Bosh out with an abdominal strain; Pacers chances increased??

[OsirusCeltics]

This is the problem with the Heat, and why I can't stand them

The Heat used to be my 2nd favorite team. But ever since Lebron came there, they defer way too much to him. Wade is the undeniable closer, that would dominate and cut your heart out. But for some reason the Heat gives the ball to Lebron in the final two minutes.
Lebron is hampering Wade's game, and its ruining the chemistry. I don't even want to root for the Heat, but if the roles were reversed and the coach made Wade batman and Lebron robin, they would be so much better off

[Moranis]

I mean seriously is Miami without Bosh really that much different than the Bulls teams of the 90's (in team construction, not necessarily talent, chemistry, etc.).  Very similar makeups in most ways. 

More like the 1995 Bulls team that didn't have Horace Grant or Dennis Rodman. That lacked that interior presence and got beat because of it.

You mean the one where Jordan joined decided to play only the last 17 games of the regular season and the playoffs.  The team that was 34-31 before he showed up, lost his first game and then finished 13-3. 

And they lost to Orlando not because they didn't have an interior player, but because Jordan was still rusty and Pippen had like one good game in the series.  Shaq was actually held in check (no one ever shuts him down, but he didn't have one of his monster series at all).

[guava_wrench]

This is the problem with the Heat, and why I can't stand them

The Heat used to be my 2nd favorite team. But ever since Lebron came there, they defer way too much to him. Wade is the undeniable closer, that would dominate and cut your heart out. But for some reason the Heat gives the ball to Lebron in the final two minutes.
Lebron is hampering Wade's game, and its ruining the chemistry. I don't even want to root for the Heat, but if the roles were reversed and the coach made Wade batman and Lebron robin, they would be so much better off

We should be careful not to exaggerate Wade's performances just because of the title year. That wasn't his only pre-Lebron playoff appearance.

Look at Wade's final play in the loss to NY. I don't see why Wade should be considered a better 'closer' than Lebron. Lebron can more easily rise above a defender to get a good look.

And didn't Wade miss a chance to tie with like 20 seconds left in game 2?

[OsirusCeltics]

This is the problem with the Heat, and why I can't stand them

The Heat used to be my 2nd favorite team. But ever since Lebron came there, they defer way too much to him. Wade is the undeniable closer, that would dominate and cut your heart out. But for some reason the Heat gives the ball to Lebron in the final two minutes.
Lebron is hampering Wade's game, and its ruining the chemistry. I don't even want to root for the Heat, but if the roles were reversed and the coach made Wade batman and Lebron robin, they would be so much better off

We should be careful not to exaggerate Wade's performances just because of the title year. That wasn't his only pre-Lebron playoff appearance.

Look at Wade's final play in the loss to NY. I don't see why Wade should be considered a better 'closer' than Lebron. Lebron can more easily rise above a defender to get a good look.

Look at all of the evidence and of Lebron failing in the clutch. Like Skip Bayless said alot of people have Lebron amnesia aka "Lebresia"

For the first 45 minutes he's a world beater, and stat stuffer, and dominates the game. Then for some reason 3 minutes left he turns into a bystander and tentative. Forgets to drive and use his strength and athleticism, and is just content wit shooting jumpshots. I do not want that type of player closing games

I'm not even trying to overrate Wade's clutch performance, but I rather any star player get the ball in the clutch instead of Lebron

[Who]

I mean seriously is Miami without Bosh really that much different than the Bulls teams of the 90's (in team construction, not necessarily talent, chemistry, etc.).  Very similar makeups in most ways. 

More like the 1995 Bulls team that didn't have Horace Grant or Dennis Rodman. That lacked that interior presence and got beat because of it.

You mean the one where Jordan joined decided to play only the last 17 games of the regular season and the playoffs.  The team that was 34-31 before he showed up, lost his first game and then finished 13-3. 

And they lost to Orlando not because they didn't have an interior player, but because Jordan was still rusty and Pippen had like one good game in the series.  Shaq was actually held in check (no one ever shuts him down, but he didn't have one of his monster series at all).

Yes, that team.

The team that gave up 18ppg and 11rpg on 65% shooting to Horace Grant because they were so weak defensively and on the glass at the PF spot. As well as another 15 a night from Scott and Anderson that they conceded due to their weaker team defense. Plus losing the rebounding edge.

