Miami At Dallas Tonight at 8:30

The Heat are on the road in Dallas tonight for what should be a very tough game. Miami has had a hard time against the better teams in the league thus far, and Dallas has had a hot start at 11-4. However, I am pretty sure Miami is still  pretty pissed at the comments Mark Cuban had made a few weeks ago (If you don't know what happened, read the article "Mark Cuban Calls Out Heat"). The Heat may have struggled from time to time, but these guys are not going to let an owner talk about them without doing anything about it.

I expect Wade to have a solid game tonight. He is now out of his slump and made some great plays in the closing minutes of last night's game. We know Wade also has a history with Dallas, so look for him to perform.

Bosh is going to be crucial in this game. He needs to crash the boards and hit some major buckets. He has been shooting well, so I expect him to get between 15 and 20 points. Also, if he could grab around 10 rebounds, it would put Miami in great position to win.

LeBron should go out there and take over this game if need be. He has been incredibly consistent, and got into the lane whenever he wanted to last night. I have some high expectations for him tonight, so he will get at least a double double. I expect him to score between 25 and 30 points, with at least 10 assists.

I want to see the bench get involved tonight. Although the Heat won last night, the bench really did not perform that well. Either Jones or House should get around 10 points tonight. Good perimeter shooting by these guys will spread the floor and make LeBron and Dwayne's job a whole lot easier.

If Kidd and Dirk get going, they will be very hard to stop. I want to see Miami's lock down defense tonight so that these two cannot build any momentum. If you take these two out of the game, the rest of the line up falls apart.

Overall, this is going to be a close one to call. Either team has the potential to run away with this game, and Dallas has the advantage of playing very good basketball so far this season. However, LeBron, Wade, and Bosh have the unique ability to take the game into their hands whenever they please. On top of that, LeBron and Wade are not too fond of Dallas, so you know they are going to play that angry basketball we love. The intensity from Miami tonight will be off the charts.

I expect Miami to go out there tonight, take care of Dallas, and show Mark Cuban that this is not the team he was making fun of a few weeks ago.

Get em.

Heat Are Ready For Mark Cuban and Dallas

Tonight, Miami heads to Dallas to take on the Mavericks. In an earlier post, I spoke about how Mark Cuban called out the Heat and said how much he loved that they were struggling. My advice to Mark Cuban is, you probably shouldn't had made LeBron angry.
I will be posting my pre game analysis a few hours before the game. In the mean time, lets all get ready for  a very exciting game in Dallas tonight.

Get em.

Wade Bounces Back As Heat Close Out Sixers 99-90

Now this is the kind of basketball I'm talking about. Miami had a great performance from the big 3, who combined for 71 points, and the Heat were able to close out Philadelphia in the final minutes of the game to get the win. I know it is just the Sixers, but this game was huge for Miami. Losing this game would have been a nightmare for the front office in South Beach, and I am glad that they were able to pull this one out.

I like how Wade led the charge here. With 23 points, he seemed like he was back to himself. He was clutch in the fourth quarter and did what he had to do to close out the Sixers. I really liked his play.

Bosh added close to a double double tonight with 18 points and 9 rebounds. I liked his aggression and how he was able to get himself into the lane early and often. He set the tone early, and was able to give Miami the foundation they needed to get the win.

LeBron went out and did his thing tonight, as usual. With 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, he filled the state sheet yet again and got others involved. He did his job to set the pace in the game and sped up the tempo at all the right times. Another good game for the King.

You have to love Miami's intensity tonight. They pressure was on and they performed. Everyone is calling for Coach Spo's head, and Miami gave him another chance by winning tonight. The Heat knew that losing this game lead to all kinds of problems, and it showed in their game play. Even when Philly made some runs, it was more than obvious that Miami was NOT going to let this game slip away.

I really like that Arroyo got involved tonight as well. He did his job with 17 points and helped get others involved. He is slowly, but surely, becoming the guard the Heat need him to be.

I would had liked to see more help from the bench, but tonight's play was definitely an improvement. The bench combined for 17 points, which was all they needed to get the win.

