Waaade A Minute!

Udonis Haslem With The Crusher!!

The Miami Heat didn't wear their ski masks in Chicago to steal game two, but the get away jet was warm, ready, and used. Miami played their game like Pat Riley envisioned this summer, Wade, James, Haslem, Bosh, and Miller on the court together. Injuries have kept Udonis Haslem aka "UD", but this was his moment, never in a playoff series has UD been the player of the game, he was in game 2. Wade and James did what James and Wade, they played like men possessed, and now they possess, home court. Wade played a great and patient game, looking for holes and penetrating on nasty cuts to the rim culminated with dunks, his poise kept Miami close. James wasn't clutch, he was what Wade was to the 06' team, in the fourth quarter, he outscored the Bulls 9-2 in the last five minutes with a cold.


Miami came out with the right energy to steal this one, dunks, steals, huge boards, and timely buckets found the Heat in the lead by 11 at one point and close when the Bulls made their runs. Defense is the name of the game and as UD so eloquently put it "No rebounds, no rings". His energy and courage after not being able to play all year, inspired the rest of the Heat. UD said "this has been the best I have felt in a long time" after the win. His leadership and due diligence on the glass and on defense was huge, no gargantuan! After Miami was out rebounded and thoroughly trounced in game 1, UD being the soldier that he is told Coach Spoelstra that he was ready to play more minutes. Spoelstra knows UD well, having taken part in the 06' finals as an Assistant coach. He knew the time was now, and the game asked for UD, it needed him on more than one level, and once again UD delivered. He won't get the credit if Miami wins this series, too many stars for that, but all of Miami will remember game 2 in Chicago. After a year of constant let downs, not being able to contribute, the passing of his Mom, and a hard rehabilitation, this is UD's reward, a win on the road in the playoffs versus the best team in our division when the chips are on the line. He deserved it.


Miami found a way in an ugly but dramatic game 2 and now hold the Bulls in a corral, named the AAA. Will they ride them like Ocho Cinco or like Valdiron de Oliveira, Miami can step on their throats on Sunday and push the Bulls deeper in the hole they are in. Miami played brilliant defense on Wednesday and must continue to put pressure on Chicago shooters, the Bulls will bring the effort on Sunday and Miami must meet it and quell it. Miami' experience now will be critical, the home court advantage is worth the fatigue and the fatigue is a small price to pay for a chance at a title. Nothing but net....

The Celtics Can't Beat The Miami Heat

Wade had the Hot Hand vs the Celtics

The Boston Celtic's are a great franchise with remarkable history and had the experience factor, but Miami showed more poise and execution today. Paul Pierce and his lake of composure cost the Celtic's an opportunity to make yet another run, after Miami quelled all the previous ones. Dwayne Wade' performance today only solidified his playoff legacy. Miami' defense was quicker and more aggressive than Boston' today, and I repeat today. 


After both teams got acclimated in the first and Miami captured the lead that they would not relinquish. Dwayne Wade got the Heatles off to a great start. Miami played excellent defense on Rondo using Bibby no less and he slowed Boston' offensive catalyst down with good point guard play, yes I said it. The biggest mistake in this game went to Rondo, with James on the break and him with a foul already, Rondo tied James up and drew the foul. He only accomplished to put himself on the bench and give away the Celtic's strength, himself. 


Miami wasn't as efficient as they could of been shooting 47%, but Miami' three point specialist James Jone came through with a tremendous performance. His calm and composed behavior was a bigger asset than his shooting and his 25 points. With Paul Pierce in his face, Jones stood his ground and made Pierce loose his composure and it cost him with a technical. His head butt on James was unnecessary and was a foolish play by Pierce. He was later tossed for yet another technical, after setting a moving pick on Wade, yet another foolish play.


