boston : We're not scared of you

Round two of the battle between east coast heavyweights 
As you can tell by my previous posts, this is a very big game. There are many rivalries in this game, and these teams do not like each other by any means. This game is going to be intense, and deserves the national spotlight that it is receiving tonight on TNT. Lets break this game down to see what the Heat have to do in order to pull away with the big win tonight

Contain Rondo- This guy can not be allowed to get into the lane. He needs to be given different looks at all times and not aloud to create off the dribble and in transition. If he gets going, the Heat are going to have a lot of problems.

Hit the boards, HARD- No rebound can go uncontested. Every single shot that goes up Miami needs mean crashing the boards and grabbing that basketball. The Heat can not allow Davis, Garnett, and Shaq to dominate the boards.

Watch Allen on the fast break- Ray Allen has the quickest release in the game and likes to fan out to the 3 point line in transition. Make sure their are eyes on him at all times.

Stay calm- This is a huge game, but everyone has to be calm, cool, and collected. If their is any sign of panic the Celtics will strike. The Heat have to make sure Boston knows they are not holding anything back this game.

Keep the fans in the game- I have mentioned this many times before, but the Miami crowd can get wild. Keep them on their feet.

Here is what I would like form Miami's big 3 this game...

Bosh has been playing well. I want to see him take the open shot, and hit the boards hard. Also, taking the ball to the cup and getting one of the bigs in foul trouble would be a huge boost. I want to see 18 points from this guy tonight.

Wade needs to be the pure scorer we know he can be. We saw in against Utah that Wade gets hot quick. I want to see him start to get going early, and never stop. He needs to be a relentless attacker and let the Celts know their defense cannot rest for one second. Lets see Wade get some points tonight.

Last, but not least, LeBron. I have been hyping him up in previous posts, and for good reason. He does not like Boston, and wants to rip their heart out and step on it. I look for LeBron to be the Jack-of-all-trades this game. I want to see him hit the lane, play solid defense, shoot lights out, and find the open man. For any other player this is probably a lot to ask, but we have seen this before from LeBron so many times. I need him to set the pace of the game and speed the ball up when its appropriate. Finally, I want to see him crash the boards and scoop up and rebounds the bigs cant get to. I have a very good feeling about King James in this game.

Overall, this game will be intense. Theres going to be trash talk, hard fouls, big dunks, everything you can imagine in a great game. I think its going to be close, but I have think Miami is going to get it done tonight. Look for a solid game from Bosh, high scoring for Wade, and a great overall game from LeBron.

Hey Celtics, remember this guy?
Lets shut KG and the Celtics up.
Get em.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Why LeBron will be key in beating the Celtics

Tomorrow Boston is going to go all out. You know this is a team with that doesn't hold back anything. From their on court dominance in many games, to Paul Pierces self proclaimed title of best in the NBA, to Garnett's mouth., these guys are always going to be straightforward with you. In this case, they are extremely confident going into tomorrow nights game. Why shouldn't they be? They beat Miami pretty bad in the first game of the year. However, the Celtics do not have LeBron James.

LeBron will be key in this game. Lets look at why he is going to do everything he can to beat the Celtics.

LeBron does not like the Celtics. I am sure he respects them, but he definitely is not a fan. They have bumped heads many times, often in the playoffs, and the Celtics have kicked LeBron out of the playoffs more than once. You can tell from his on court demeanor, the strength of his drives, and the poise of his defense that he does not want to lose to this team. I expect all those emotions to be a serious part of how he plays.

LeBron brings defense to the table. Whatever guy you put him on, he is going to take him out of the game. There have been very few times that I can remember where someone who was guarded by LeBron has had a huge game. I expect to see LeBron shutting down at least one member of the big 3.

LeBron will be going hard to the rim to try and get the Celts in foul trouble. 
LeBron will attack the rim. You know that ones the James train gets rolling it is extremely hard to stop. LeBron will use his power and speed to get to whole and try to make the Celtics foul him. He seems to be much more confident at the line this year, and I would not be surprised if a lot of his points came from free throws.