Overall, this was the type of game Miami needed to get on the right track. They have a big game against Dallas tomorrow, and this game was a good warm up. Lets hope Miami keeps up the intensity and closes out big D, and more importantly, shuts Mark Cuban up.

Get em.

Heat Look to End Losing Streak Against Sixers

The 3-12 Sixers head to Miami tonight. Miami has lost 3 straight and are in serious need of a team like Philly so they can get back on the right track. This should not be a tough win for the Heat, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. We all saw what the Pacers did to Miami, and that game was supposed to be a blowout.

Miami's entire focus for this game should be to do anything they have to in order to win. They shouldn't be working on sets or trying to run plays if they do not feel confident in them. Just play tough defense, good offense, get out and run if need be, and win the game.

LeBron has held his end of the bargain so far. Look for him to have another solid night (as he has), and score between 25 and 35 points with a handful of assists and rebounds.

Bosh has been improving, and should also score around 20. He may have some problems in the glass, so his rebounds might not be as good as they can be. Still, expect him to perform.

Wade creates in issue. He just has not been himself lately. Dwayne is not one to go into slumps, so look for him to break out of it tonight against a weaker Philly team. If he does not perform, there may be more wrong with him physically than we think.

I need the bench to come up big in this one. Guys have to come off the bench and give good, solid minutes. I would like to see Chalmers get some more time, and we need quality minutes from everyone else.

My X factors here are Jones and House. These guys have the potential to come of the bench and add about 15 points each, so that is what I want to see tonight. LeBron is going to give them the looks, but they have to knock down the shots.

So come on Miami, its a new day. Go out there and run your stuff the right way and get a solid win that can set us back on the right track.

Bosh is Happy Heat Are Being Challenged

In last night's post-game interview, Bosh stated that he is happy with the fact that they are not undefeated right now. He went on to say that if Miami were to have gone undefeated, they would think that it was going to be cake all the way to the championship (when in reality, it is not). 

I agree with Bosh's statement. He made a good point. If the Miami Heat were to go all the way to the playoffs uncontested, they would run into some serious problems. With the Heat struggling early, they can have their weaknesses exploited. Because they will be able to see their problems, they can work much harder to improve them and work towards a better Miami Heat team.

Many people took this statement the wrong way, but quite frankly, when does anyone on the Miami Heat get to say anything that ISN'T taken the wrong way. The media just keep digging and looking for flaws, and this has probably been the most over analyzed season for one team in the history of sports. Give these guys a break. This is not NBA 2K where you can create a fantasy team and put greats next to each other and have it work. This is reality, and it takes time and practice for guys to get on the same page. I personally am more than satisfied that they are over .500 at this point. 

This season is a learning experience. I still do believe that they will end this season with a championship, but why do they have to be so good so early? Lets give Miami time, let them develop, and see what happens. Lets not forgot that they don't need to be the first seed in the playoffs to win the title, they just have to make it there. We all know what the Heat are capable of, so lets let them keep on plugging. 

Be a true Heat fan, ignore the analysts. We know the Heat are going to win a title this year, so what they say doesn't matter.

Cleveland Police Department Prepares for LeBron's Return

I know there are a few games between now and next Thursday, and I will be addressing them. But next week, LeBron is returning to Cleveland for the first time. This will not be a pretty picture.

Fans are still extremely upset over LeBron's departure, and it is no surprise that the police will be taking extra precautions. Officers will be stationed around Miami's bench, at the door, and throughout the arena. All signs will be removed, and all crude T shirts will be replaced by a Cavaliers shirt designated by the Arena's management. This is a good start, but you may need a little more security than that for this game. We have seen how insensitive and vicious these fans have been when LeBron is NOT around, I can't imagine what they will be like when he is.

This game could potentially be the most hostile game in sports history. When Brett Favre returned to Green Bay, he got a mixed reaction. There will be NO mixed reaction for LeBron. Anyone who tries to say they still love him will probably be mauled by an angry mob of Cavalier fans.

