Miami Heat lose 3rd in a row/ Update: Karma Strikes Again 4th loss in a row

[pearljammer10]

Im only scared of Wade. He showed against us last year and against the Mavs when they won the finals that he is literally capable of taking an entire team on his shoulders. He scares me, the team doesnt.

[Who]

If Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller were fully healthy, I would expect Miami to win at 55-60 win pace without LeBron James.

Without those two guys contributing, they are more like a 45 win team.

Edit: I read, here on Celticsblog, that Mike Miller isn't fully fit yet.

[Who]

Spoelstra has made a stupid decision starting James Jones at small forward in LeBron's absence.

Jones is an atrocious rebounder and leaves Miami very vulnerable on the backboards ... costing Miami valuable possessions.

He is also a finesse defender who cannot matchup against a power three like Carmelo Anthony or Luol Deng.

[rondohondo]

"I love how everyone was saying they were the best team because they won 21 of 22 . They then lose to the Clippers and Lebron is out for 2 games they lose them both."

How are these two sentences related? Of the people who consider them the best team, did any of them think that the Heat could win games without Lebron?

The Heat's performance without Lebron shows us nothing. Everyone already knew they were too thin to win without Lebron. These games give us no reason to feel confident that they aren't a great team when healthy. Since Lebron's injury isn't serious, they will be healthy shortly.

These kinds of reactions feel a bit desperate to me. Why not accept that the Heat are a really good team and will be a challenge to face in the playoffs unless they are missing a key player?

Obviously the Heat are a very good team and I realize that any team without Lebron will struggle some . The point of the thread wasn't to say Miami isn't any good, it was just to show their lack of depth . If Lebron or Wade get into foul trouble ( long shot , I know) or sprain a ankle again in the playoffs they are going to have a hard time against good teams .

Plus I was more excited that they lost 3 in a row because that gives the C's an advantage going for the # 1 seed

On a side note ,their schedule during that 21 of 22 wins streak is just plain awful . They beat a Lakers team that was playing really bad going  into xmas day , but the rest of the competition on that list is mediocre at best . Their other "big wins" during that streak was aginst NYK 2x and ,Utah and the Hawks .

[CelticG1]

I just can't be scared of a team that can't beat us. Until they beat us it really doesn't matter to me. I don't care how they do against the rest of the league all that matters is if they can beat us and I don't think they can.

I honestly don't really see how this team is any better than the Cavs of the past two seasons, besides the names "Bosh" and "Wade". They must have pretty close to just as good a defense and just as good an offense as well as point differential. Only difference is that now the scoring load is entirely formed by only 3 guys

[GreenEnvy]

If Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller were fully healthy, I would expect Miami to win at 55-60 win pace without LeBron James.

Without those two guys contributing, they are more like a 45 win team.

Edit: I read, here on Celticsblog, that Mike Miller isn't fully fit yet.

Eh, I don't know how much more Bosh and Miller add to this team over last years 47 wins, considering they had JO, Beasley, and Q-Rich all play pretty well for them last season.

JO added interior defense and toughness, Beasley was a good scorer who could create his own shot, and Q-Rich brought everything Miller can.

[Surferdad]

I just can't be scared of a team that can't beat us. Until they beat us it really doesn't matter to me. I don't care how they do against the rest of the league all that matters is if they can beat us and I don't think they can.

I honestly don't really see how this team is any better than the Cavs of the past two seasons, besides the names "Bosh" and "Wade". They must have pretty close to just as good a defense and just as good an offense as well as point differential. Only difference is that now the scoring load is entirely formed by only 3 guys

Interesting comparison.  Wade is far better than Mo Wiliams and Bosh is far better than Anderson Varejao.

[Redz]

Does somebody miss their Bronnie Poo?

[Moranis]

What I love is that people act like the Cavs from the last two seasons don't even compare to the Heat this year. Besides the names "Wade" and "Bosh" can someone please tell me the difference?