LeBron will pick up the slack. If the Heat are not rebounding, he will rebound. If the Heat are having trouble moving the ball, he will find the open man. If the Heat are having trouble scoring, he will take the game into his own hands. James has the special ability to pick any part of the game and make it his own. If the Heat start out with some weak rebounding (and they might), look for him to be crashing the boards whenever he can. Miami is going to need all the help they can get down low.

LeBron has the IT factor. We have seen it before, there is no words to really describe some of the things LeBron can do when he gets in this zone. Maybe a +40 point triple double in the garden, or 28 straight points against the Pistons. How about that buzzer beater against Orlando. There is not a statistic for what LeBron can do for a team when he gets into that kind of groove. We have not seen it yet this season, but I feel as though it is coming very soon.

If LeBron gets mad, Boston is in trouble, period.

Get em.

Heat vs Celtics: Handling Rondo

Here we go again. The Heat lose a game they could have won and everyone is ready to doubt them. I have heard reporters all talk and write about how the Heat have a serious problem that needs to be addressed and how this will put their whole season in jeopardy. Enough. If any other team in the league lost a game like that we would be talking about how great Utah played. However, since we are talking about the Heat, it must therefore be the end of the world as we know it. I don't buy that for one second. These guys have played EIGHT games together. Mistakes will be made, and the Heat have the leadership and coaching they need to learn from them.

Having said that, there is an issue that needs to be addressed. You all know what I am talking about. The three losses the Heat suffered had one thing in common; great point guards having big games. Deron Williams and Chris Paul are amazing point guards, and Rajon Rondo fits into the Celtics line up better than any point guard ever has. The goal for tomorrow remains the same as the goal for last night; keep Rondo locked up.

Rondo, however, has one major weakness. He cannot shoot. Period. This guy has a weak jump shot and although he has worked on it, it is still not at the level it needs to be to do some significant damage.

Having said that, the Heat can give him room, but not too much. Miami will have to worry about Rondo's eyes just as much as his feet. You need to give him tough looks in the passing lanes, and make those lanes stay closed. Once he gets into the lane with players like KG and Davis slashing to the whole there will not be much Miami can do.

Rondo is a tough guard for any player, and he is having a career season in the assist department. Boston has had years to understand each other completely, and this will be a tough game for Miami. In order to win the Heat need to cut off the head of the snake, and that head is Rondo. If he cannot get into a rhythm the Heats odds of winning quadruple. Miami needs to throw Arroyo at him, and then maybe give LeBron and Wade some looks at him. Give him traps, double teams, and everything you can to get him out of sync and keep him there. With Rondo on his heels, the big 3 in Boston have no one to feed them, and the whole offense goes out of whack.

Tomorrow's game is a big one for many reasons. To start, we know that the Celtics are not big Wade/James fans, and I am pretty sure that feeling is mutual. There have been some heated games in the past between the Celtics and Heat as well as the Celtics and Cavaliers. I will make a particular exception to my "its just the beginning of the season" rule for this game. This one is big. The Heat have to show Boston that their first meeting was a fluke.

Due to how big this game is I will be putting up a few more posts specifically focused on this match up leading up to tomorrow night. The battle of the Big 3's cannot possibly fit in one post.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Miami 114 Jazz 116 : Breaking Down the Game

Okay, this is a tough loss to take. To be completely honest I was considering waiting a while to post this, just because I was so shocked. However, I want to talk about it while the ideas are still fresh in my head.

To start off, let me just tip my hat to Millsap. He played an amazing game with 46 points. He played clutch basketball and gave Utah the throttle they needed to win this game.

Deron Williams added 21 points and 14 assists. As I had stated in my pre game break down, this guy needs to be locked up in order for Miami to get a victory. By the time he had fouled out Utah had already gotten all the momentum they needed for this win.

The Jazz had some of the most impressive late game shooting I have ever seen to bring that game into over time. Credit must be given where credit is due.

Now that I have given my respect to the other team, lets go with the good and the bad for the Heat.

Bad

I would had liked to see Miami shoot a little better in the closing minutes of regulation. Arroyo has got to hit those free throws late game. Free throws are extremely important, and proved to be one of the differences in the game.

Rebounding late in the game was not the best it could be. That ball is precious, and late in the game you have to be willing to throw your body in harms way in order to grab it. Furthermore, once you grab it you secure it like its glued to your hands. I would had liked to see a little more intensity on the boards.