I don't think anyone realizes how bad this game is going to be. I know the Q is doing their job to protect LeBron, but they are going to need a lot more officers there to ensure he is safe. There is a still a whole week left before this game, and the Heat have quite a few games in between. All I am saying is to check your rear view window, because it is going to sneak up on us faster than we know it.

Heat Extend Losing Streak to 3 Games in Orlando Loss

It happened again. The Heat have dropped 3 straight, and people are beginning to worry. Lets take a look at what happened this game.

The Heat were out rebounded. I say this every time because it is a necessity. The Heat need rebounds to win games, and they are not getting them. In every loss they have had this season they have been out rebounded, and this pattern will only continue.

The Heat got no help from the bench. The bench did not score, again. Someone on that bench has to take charge and start putting up points. Jones and House participate from time to time, but they need more help than  that. The bench needs to produce some sort of bench play if they want to win games.

Jameer Nelson did what he wanted. The Heat could not contain him, and he was allowed to get everyone else involved early. It was apparent that Arroyo could not handle him. Late in the game he did whatever he wanted.

The big 3, however, played pretty solid basketball(besides Wade, who is continuing to struggle). They are not the problem. The problem is that Miami has no one else that will take charge after the Heat. No one wants to step up and take charge, and everyone waits around to see what Miami is going to do. This type of bench play is unacceptable.

Miami misses Haslem. He was the Heart and soul of the defense, and his absence is a gaping hole in the Heat bench. Without Haslem, the energy and consistency goes down 3 notches.

To spite all this, Miami still has a winning record. It is still a young season, and there is still plenty of room to be the best in the league. However, there are some issues that the Heat need to work out. Rebounding, team work, and intensity are not consistent. If Miami wants to be the best in the league, they need to work out some of the fundamentals and go back to square one.

After all this, Miami can still turn it on at will. I have said it before and I will say it again. There is NO ceiling on Miami Heat basketball this season.

James is a born leader, and sooner or later, he will lead this team to the promised land. Keep your heads up Heat fans, there is a lot of basketball left.

Magic Vs. Heat: Round Two

So Miami and Orlando tip off for the second time this season. Miami played great ball against Orlando the first time around, but have suffered some tough losses since. Miami suffered the worst loss of the season in their last game against the Pacers, so they should be trying to redeem themselves.

On paper, this game looks to be all Orlando. They have the best center in the game, they shoot the ball well, and they have a solid record. On top of this, they play some great basketball at home. This is going to be a tough battle for Miami, but I wouldn't count them out just yet.

The Heat are always in any ball game for 3 reasons: LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. Any of these guys can have a huge game at any time, and LeBron tends to take charge of the squad in the second half. The Heat have the potential to pull this one out, if they can prove to be a resilient team. The Pacer's definitely put the Heat in a bad mood, and they should come into this game with some serious intensity.

The Heat NEED to rebound tonight. Dwight Howard is a big guy, and you know he is going to be crashing the boards. The Heat have to shut him down ad grab as many rebounds as possible and try to turn them into fast break opportunities. This is a huge game for Miami, and a loss here would lead to a media frenzy (as most losses do).

Look for LeBron to lead the charge in this game. He knows how important it is to beat Orlando. He has bumped heads with them quite a few times, and understands the offence very well. Look for him and Dwayne to try and get Howard in foul trouble and reduce his minutes. If Miami can keep Howard in check, their odds of winning this game significantly increase.

This game has too many factors for me to predict points or a winner. I would like to see LeBron fill the stat sheet, because that means other players are getting involved. Bosh and Wade need to score and grab boards. Hopefully, in the process of driving the lane and crashing the boards, they can get some Orlando guys in foul trouble.

The Heat need to come out strong and grab this win. They killed Orlando before, and it would be great if they could shut them out again.

Lets see LeBron go out and have some fun at the expense of Orlando tonight.
Get em.

Heat Prepare to Battle Magic Tonight / Phil Jackson Comments on Miami Coaching Situation

The Heat really ran away with the first game against Orlando this season (as we can see). However, since that point the Heat have suffered a few bad losses, some crucial injuries, and have waived Stackhouse to sign Erick Dampier. The question is, can the Heat still play at a high intensity against the Magic?