That squad wasn't a Championship caliber roster. Even if they had of been together all season long, they weren't winning a title.

It was the presence of Rodman/Grant in addition to Jordan/Pippen and role players that made Chicago the most dominant team of that era. Without them (Rodman/Grant), they weren't the top dog anymore.

And this Miami team will be worse than that 1995 Bulls team (makeup wise). No Kukoc to create mismatches and give them a third talented offensive threat.

[Moranis]

Lebron and wade combine for 52 and the rest of the team scores 23....yikes...

thats what happens when half the team is d-league. Outside of Haslem, Chalmers, and maybe James Jones (role players) I don't even see the rest of them as real nba players. Thats what happens when 3 superstars are eating up your cap space... and when one goes down... ouch

Mike Miller and Shane Battier are wondering where you get your information.  Turiaf is quite offended as well.  And you put Jones but not Anthony.  Please.

I was thinking the same thing.  It's not the quality of the players... that is there.  It's the combination of the players that hurts them (sans Bosh).

Honestly I think they will be fine, there is just an adjustment period.  I mean it isn't like they played long stretches without him at any point during his time in Miami.  It may take another game or two to figure it out, but they will, and they will still beat Indiana and still should beat Boston/Philly.  Now beating a team out west, which are just younger and better than the ones left in the east, probably doesn't happen without Bosh, but they should still reach the finals without him. 

I mean seriously is Miami without Bosh really that much different than the Bulls teams of the 90's (in team construction, not necessarily talent, chemistry, etc.).  Very similar makeups in most ways. 

seems like I was spot on.  Entirely different Miami team the last two games vs. the first two games without Bosh.

[cman88]

eh, I wouldnt say it looks like an entirely different miami team. just that the Pacers played some horrible offensive basketball.

they need to run their offense through hibbert/west. yet instead they sit outside and shoot contested 3pointers which allow the Heat to get into transition.

anytime the Pacers slowed the heat down and got them into a half-court game, their offense sputtered

[Senninsage]

Lebron injured the Pacer's best player. That will certainly change a game. The game was only a 3 point advantage for Miami until Granger got hurt. His threes were falling bigtime and early tonight, and Lebron pull a slick step under to injure his ankle.

[esel1000]

The heat are just a flat out dirty disgusting franchise... I really want the celtics to stomp them this year should both teams be in the ECF

[rondohondo]

The heat are just a flat out dirty disgusting franchise... I really want the celtics to stomp them this year should both teams be in the ECF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfCMqT05No8

Payback is gonna be a Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. for Miami

[Tgro]

The Heat were off the hook tonight. Especially Pittman on Stephenson. OMG!!! And then the refs were only calling flagrant 1's!!! Really? Watch the whole video. Don't let the beginning make you think its not the whole story. It is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVkUtusuhOA

[cltc5]

This bs needs to stop with the heat.  Stern let's them do anything.  Obviously they ain't good Enough on their own.  If pittman and haslem aren't suspended there needs to be some serious actions taken.  This isn't football.  Leagues run by thugs and woosies now

[The Walker Wiggle]

The Heat were off the hook tonight. Especially Pittman on Stephenson. OMG!!! And then the refs were only calling flagrant 1's!!! Really? Watch the whole video. Don't let the beginning make you think its not the whole story. It is...

Yeah, I was just catching up on the low lights myself. Haphazard officiating once again the headline. League office and the refs have let this get out of hand.

Plenty of borderline play in this one, but Pittman's late game foul is the worst yet. He's just head hunting. I'm surprised this foul wasn't the jump off. Cynically, not surprised it wasn't a flagrant 2.

Basketball Jesus did not have a message of forgiveness.

"I can't believe my team went soft. S-O-F-T," Bird said. "I'm disappointed. I never thought it would happen." When asked to elaborate more, Bird said, "That's all I have to say."

Maybe he misses Ron Artest?

P.S. Here's the isolated video of Pittman's foul.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-HyHLhv4LI

EDIT - This is ever so slightly mitigated by the fact that Stephenson is one of the worst guys in the NBA.

[The Walker Wiggle]

I still can't get over the fact that one of these fouls is a flagrant 2 and two game suspensions while the other is just a flagrant 1 without further response. Jason Smith even apologized after the fact.





Wade's just mad that he's slipping.

[cltc5]

Disgusting.  Esuxpn all over the world peace foul.  Not a word by pittmans foul.  Hoping fir severely bad things for this team