I am usually not one to blame the refs, but that last second call really bothers me. In a game like that, with that much time left, no foul should be called unless a player is bleeding out of their eyeballs. That last point should be something that is worked for, not handed over on a silver platter. Utah did play a fantastic game, but I just do not agree with that call.

Good

Honestly, other than rebounding and free throws, I didn't see that much wrong with tonight's game. Lets take a look at all the good we can take away from this loss.

LeBron and Wade can have amazing games simultaneously. I predicted LeBron would do something big tonight, and he did not disappoint. King James put up 20 points in a triple double to compliment Wades 39 point performance. I loved Lebron's court vision tonight. He found players and hit them in perfect stride to give them the easiest shots possible. His first triple double as a member of the Heat was very impressive.

Wade shot lights out tonight. He scored from every possible angle and hit a few BIG shots late game. I like how Wade took over late in the game. Although LeBron was having a good second half as well, it was understood that Wade was the hot hand. As a result, that is where the ball went. I am extremely happy that these two are confident enough in each other to allow whoever the hot hand is to take over the ball game. This is a huge plus to take away from tonight's game.

I liked Bosh's points. I had told you guys he would get around 16, and he got 17. He did a good job scoring and had a big block late in the game. He is continually getting more comfortable in the offense, and has shown dramatic improvement over the past few games.

Finally, I think to spite what many of you think, the Heat did a very good job stopping the bleeding. Whenever Utah would go on a run, some one would step up and make a great play. This went on over the course of the whole game. Even when Utah game back from a 22 point deficit, Miami responded and brought the whole crowd back to life.

Overall, this loss was so hard to watch because both teams played such great basketball. LeBron and Wade both had career nights, and Bosh went out there and did his thing. From this game, Miami can work on the mistakes, while at the same time learning a lot about team chemistry and how much damage they can do when both James and Wade are hot. The first bunch of games this season is going to be about learning, and the Heat can take a lot of positives away from tonight along with the negatives.

Now, here is the big question. Can the Miami Heat take a punch? Boston is rolling in on Thursday, and they have their heart set on doing some damage down in South Beach. The Heat are going to have to rally together and work as a team to show the Celtics they are not to be messed with. I think the Heat are going to use tonight's game to put together a strong performance on Thursday.

If your a Celtics fan, the only thing your more scared of than a Heat team that wins by 20, is a Heat team that is very, very mad.





Miami has a lot of aggression to take out on Boston this Thursday. Get excited.




The Battle of the back court : Heat vs Jazz

Tonight the Jazz head down to South Beach to take on Miami. The Heat have won 9 straight home games against the Jazz, and this was before Boozer left Utah and James and Bosh joined the South Beach party. Sounds like a blow out to me.



However, lets not get ahead of ourselves. The Heat have to do a few very important things in order to win this game. Here are some of my keys to success...

Lock up Williams- Both of the Heat losses this season were at the hands of two of the leagues better guards (Rondo and CP3). Deron Williams could do just as much damage. He has to be contained in order for the Heat to pull away with this win. He is a quick guard, with a jump shot, that can get into the lane at will to find open team mates. LeBron and Wade are going to have their hands full with this guy, and it is imperative that he is locked up.

Crash the Boards- I will most likely stress this in every game, but that just goes to show how important I think it is. No second chance scoring opportunities for Utah. There have to be bodies on that glass every time scooping up rebounds so that James and Wade can do their thing on fast breaks. We have seen the energy in Miami, and if James and Wade can get everyone on their feet with some high flying dunks, you will not be able to hear yourself think in South Beach.

Get it started Early- We know that at tip off the fans are going to be out of control. The goal is to keep them that way. Miami has to start out hot and keep the fans on their feet by getting the crowd involved as much as possible. The crowd noise will be more than enough to throw the Jazz out of sync. If Miami gets going early, it is going to be a very long game for Jazz fans.


I am really excited to watch this game tonight. I don't know what it is about great players, but they love devastating the Jazz. I think LeBron and Dwayne will do work tonight, with a strong emphasis on LeBron. Look for him to be flying up and down the court making something happen, as well as finding team mates early and often. I predict around 25 points and at least 8 assists from him, while Wade adds on another 20-25.