It is true that the Heat have a fresh look with Dampier, but they still need to gel and get some sort of rhythm going in games. They have been having a hard time developing any sort of rhythm with the injuries suffered.

I will go into great detail about this Florida showdown a few hours before the game. This game gets the national spotlight, which is something that Miami loves. For now, I will leave you with this: LeBron said the Heat were going to go out and "just play ball". I strongly believe that is exactly what they will do (and they will do it well).

Also , many of you guys may have seen that Phil Jackson commented on the situation in Miami. Jackson stated that he thinks if the Heat continue to not play at a satisfying level that there should be a coaching switch. He also implied that this switch should come sooner rather than later.

Phil is a basketball genius, and I like the guy. However, he does not know what goes on behind closed doors in Miami. Pat Riley is also one of the great coaches, and unlike most media personalities, Riley did not think the Heat were going to step on the court and automatically dominate. Pat Riley was a great coach and has been doing a great job with Miami. We should respect his opinion. If the time comes when Coach Spo needs to step down, that is for Riley to decide. In the meantime, lets cheer on Coach Spo and hope he succeeds. If he can lead Miami to the promised land it would be a great accomplishment for both him and Riley.

What Erick Dampier brings to the table

Dampier brings with him experience, a defensive mindset, and the ability to rebound. Stackhouse was definately a more versatile player, but was not putting up the numbers the Heat needed him to. Lets take a look at what Erick Dampier can do for this Miami Heat squad.

Experience- Dampier has battled with some great centers in his time, and was a very under rated center. I remember him having very good battles with the likes of Shaq, Chris Webber, and Tim Duncan. If Dampier has enough fuel left in the tank, he can one of the leaders on this team (besides the big 3, of course)

Defense- Dampier was never much of a scorer. As a matter of fact, I think he will take 20 rebounds over 40 points any day of the week. This guy will be a presence down low and force the opponents to change their shots and not directly attack the middle. I expect him to get a few blocks a game.

Rebounding- Finally, a solid, strong rebounder. Haslem is out, so Erick needs to be the aggressor. Look for him to fight for every single rebound. If he can clear the boards consistently, it gives James and Wade room to run out for the fast break. Dampier's defense and rebounding could bring some nice looks for other players on the other side of the court.

Dampier has the potential to be one of the puzzle pieces Miami has been looking for. Here is a video of some of his career highlights. Miami fans wanted a big change, and we got it. Lets get excited.

Dampier signed, Stackhouse Waived

It is now official. Jerry Stackhouse is out, and Erick Dampier is in. Dampier is a 14-year NBA veteran who has seen his share of basketball games. He provides a strong inside presence and could definitely be helpful on the boards. It is just a shame to see Stackhouse go. I really liked this guy and would had loved to see him get a championship ring. However, the NBA is a business, and the Miami Heat made a business decision. Dampier practiced with the team today, and seemed like he was in pretty solid shape (all things considered). I know he is up there in age, but Z has proven that older players can still be effective. I am curious to see what Erick can do on the court. Stackhouse had not been preforming thus far this season, and Dampier could be the change that the Heat need. As much as I love Stackhouse, I think it was the right decision to go for Dampier. We will see how this one plays out.

Haslem may miss season /Erick Dampier signed by Miami Heat!

Huge news in Miami. Free agent Erick Dampier has been signed to replace Haslem, who may miss the remainder of the season. I will post more information when I 100 percent sure of all the info, and I will be posting later with detail. It is, however, a fact that Dampier had his physical and practiced with Miami this afternoon!

LeBron thinks Heat need to have more fun

In the post game press conference last night, the media did everything they could to antagonize LeBron. They asked him and Dwayne Wade if they should be getting mad, or if they should feel the urge to take over for the rest of the season. This is the most scrutiny a team with a winning record has ever faced.

However, LeBron didn't bite. He simply told critics that the Heat "need to have more fun".

LeBron spoke about how they are not playing on the high level of intensity that they may have played earlier in the season because they simply were not having fun with the game. He went on to say that having fun with the game is what made him the professional athlete he is today.