Lebron James contributed 22 points, 6 boards, and 5 assists to help the Heat maintain their lead and never loose it. James' defense on Paul Pierce had 19 points and 7 boards. Miami did a good job on Ray Allen for most of the game, but Allen can just flat out shoot, his 25 points lead Boston while he shot 5 of 8 from three point land. The Boston defense was tested today by the Heat's superior athleticism and outside shooters. Miami' could not count on Chris Bosh offensively today his jumper was not there, but his 12 boards and solid defense where important in limiting Boston on the glass. Miami demonstrated to the league that they are for real.


Dwayne Wade proved yet again what most Heat fans already knew, he's a scoring machine when his jumper is falling. Wade pushed the Celtic defense to it's limit and found his game along the way, finding teammates off the ball for 5 dimes. When Wade plays like this he is unstoppable, but Miami fans already knew this. His 38 points, 3 steals, and only 2 turnovers allowed Miami' shooters to pop 3's and opened the floor for Lebron to drive to the hoop.


The Heatles know they had some issues like missed FT's and poor shot selection at times. Boston made a 10-0 run to begin the third and Miami failed to stop them or make a shot. Big Z has played well in games where his jumper is hitting, but his defense has cost Miami. After Bibby' poor series versus Philly, he played well today and hit a big open shot. Miami' bench stepped up and out played the Celtic bench, which most heralded (Big Baby). Jeff Green was the lone bright spot for the Celtics, well see more of him in this series. 


Miami played well enough to win and cannot become complacent, Boston is a veteran team and will try to steal game 2. Miami must defend the home court and put the pressure on Boston at the Garden. Boston isn't done by any stretch and will come out hungry and aggressive. Miami showed that the April 10th game was no fluke and Boston showed they are a step slower, but can't be dismissed, not yet. Nothing but Net.....

The MIami Heat Face Yet One More Test, Themselves.

Miami enters tonights game at the triple A, versus the Philadelphia 76ers with thoughts of round two in the back of their collective heads. Miami' nemesis the Boston Celtics defending Eastern Conf. Champions are already home game planning and resting tired bones. The Heatles look to finish off the Sixers and move on to round 2. First the Heat must figure out somethings that have become obstacles in their progression as a team, no not who the closer is, Miami' largest hurdle is themselves.

There is only do or do not, there is no try

Lebron James and Chris Bosh joined the Miami Heat to win rings and Dwayne Wade is the only player East or West, not playing for Los Angeles, Boston, or San Antonio with a World Championship win. Down 2-0 vs the Mavs, he put the team on his back, coming back to steal Dallas' lunch money and parade budget, but he did not do it by himself. Wade was part of a club with multiple Hall of Fame players including Shaq, Alonso Mourning, and Gary "The Glove" Payton all of whom contributed to the Championship run at some point. Wade looks to James and Bosh to contribute with similar performances.

Chris Bosh has never won a playoff series as the star player for the Toronto Raptors and Lebron James took his team to the NBA Finals after many years of failure in the early rounds. James' and Bosh' failures to achieve their goal of winning an NBA Championship can be seen as a failure, but failure is the greatest of motivators. In the world of sports psychology, Attribution theory seeks to explain how an individual’s perceived reasons for past success and failure contribute to their current and future motivation and success. The theory revolves around four causal attributions: ability, effort, task difficulty, and luck. Each is characterized as stable or unstable, internal or external, and controllable or uncontrollable.

