Miami Heat cancel practice today

[the_Bird]

Spolestra's gone after they get kicked out of the playoffs. I wouldnt be surprised to see a Bosh trade in the offseason as well. I looooove seeing these guys suffer.

Wade for Dwight Howard (if his back injury improves).  That's (by a wide margin) the best offer than Orlando would ever get for Howard, and a Lebron/Bosh/Dwight combo really would be deadly.  I don't think trading Bosh would get you that same kind of return, and I remain skeptical that the LeBron/Wade combo ultimately makes sense.

And a new coach.  Just not Doc (thank God).  If Riley wasn't there, it would seem tailor-made for Phil Jackson.

[birdwatcher]

Spolestra's gone after they get kicked out of the playoffs. I wouldnt be surprised to see a Bosh trade in the offseason as well. I looooove seeing these guys suffer.

Wade for Dwight Howard (if his back injury improves).  That's (by a wide margin) the best offer than Orlando would ever get for Howard, and a Lebron/Bosh/Dwight combo really would be deadly.  I don't think trading Bosh would get you that same kind of return, and I remain skeptical that the LeBron/Wade combo ultimately makes sense.

And a new coach.  Just not Doc (thank God).  If Riley wasn't there, it would seem tailor-made for Phil Jackson.

I could not see Miami trading Wade away or LeBron. It would have to be Bosh, and it would make the most sense for them. Someone would be dumb enough to trade for Bosh whose contract does not reflect his talent or ability. He's the Joe Johnson of PF's. Maybe Atlanta would trade for him since Josh Smith wants to bail.

[CelticG1]

Ummm, is this that abnormal?  They probably decided the players needed the time off to refocus.  This happens every once in a while, and is nothing new.  I know Doc has done it before.

A lot of teams skip their media obligations?

Is this allowed,  do they get fined for this?

Keep in mind its one hour, I know the Heat are pretty mentally weak but that's not something crazy

I don't know if they actually have media obligations.  This isn't the finals.  Teams just open up to the media at practices.  If they cancel practice, then media obligations go with it.

Only reason I thought that is that the Celtics didn't have practice the other day but still had the media whatever you want to call it for an hour. Unless the Celtics are just very amicable with things like that I assumed it was required

Did they have a walkthrough or team meeting?  Because that is different.  It sounds like Spoelstra gave his team the day completely off. 

I don't know how to copy it here but the 2nd most recent tweet on the official Celtics Twitter says something like, "still no practice for the Celtics today will meet with media at 3"

I don't know why'd they'd meet with the media if they didn't have to.

Obviously its not a big deal at all if Miami isn't meeting if its isn't required.

[Fafnir]

Spolestra's gone after they get kicked out of the playoffs. I wouldnt be surprised to see a Bosh trade in the offseason as well. I looooove seeing these guys suffer.

Wade for Dwight Howard (if his back injury improves).  That's (by a wide margin) the best offer than Orlando would ever get for Howard, and a Lebron/Bosh/Dwight combo really would be deadly.  I don't think trading Bosh would get you that same kind of return, and I remain skeptical that the LeBron/Wade combo ultimately makes sense.

And a new coach.  Just not Doc (thank God).  If Riley wasn't there, it would seem tailor-made for Phil Jackson.

Could be attractive to Otis Smith if he wants to win now, but I doubt it.

[GreenFaith1819]

I guess they are too good to practice...wow.

I bet Wade won't push Darren Collison (or anyone else) again.

What a meltdown. They have one more game to produce perhaps their max output this season, or they are done. They lose that next game, in Indy - that's it.

I have a feeling that Larry Joe Bird is getting into everyone's ear on that team and telling them "Look - this is the way we did it in Boston back in the day...get those scrubs on the ropes, and keep your feet on their necks!"

Finish Them, Indy!

[Celtics4ever]

Practice makes perfect, they say, the HEAT sadly already think they are perfect.