This is a great point.

When you watch the Miami Heat play, it is clear to see that they are not enjoying the game at times. Recently, they have spent more time being miserable than playing the game itself. You can see in the offensive sets that they are quick to get frustrated and hang their heads. I see this type of attitude more much on the bench than I do in the starting lineup, but it exists everywhere. 

LeBron plays some of his best basketball when he is having fun with the game. You have to love the passion and energy he brings to the table, and you can tell he appreciates the fact that he was given this gift every day of his life. 

The Miami Heat need to all sit down together and regroup. They are obviously distressed over how the season has played out so far, and need some time to get together to focus on the team chemistry. I believe that the big 3 can bring this team together, and set them in the right direction. All they need to do is understand that they are not going to be amazing tomorrow. This season is a process, and they need to continue to improve gradually over time.

As Heat fans, the stretch of basketball we are going to see in the next week or so will be tough. The Heat are still missing Miller, and are not sure how to deal with the loss of Haslem. As Heat fans, we need to support the fact that the Heat are going to need a few games to get everyone playing together at the same level. With LeBron and Wade leading the charge, the Heat will bounce back in no time. 

The Heat have an incredible potential to be amazing, and we need to support them until they reach that peak. Lets not listen to the critics, or anyone trying to tear down LeBron, Bosh, Dwayne, or the Miami Heat organization. Critics are going to be critics, and we have to be fans. People try and put the Heat in disarray because they are scared of seeing them going at full force (and they have good reason to be).

I am sure that by the end of the season, LeBron and the Heat will have silenced all the negative voices in the media.

Get em. 

Heat lose to Pacers 93-77 / Miami is held to season low in scoring

Another tough loss in Miami tonight. The Heat did not score the way they could, and it cost them. Lets take a look at what went wrong tonight.

Wade was not himself. Dwayne was 1 for 13 from the field tonight and 0 from 4 from the 3 point line. On top of that, he shot 20 percent from the free throw line. He just did not look like the Dwayne Wade we are all used to. I thought he should had rested this game to begin with, and I think this game proved he was probably better off sitting this one out.

Miami got killed on the boards. I have stressed rebounds in every article I wrote, and now we see why. Miami could not buy a rebound tonight, and it showed. They were dominated on the boards, and those second chance opportunities really hurt them.

NO help from the bench. The bench had 4 points tonight. 4 points. I am pretty sure if I strapped up and played with LeBron and Wade and Bosh I could score more than 4 points. There was no intensity and everyone was counting on everyone else to score. No one took any initiative. The bench play was not something the Heat should be proud of.

LeBron and Bosh played well. LeBron put up 25 with some assists and rebounds, and Bosh added 21 points. There were, however, some turnovers that proved costly.

Watching this game, one thing stood out to me more than everything else. Everyone that played, other then the starting five, simply watched the big 3 play. I don't like how no one looked for their shot. I see these guys sitting around and waiting for the big 3 to do something. At some point, they have to realize that the have to make an effort and get points to. AT LEAST go out there and grab some boards. The one thing I did not like about when LeBron played in Cleveland was that he would go out there and do everything, and everyone just watched. It is worrying me that I saw this in Miami tonight, and it is defiantly something they need to work towards. Team work has proven to be Miami's biggest problem, and I hope to see some improvements soon.

Miami is up against a tough Orland squad Wednesday night. I would like to see them work out their kinks, and bring their intensity to the next level. They are going to need 5 men crashing the boards if they want to rebound with Dwight Howard.

Wade is back!

Dwayne Wade is in tonight, and the Heat are up by 3 at the end of the first. Lets hope Wade brings some serious intensity to this game!

Lets handle the Pacer's and make them look silly.

Heat Wave is Now Worldwide!

Yeah, that's right. LeBron's Heat wave has now been viewed in almost every country in the world. Thank you so much reading and being involved. I really do appreciate it. I now have a twitter account (@LebronsHeatWave) so feel free to follow on twitter. Also you will notice some new parts of the website along the left sidebar. I have added an area where all the twitter feeds will linked, and a list of posts that you guys have liked and read the most.