I have a few players to watch this game. My first of which is Chris Bosh. He has slowly been working himself into the offense, and he plays much better at home. If he continues working as hard as he has been, he will definitely make a dent in the scoring column. I expect to see around 16 points from him.

I think James Jones and Z will show me something tonight as well. Z has been playing solid basketball, and Jones continues to shoot well. We all know that LeBron likes to get them both involves, and has a very good dynamic with Z. If the 12 to 18 footer is dropping for the big guy, expect him to hit double digits in scoring and grab a few boards.

James Jones has the potential to end this game quickly. Big 3 pointers early and often will demoralize the Jazz, diminishing their hopes before they can ever really get going. The threat of the 3 pointer open up lanes for LeBron and Wade, and if Jones is hitting, those lanes will only get wider.


Last, but certainly not least, the Heat need to remain focused. Boston is heading into town on Thursday, and it is important that James and friends take it one game at a time. This is a veteran team with a lot of leadership, so I do not expect any distractions. If the Heat remain focused (and I fully expect them to), they can use this game get into a groove in preparation for the Celtics.

I predict the Heat will win this game by 16 points, and send a message to Boston that they have come a LONG way in 2 weeks.

Get em' LeBron.


Heat Vs Jazz Tonight at 7:30

Tonight the Miami Heat will be taking on the Utah Jazz. I have a lot to say about this game. In fact, it's so much that it would be impossible for me to type it all out this early in the morning. Instead, I will have a much deeper pre-game analysis mid day. In the mean time, why don't we check out some of LeBron's prior work against the Jazz.




51 points, and he made it look easy.

I predict something big from him tomorrow...

Monday, November 8, 2010

LeBron James Chase Down block: Better check your rear view

We have all seen him do it many times before. You see the other team grab a steal, or maybe try to push the ball up the court off of a rebound. They player with the ball jogs lightly down the court and gently lays up the ball thinking they have just added another two points to the scoreboard. Then, it happens. LeBron James comes from out of nowhere and sends that shot in the 15th row, or worse, off the glass hard enough to give his team a fast break opportunity. I am talking about the LeBron James chase down block.



This move is the equivalent of the Lawrence Taylor tomahawk tackle he patented in his run with the New York Giants. A devastating move that stripped the quarterback of the ball and their dignity. LeBron's use of the chase down has strikes fear into the hearts of any opponent looking for an easy layup, and has literally changed the way other teams will attack the basket.

What makes Lebron's move so great is how incorporates all of his athletic ability into one play. His speed is unmatched, and he is confident enough in his speed that he can allow other players to get a head start to the cup, while slowly trailing behind them and waiting for his time to strike. He picks up a full head of steam in less than a second, and uses that jolt to propel him to the basket SO QUICKLY that other players on the court do not have enough time to warn the shooter. Furthermore, we all know that when LeBron does decide to leave his feat for the block, he gets his head well over the rim. I would hate to be looking up at the basket and see him looming over me, most because I know that my shot will be headed the opposite direction.

His size is a tremendous factor as well. LeBron is freakishly tall and has very long arms and huge hands. He uses his arms to reach over the body of the shooter, while at the same time avoiding any contact. His long legs also give him the ability to take longer strides, giving him the ability to catch up to the ball handler in only a second or two.

Finally, LeBron's strength makes for the emphatic nature of the block. You know once he starts the chase down that someone in the upper tier is going to get a souvenir, or that the ball is going to launch off the backboard about 25 feet. LeBron's defense takes the air out of the gym in away games, and sets the place on fire at home. It is the ultimate momentum shift.

Here are some of my favorite LeBron chase down moments. This video includes him and some of his former Cleveland team mates discussing how the chase down changes the whole momentum of the play, and furthermore, the game.

Warning, viewer discretion advised (some of these blocks are too violent to be shown to children under the age of 13, or to any Jason Richardson fans).

Since LeBron has entered the league, every team has fallen victim to the chase down. His defensive mindset in Miami has proven very effective, and I expect MANY more of these blocks this season. Next time someone is going to the rack while LeBron is on the court, they should probably check the rear view mirror, because objects ARE closer than they appear.

