The Heat is Rising!

The Heatles have been an amazing team to watch this season and seeing them evolve has been like watching a Caterpillar turn into a Blue Morpho butterfly. The level of basketball that the Heat are displaying on both sides of the ball can only get better with time. The Dallas Mavericks played well and were forced to succumb to Miami and their defensive will. If winning game one means that 73% of the time the winner goes on to win the championship, then Miami is one game closer to locking down its second ring.

Wade found his way to the rim

Last night the crowd at the triple A was treated to a great display of defense, Miami jumped out and made plays when they needed to. Lead by Wade and James, Miami' defense found a way to slow Dirk, a great offense, and the great Dallas bench. Haslem and Anthony limited Dirk almost on every possession. Wade and Chalmers played the Barea and Kidd tandem as well as they can be played. Kidd found open passes, but also made several bad one because of the defense. Anthony' blocks on Chandler and Marion set the tone for this defense in the first quarter as the two teams felt each other out.

Dallas will improve and make adjustments and this series is far from over. Carlisle is a wise coach and Kidd is a general on the court, I expect more offense from both teams in game two. The fact that Miami held Dirk to such a poor shooting percentage and harassed him the entire game with hard double teams cost Miami some open three pointers, but didn't let the big guy get into his rhythm. No sweet spots, and only a few turn around's was a good sign for the defense versus Dirk. I would take my chances with Peja and Kidd shooting threes over Dirk getting comfortable or in a groove.

Mario Chalmers has finally put together a game and he chose to do it in the finals. Rio has been the missing piece for this offense. His lane penetrations, and his outside shooting are desperately needed to spread the floor and get open looks for Miller and even Lebron. If "Lucky Chalms" can keep Barea and Kidd moving on defense and hit the three's when open or drive the lane when closed out, he can effect the game more. Miami only needs Chalmers to take care of the ball and make good decisions.

Miami demonstrated that a great defense is the best answer for a great offense. The emergence of Chris Bosh on both sides of the ball have made the Heat more versatile than ever, he has been here most of the season, but he has really shown up in the playoffs. Miami heads into game two with confidence against a slower team and a zone defense that allows Miami to hit the boards, and we all know no boards, no rings. 

Dallas will be more aggressive on the boards and try to get inside more with Chandler and Haywood. As long as Dirk is below 40 points, Miami has a good chance of taking game two. The Dallas bench was quiet, but wont be for long, they will score. Miami has to limit their scoring by making Barea a passer and not allow him into the lane off the hard show off the pick and roll. 

Miami can be more aggressive also, Bosh didn't put it on the floor enough and his missed jumpers helped keep Chandler from falling for the up-fake. Bibby and Anthony have to be aggressive offensively, the defensive help will come off their men and they must make them pay with jumpers and/or going to the rim. Miami leaked points at the free throw line again, it didn't cost them this game, but in closer games, it could. Mike Miller' injury while boxing out a 7 footer down low was unfortunate, but Miller made the play and contributed when called upon, he confirmed today that he will play in game 2.

Miami should know that Dallas will be looking to steal game two. After looking over the film, Carlisle should find ways to put his shooters in better spots and his big's in position to rebound. Miami cannot underestimate a good shooting team like the Mavericks and keep the intensity level high on defense. Miami should hold serve and head to Dallas with confidence that they can steal one of three games. Nothing but net...

The Heat Look To Break The Mavericks!

Bus driver Bosh, taking them to school!

Well the stage is set, your Miami Heat will face the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals starting on Tuesday at American Airlines Arena. Miami defeated the Bulls in dramatic fashion coming back from down 11 points in Chicago with 3 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Miami found yet another way to win in Chicago the best home team in the regular season. The Heatles now face the Western Conference finals champions Dallas Mavericks and Miami remembers the Mavs from the 2006 Finals that eventually crowned Miami NBA Champions.


After taking down the Bulls in impressive fashion the Heat focus their attention on the Mavericks. The Mavs have beaten the Heat 14 straight times since the 2006 Finals in the regular season and have a great team lead by Dirk Nowitski. The Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals. The Mavs also beat the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers in an unforeseen sweep, they also beat the Trailblazers in the first round. 


The Mavs bring a great offense into this series, and their three point shooters lead the playoffs in attempts. They are a big front court with 3 7 footers in Chandler, Haywood, and of course Dirk Nowitski. They have an excellent guard trio in Terry, Kidd, and Barea that can all shoot for three and put the ball on the floor. Barea especially can be a problem for Miami as small quick point guards due pester the Heat and his ability to get to the rim will help the Mavs on occasion. Dirk is the star and poses Miami with its toughest task in the playoffs so far, his jump shooting and up fake are great, his post up has gotten way better and his free throw percentage is very good. Dirk will face four Heat defenders in Haslem, Bosh, Anthony, and in the final minutes James.