In addition, you can follow us on Facebook! Just search LeBron's Heat Wave and join the like page! All the posts will be added to both the Facebook and twitter page. Thank you guys for helping this website to grow and I am hoping we can only continue to get bigger.

Heat vs Pacers - LETS FAN UP

The Pacers will be in South Beach tonight to square off against the Heat. It is no secret that Miami has been riddled with injuries, and Indiana is always a fundamentally sound, defensive minded squad. T.J Ford is a talented guard, and does a great job of running that Indiana offense. Miami has a lot to overcome tonight, but they still have two of the best players in the game (maybe 3 if D Wade straps up).

Haslem is out, and Wade is a maybe. It is going to be a game time decision as to whether Dwayne will play or not. I think it would be better if he sat this one out. He needs to rest and heal up, and unlike last year, he has LeBron to run the offense in his absence. Let him get the rest he needs and give the Heat the opportunity to learn to play without him.

LeBron leads this team in scoring and assists so far this season. Look for him to get his numbers again. I expect a double double from him with  around 25-30 points and 10 assists. He needs to run this offense, but hif he sees that they are not playing well he is going to take over. LeBron has the ability to take the game into his own hands at will. However, do not expect  to see him do this until the second half. LeBron likes to get the offense involved first, and only take over as a last resort.

Bosh has been improving, and I expect that will continue. Look for him to get around 20 points and 10 rebounds tonight, and try to grab those offense boards as much as possible. I like the direction Bosh is headed.

I can't say enough about bench play this game. The Heat are going to need it, bad. Haslem is out and he was the heart of the defense and the bench. The Heat need everyone to step up and play a role this game. That includes Stack, Howard, and Chalmers as well. I need to see something special form these guys tonight. I know Stack, Howard, and Z want that ring just as bad as LeBron and Bosh. Tonight, they need to prove how bad they want it.

My prediction; Heat by less than 10, but this is a close game to call.

And another thing. I HATE how the media can't stop talking about how Miami does not have a fan base. This website can have multiple purposes. Just by leaving comments and letting me and everyone else who reads this know that you love the Miami  Heat, you are helping to build a strong South Beach presence. We have to fan up! Everyone has to get involved and prove that WE ARE HEAT FANS. So lets all collectively get together and use this venue to make our voices heard. We are THE Miami Heat!

Haslem's Injury Report

Udonis Haslem has torn a ligament in his left foot, and it's bad. He most likely will not be back for several weeks. Tomorrow, he will receive a further diagnosis from a medical specialist to get a more accurate opinion on how much time he will be missing. In the mean time, Pat Riley told the media that he does not think Udonis will miss the whole season.

This is a tough blow for Miami to suffer. Udonis brings a defensive intensity, and has always been consistent on offense. LeBron has been on the same page with Udonis as of late, and they had been syncing up well.

 Udonis was the go-to-guy after the big 3. Here is some of Udonis' earlier work.
The Heat are going to need someone to step up big time. Many great players have emerged in the face of adversity. I look for someone on the bench to have a big game. These guys are all after that championship ring, and they that there is going to have to be a great team effort in order to get through this season. I have the confidence that the vets will do their thing. So, Heats fans, lets see what these guys can do tomorrow night before we make any rash decisions.

Get em LeBron, and get em MIAMI HEAT!

When the big 3 become the big 2

Everyone has been wondering what happens when one leg of the big 3's tripod got kicked out from under them. Last night Wade was not able to play, and we found out. The Heat were not able to hold off Memphis, and Rudy Gay knocked down the buzzer-beater for the win.

Many are quick to point the blame at the fact that Wade was unable to participate. However, I see this whole situation from a different perspective.

I believe that it is just important to know how to play basketball when one of the big 3 is not there. Wade gets banged up from time to time, and Bosh and James are not unbreakable. At some point, 2 (or maybe even 1) member of the big 3 will have to step on the court for tip off alone. In this event, preparation is key.