James is widely regarded as the most physically gifted players with an incredible basketball IQ. His effort has been questioned by fans and his former owner alike. Last year with Cleveland, James was accused quitting on his teammates and has heard chants of Lequit, Lebum, and Lebrick, all due to his perceived failure wether internal or external. Lebron James arguably the most gifted player reinforced by his two back to back MVP's has had his fair share of failure. Most players would buckle and/or shy away from the bright lights after so much disappointment, but Lebron' drive and mental toughness used that only as motivation. After his long streak of misadventure, his decision to leave Cleveland for Miami can be directly correlated to his desire to succeed and quiet his detractors, but instead they multiplied. Dwayne Wade being a former Champion, has the GPS coordinates to success. He is the only player of all the contenders in the playoffs, not playing for Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Boston with the Championship road map. Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Joe Johnson, and of course Dirk Nowitski know that the road exists, but don't even have a map. Lebron' mental toughness has been put to the test all year long, every arena he entered from the very beginning of the season assaulted him with a plethora of slurs, boos, attacks, mocks, burns, digs, and I wont go into the all round general hate. Even his Mother's failure's have been thrown in to the mix, in an attempt to rattle his cage, yet James has not only performed, he's improved.

The Heatles are on the verge of confronting their Goliath, the proverbial monsters under the bed, The Baaaston Celtics! Boston' guile and perspicacity bring a formidable opponent to once again test the meddle of not only James, but Bosh' also. In the words of the Yoda of basketball Pat Riley "There can only be one state of mind as you approach any profound test; total concentration, a spirit of togetherness, and strength". The Miami Heat must close out the Sixer' tonight in Miami and prepare for the war versus Boston, they already have the physical edge, the rest in mental. Nothing but net...

The Heatles Look Forward to Boston Series

The Miami Heat enter Sunday's game vs the Sixer's looking to close out the series with a sweep. Miami has taken care of business in the first round and have demonstrated that they have that killer instinct needed to advance. The Boston Celtics, reigning Eastern Conference Champs have made quick work of the hobbled New York Knicks to take a 3-0 series lead. Both Miami and Boston both look primed to meet in the second round and Boston has won the past battles, but Miami has added a new general for the upcoming war.

The Heatles will have their hands full with Boston in the next round and are not underestimating their rivals capacity to execute in the final minutes as the Knicks have found out first hand. The Celtics lead the season series 3-1 vs the Heatles and have showed dominance in beating the Heat 18 of the past 21 times. Miami' last victory on April 10th versus the Celtics was a 100-77 blowout by the Heatles to earn the 2nd seed and home court in the 2nd round, it was Bostons worst loss this year. Though Dwayne Wade was limited to 14 points and 8 dimes, Wade limited the Celtic catalyst Ray Allen to 13 points for the game. While Lebron James added 27 points, 5 boards, and 7 assists to lead the Heatles to the win. The hero of this last game though, was Joel Anthony and his unique skill set and energy. Anthony plays the role of in the paint defender and shot blocker to a tee. His athleticism and incredible stamina keep Miami' opponents weary as they enter the lane. Anthony, off the bench had such a good performance the Kevin Garnett said "Anthony killed us by himself today" after "The Warden" on with only 9 points and 10 boards amassed he was able to limit Boston' interior scoring almost single handedly. Joel and his energy have been Miami' catalyst off the bench and will be much needed in the upcoming Boston/Miami series.

Miami has yet to finish the Sixer's off and Boston has the Knick's to deal with also, but with no team ever coming back from a 3 game deficit, both can see the series at the end of the tunnel. Boston' coach Doc Rivers mentioned after the April 10th lose that Carlos Arroyo previously the Heat PG had given Boston a free scouting report on the Heat. Boston' veteran team and coach know how difficult a match up they have on their hands, rumors were that Perkins was traded to bring in a better match up in Green to defend against the Heat' smaller and more athletic team. Miami' younger "Big 3" certainly have the athletic advantage on the more weathered "Big 3", but Boston still holds an slight edge on the "been there done that" advantage. The Heatles do have the benefit of having a Finals MVP in Dwayne Wade with his super human like capacity to lift his game to another level and with Lebron, a two time MVP himself with plenty of big game experience. Miami looks to capitalize on that experience and athleticism to make a run at the defending Eastern Conference Champs in the twilight of their careers with the help of some from key role players and of course "The Warden" Miami has a punchers chance in this rivalry.

D Wade and King James Highlights

Haters, marry haters, and have hater kids...