Get em.





Sunday, November 7, 2010

James and Bosh are working on chemistry

I read an article today from the Miami Herald discussing the relationship between Bosh and James. The article states that both during and after the Nets game, Bosh took time to talk to LeBron and express the fact that he feels a little lost at times during games. Bosh tells the media that the process of playing together is not going as smoothly as originally planned, and he just wanted to try and get more comfortable with the offense.


Do not be alarmed! The Miami heat are only beginning to play with each other for the most part and it is commonplace that in the beginning of the season, some players will have to work a little harder to find their comfort zone. This is great for the team. In order for this organization to function at full capacity, a few big time players are going to have to swallow their pride and ask for help once and a while. It was pretty obvious at times that Bosh was lost out their on the court, and was not seeming to sync up with Wade or James. I am glad he addressed the problem and is working toward improvement.

Bosh's communication with James was a great example of team work. I don't know many players in the league that have been as hyped up as Bosh, Wade, and James. For Bosh to come out and openly admit he is getting stuck at times, well, thats a big step.

I, however, think Bosh is doing a great job as of late. He is finding his niche within the Miami offense, and making himself known on defense. A lot of people are going to be skeptical over Bosh this season, as they will also be with James and Wade. It takes a big man to do what Bosh did, and hopefully him and James can learn from this experience and begin to play off each other more efficiently.

Overall, I think that Bosh is at his best when he just plays the game. When you spend all this time thinking about what you have to do, your going to spend more time thinking than actually playing. I know there is a lot of pressure from Miami, the media, and the rest of the league, but Bosh needs to just relax and play HIS game. These three men are good enough that they can all bring their own individual style to the table, and still be able to gel. Sure, they will all score less. However, the team will score much more as whole.



I think its scary to think that the Heat can blow out teams like Orlando when they are only at about 75 percent in terms of cohesion. If they can get themselves going at full throttle by late January, their will be no answer in the NBA to the question, "Who can beat the Heat?".

Why the Heat made it look easy : Rebounding and pushing the ball to the rack

There is one statistic in this game that stood out to me more than anything else. It was not the scoring, which the Heat did often. It was not the lock down defense we saw, and it was not the amount of dunks LeBron, Wade, and Bosh had (even though that was very fun to watch). It was rebounding. The Heat out rebounded the Nets last night, grabbing 44 boards (including 6 offensive) to the Nets 41.


You may look at that statistic and say that it is really not that big of a difference. However, against the Hornets, the Heat gave up more rebounds than they grabbed, and they lost the game. Rebounding is something that Miami is going to work on, and I think tonight they did a great job. I like the rebounding the most because it consisted of a team effort. We did not see one player in particular dominate the boards, but rather a whole mess of people crashing the basket every time.

Furthermore, Miami decided to run the ball via tip outs and strong boards by James and Wade. We all know that this is fun to watch, but it also creates a fast paced offense that the Nets have a very hard time slowing down. I liked the way they were fast breaking as much as the Nets allowed them to. They were not forcing anything, but at the same time, they took advantage of everything that the Nets gave them.

Many people wonder why Miami does not run the ball like that all the time. I actually am one of those who like the fact that they don't. Something that separates Miami from the rest of the league is their potential for versatility. The Heat need to know how to slow the ball down and run a solid half court offense and speed up and push the pace to points where other teams can't keep up. Team's like Boston are not going to want to run with them, and will do everything they can to grind out the game. By the same rule, teams like OKC and Golden State are trying to run teams out of the gym. The Heat have to get into the pattern of being able to change pace at will. We all know Miami can push the ball with James and Wade effortlessly against MOST teams. However, this is not what is going to win Miami a championship this year. What is going to get the Heat the title is the ability to do both, and I really like the way coach Spoelstra has handled this team and made them aware of the fact that one offensive style is only scratching the surface of their potential. Overall, a great win in Miami.

The Heat have a few days to rest before their next game on Tuesday. Look for this opportunity for them to correct the mistakes they made in New Orleans, as well as iron out some details from New Jersey. I expect the Heat to come out firing this Tuesday, so lets all get excited.