So what does D Wade bring to the offense? He stretches the court, opens up lanes, and plays some lock down defense. Stack  took the court last night as a starter in place of Wade. Now I am not saying Stack is a bad player, but his best years are behind him; He is nowhere near the threat that Wade is, and cannot stretch the court in the way he does.

Miami had a lot of trouble finding good looks last night. James did his thing on drives and pull up jumpers while Bosh got his numbers, but the role players (other than House) seemed to struggle. When Wade is unable to play, the Heat have to develop a different style of play that adapts to the fact that the defense will be slightly more condensed. We saw James Jones have some trouble last night, and I believe a lot of that was due to the fact he was not playing his catch-and-shoot style he was used to. When the ball was kicked to him, the defender was still within proximity to make a play (which usually doesn't happen).

I know the Heat have a lot to work on, and I also know that this game just adds another item to the list. But the Heat need to be able to adapt and change playing styles in the absence of some of their players. Last night, LeBron hinted at the fact that Udonis Haslem may be riding the bench for a while with a foot injury. Haslem brings a lot of defensive intensity to the table, and he will be greatly missed. But again, this is another opportunity for the Heat to learn to adapt to different situations.

The Miami Heat cannot hang their heads now. It is better to suffer these injuries earlier in the season rather than later, and hopefully everyone is all healed up in time for the playoffs. The Heat have the Pacers coming up this Monday night. I am not saying that is an easy win by any stretch, but it is better that they are playing Indiana rather than LA,Orlando, or Boston. With a little luck, the Heat may have a little time to heal up. In the mean time, Miami has to focus on the positives, learn from their mistakes, and continue to work towards greatness.

Wade sits out, Haslem goes down, Heat lose heartbreaker

This game is a tough one to swallow for a few reasons. First of all, Dwayne Wade was not able to participate. Hopefully his wrist injury heals up soon and he can be back in the rotation. It is just unfortunate that he was not able to participate when the Heat were finally coming together. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Haslem went down with an injury. Great effort by the big guy to try and take that offensive foul, it is just a shame the way things worked out. Haslem had to be helped off the court and into the locker room. He is the best interior defender Miami has, and will be missed if he is not available to play.

Rebounding. It just was not there at the end of the night Rebounding has been a problem for Miami, and without Haslem and Wade the job only gets harder. This is something that can only be improved through practice and time.

Finally, that shot. Rudy Gay knocking down the fade away buzzer beater to give Memphis the win. I give him all the credit in the world for that shot. For the Miami Heat, that is a very tough way to lose.

Now that we have discussed everything that went wrong in this game, lets take a look at what went right. James and Bosh seemed to be on the same page, and they both had double-doubles. We saw LeBron find Bosh for a nice dunk, and these two guys have really made the effort to get in tune with each other on the court. Their effort shows, and they looked very good tonight.

House came to play. Eddie dropped 20 points in this game, and shot 66 percent from the 3 point line. You have to love the effort here. House is going to be one of those big time energy players this season. Everyone on the defense is going to take a rest because James or Wade is out, and then House is going to drop a few 3's. That has always been Eddie's style. He likes to sneak in under the radar and explode for points in long streaks. Hopefully, we will continue to see him shoot the ball like he did tonight.

The Heat continue to get positive minutes from Z in the starting line up. Today he grabbed 10 boards, which really helps. They are lacking rebounding, and that is what Z brings to the table.  Look for him to continue to start for his crash the boards mindset.

Although we can take some positives away from this game, that does not negate the fact that the Heat did lose in heartbreak fashion. Miami has to shake off this loss,and come back ready to take on the Pacers Monday night. Miami is playing at home, which should help. However, the Heat still have to come out with intensity, regardless of whether Haslem or Wade are playing. The Heat have been hit with an injury to Wade, an injury to Haslem, and a terrible loss. I am curious to see how they respond against Indiana. My prediction; you usually do not want to get the Miami Heat mad. They have shown a lot of resilience after losses (especially tough ones). Hopefully, this will continue against Indiana.

So lets not hang our heads Heat fans. There is still plenty of basketball left to be played this season.