Miami can taste the Larry O'Brien trophy, after such a long and self imposed pressure filled season, the Heat look to cap it off with another Championship. Despite beating the best home team in the regular season and the number one defense in the league, Miami has one more road block to get by, the Mavericks. 


Miami brings their heralded and hated trio of Wade, James, and Bosh that are averaging 78 points per game in the playoffs. The Heatles have also contributed excellent play on defense where they have tabulating 25 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 10 assist per game. Miami' duo of James and Wade bring two of the most effective rim attackers in the league, both have the experience to take over the game in its finals minutes. Wade and especially James have been playing with poise and have done what ever is necessary to get the win. Miami has elevated their game in the playoffs and many analyst didn't see them coming out of the East. The defense has been superb since the beginning of the playoffs, but since the return of Haslem and Miller the Heat have played the best defense in the playoffs.


Miami has the home court advantage as the games kick off tomorrow in the Magic City and have been undefeated at home so far in the playoffs. This lends Miami a slight advantage due to the format the NBA finals adopt for the final series of 2 games at home and 3 in Dallas, then 2 more in Miami if necessary. Usually if the home team wins the first two, they win the series as has been the case in the vast majority of finals series. One of the only team to win the finals despite losing the first two has been the 06 Miami Heat lead by Dwayne Wade.


Miami has several other advantages in this series namely the defense, Miami has held opponents to 88.3 points per game in the playoffs. Miami is also a better rebounding team and a better shot blocking team than the Mavericks. The Mavs pose problems to the defense in the name of Dirk Nowitski, his shooting and leadership have been the foundation for the Mavericks offense. Add in the best three point shooting remaining in the playoffs and Miami does have their hands full. Dallas on defense is no slouch either, Dallas swept the Lakers and held their own versus a more athletic Oklahoma team. Miami looks to push the ball and get their more athletic team running to the rim. Miami' varied offense and superior athletes pose match up problems for the Mavs, Marion on James and Kidd and Stevenson on Wade will be interesting to watch. Bosh will also be a huge factor his jumper and quick moves to the rim will put Dallas defenders in positions to foul and to get beaten to the rim.


Prediction: Miami in 6, why? In 2006 after losing to Miami, Mark Cuban down played the loss by complaining that the referees lost the game for the Mavs. His campaign against the Heat was well documented and his 2011 comments have not been forgotten by the Heat. Miami will look for revenge in Dallas for his big mouth. Miami' offense is like no offense the Mavericks have faced and stand to piece by piece dismantle the Dallas defense, Wade and James are too unpredictable to stop. The Miami defense can and will slow the Mavs mostly shooting offense with a great perimeter defense of the like Dallas has yet to see. Miami out rebounds the Mavs and the defense stifles the role player for Dallas. Mark Cuban will whine and the fans will too, but Miami wins in 5 or 6. Nothing but Net..

Curse you Winter Music Conference

     Entering or exiting the American Airlines Arena for Sunday' Heat game against the Houston Rockets was an adventure in driving even for Miami standards. As I sat by the pool and watched the game from home, I could imagine the game attendees arriving and departing from the arena. During one week in March, the digital music world convenes in Miami. Bringing with them hundreds of events, hundreds of thousands of followers, international DJ's, and sponsors galore. Include the Sony Erickson tennis tournament and the County Fair into the equation and the what you get is congestion! I didn't even factor the normal Sunday drivers (Aargh!) or the regular beach traffic either.

     But I digress, The Heat where playing and many made it out despite the traffic and the 70+ pool parties. Miami Heat fans get a bad rap for showing up late to games that supposedly every other city would be pining for. Blah blah blah! Miami fans got stuff to do people! The diversity of things to do on any given day is so wide and culturally varied, that I could use this whole post to list them. Plus we are mostly on Cuban time and fashionably late. We want to make an entrance and see and bee seen. Miami games are like going out to restaurant, a bar, and a night club with a basketball game somewhere. Have you been to the Dewar's Club? So unlike most frigidly cold cities across the country, Miami is hot and a place to be.

The Heatle's were amazing today, that's all I can say. Oh and check out these stat lines:

• Lebron James: 33 points, 10 boards, and 7 dishes
• Dwayne Wade: 30 points, 11 boards, 5 dishes, and 2 blocks
• Chris Bosh: 31 points, 12 boards, and 3 assists

    That's a grand total of: 94 points, 33 boards, 15 dishes, and 2 blocks!  Need I say more! Three players haven't put up those numbers in a regulation 48 minute game since 1961. The ones that did it most recently in 1997, took 3 overtimes to accomplish this feat. The Heatle's are the hottest ticket in town, and in Miami thats no easy feat.

Nothing but net!