You mean you want to eliminate a top 5 or 6 player and a top 15ish player and then compare the rosters.  yeah that seems like a very good comparison.

[nba is the worst]

The cavs had a better record the last 2 seasons after the 42 games, (just saying)...

 

[GreenEnvy]

I just can't be scared of a team that can't beat us. Until they beat us it really doesn't matter to me. I don't care how they do against the rest of the league all that matters is if they can beat us and I don't think they can.

I honestly don't really see how this team is any better than the Cavs of the past two seasons, besides the names "Bosh" and "Wade". They must have pretty close to just as good a defense and just as good an offense as well as point differential. Only difference is that now the scoring load is entirely formed by only 3 guys

Interesting comparison.  Wade is far better than Mo Wiliams and Bosh is far better than Anderson Varejao.

Miami's 2 and 3 are better, but 4-15 Cleveland was better.

[CelticG1]

I just can't be scared of a team that can't beat us. Until they beat us it really doesn't matter to me. I don't care how they do against the rest of the league all that matters is if they can beat us and I don't think they can.

I honestly don't really see how this team is any better than the Cavs of the past two seasons, besides the names "Bosh" and "Wade". They must have pretty close to just as good a defense and just as good an offense as well as point differential. Only difference is that now the scoring load is entirely formed by only 3 guys

Interesting comparison.  Wade is far better than Mo Wiliams and Bosh is far better than Anderson Varejao.

Yeah better individuals but are they really a better team? Cavs will have had a better record than the heat and like a pointed out the Defense and point differential is pretty on par with this heat team. 2 Seasons ago the Cavs only lost 2 games at home, now that is a scary team

[FLCeltsFan]

Chris Bosh went out in the 4th quarter with a sprained ankle. He sprained it when he was going for a loose ball and Asik dove for the ball at the same time.   His quotes after the game were as funny as they were sad.

"C'mon, that is how guys get hurt, that is how serious injuries happen," Bosh said.

"You've got to watch people's legs. I know guys want to hustle and everything but we all want to play and provide for our families and have a job."

"We all want to be healthy and that is very important," said Bosh, who had 11 of his 17 points in the third quarter before the injury. "If it is by somebody's leg, don't dive for the ball, it's too close."

By his reasoning, players shouldn't take a charge because it could hurt.  Players shouldn't jump for rebounds because there are too many guys around and you could come down on someone's ankle.   He's like the anti-KG.  

Quotes from this article http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/news/story?id=6024810

[CelticG1]

What I love is that people act like the Cavs from the last two seasons don't even compare to the Heat this year. Besides the names "Wade" and "Bosh" can someone please tell me the difference?

You mean you want to eliminate a top 5 or 6 player and a top 15ish player and then compare the rosters.  yeah that seems like a very good comparison.

No what I'm saying is that people think "oh now that Lebron has Wade and Bosh instead of those scrubs from Cleveland, they have to be better".... But when you actually look at the facts i.e. Team record, defense, point differential, beating good teams, home record, away record, they aren't much different. In fact those Cavs teams were probably more successful to this point.

Who knows what will happen in the playoffs but for now all we can do is compare regular season.

[nba is the worst]

What I love is that people act like the Cavs from the last two seasons don't even compare to the Heat this year. Besides the names "Wade" and "Bosh" can someone please tell me the difference?

You mean you want to eliminate a top 5 or 6 player and a top 15ish player and then compare the rosters.  yeah that seems like a very good comparison.

No what I'm saying is that people think "oh now that Lebron has Wade and Bosh instead of those scrubs from Cleveland, they have to be better".... But when you actually look at the facts i.e. Team record, defense, point differential, beating good teams, home record, away record, they aren't much different. In fact those Cavs teams were probably more successful to this point.

Who knows what will happen in the playoffs but for now all we can do is compare regular season.

TP.

Just to put the numbers on the Cavs/Heatles statements:

Heatles 30-12
'10 cavs 31-11
'09 cavs 34-8