[LooseCannon]

I could not see Miami trading Wade away or LeBron. It would have to be Bosh, and it would make the most sense for them. Someone would be dumb enough to trade for Bosh whose contract does not reflect his talent or ability. He's the Joe Johnson of PF's. Maybe Atlanta would trade for him since Josh Smith wants to bail.

Traditional sports punditry and advanced statistical analysis both suggest that Wade and Lebron have skill sets that clash, so that when the two together on the floor, the total is less than the sum of the parts.  It says something that the Heat are so good despite poor team composition meaning that Miami gets less than full production out of their top two players.

Since Lebron is better and Wade is older, from a purely basketball perspective, if you could get equal value, it makes more sense to trade Wade than James or Bosh.

[LooseCannon]

And a new coach.  Just not Doc (thank God).  If Riley wasn't there, it would seem tailor-made for Phil Jackson.

I still want to see D'Antoni coach in Miami.

[European NBA fan]

I don't think they are doing this for the purpose of rest. This a team that has cried after losing in the reg season after all.

Now is the time they should be running sets with different guys and working on execution. If they need a mental break after going down 2-1 in the second round no less, they are in a lot more trouble than we thought.

I believe that Spoelstra needs the extra day to come up with some adjustments, and maybe get a good talk with Wade to smooth things over.

With Bosh out, they miss so many things in their game: Rebounding, inside scoring, pick and roll (Turiaf and Anthony are too slow to be effective on the roll, and Haslem has never been that great at it). I don't think they have an easy fix, but they can't play like in game 3 again.

[Army_of_One_Nation]

Since they are down 2-1, shouldn't they be practicing more?

[SHAQATTACK]

Since they are down 2-1, shouldn't they be practicing more?

Nooooo...Stern has promised to assist them ...A nighmare TV finals without the Lakers or Heat ... No LBJ ? ;)not if he can help it.

[nickagneta]

Ummm, is this that abnormal?  They probably decided the players needed the time off to refocus.  This happens every once in a while, and is nothing new.  I know Doc has done it before.

+1

Not only that but if physically the team is tired as well as mentally a day off can be a good thing.

Let's also not forget that they have a three day span between games so they can have a day off and then get back to practice tomorrow before playing Sunday

[SHAQATTACK]

I could not see Miami trading Wade away or LeBron. It would have to be Bosh, and it would make the most sense for them. Someone would be dumb enough to trade for Bosh whose contract does not reflect his talent or ability. He's the Joe Johnson of PF's. Maybe Atlanta would trade for him since Josh Smith wants to bail.

Traditional sports punditry and advanced statistical analysis both suggest that Wade and Lebron have skill sets that clash, so that when the two together on the floor, the total is less than the sum of the parts.  It says something that the Heat are so good despite poor team composition meaning that Miami gets less than full production out of their top two players.

Since Lebron is better and Wade is older, from a purely basketball perspective, if you could get equal value, it makes more sense to trade Wade than James or Bosh.

I trade both Bosh and Wade, get a top 5 center (Howard), and good PF and Point guard for their crazy contracts and sign several upgraded role players.  

Their only assets are the big three .  Have to keep Lebrick,  trade the other two off , WADE is the same player type as LBJ , Bosh over paid ,  get one superstar center and about 5 other really good players.

I hope they don't listen to me...I want them to keep the same big three .    ANd PLEASE keep COACH SPO !!!  

Tell you this...I fully believe LNJ will jump ship to the Lakers, Mavs or Clips when Kobe hangs em up . , if he doesn't win it all this year or next.

[OmarSekou]

The Heat's problems aren't because of Lebron, Wade, or Bosh. They're all top 20 players. The issue is everyone else.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Wade isa baby...lebron in mentally weak..or too concerned about his body and his $$$...to actually play with heart......they really needed bosh.....if bosh wasn't soft...or a little mentally distracted or weak..he could score on anyone...at his height..he can dribble, drive, dunk on anyone...and shoot....except he seems sometimes to not think he can do it..? and who knows when he will be back....he might be back though....