- 12,102
- 1,410
I think you guys are fine (obviously). 2 non-lazy close out's from LeBron from not dropping either game. Or a made FT or two. Or a Haslem block/charge call and a Billups leg kick. you get my point..not the end of the world.
having watched every Heat game this year minus @ Charlotte due to being a LeBron fan and hoping this is finally his year...I have a few thoughts.
- First, the 4th and OT @ GSW and the entire LAC game is the worst I've seen you guys play outside of the ATL loss (again didn't see the CHA nail-biter) and you did everything you could to piss away both, on the road..it happens.
- Why can't Spoelstra make offense for defense substitutions with James Jones? (or Mike Miller when he's healthy.) Having one shooter in Chalmers on the floor late is a hindrance. I actually don't get why Jones gets cut out of the rotation entirely, hard to tell me you can't use that guy hitting a couple shots in 10 minutes of work. If he's hot, leave him in..cold..quick hook.
- Haslem seems to be a killer on offense so far, I know he's supposed to be $ from mid-range but he's been terrible. His value is defense and rebounding and he brings it but sometimes I don't get why Joel can't play a few more minutes. Don't get me wrong, he can't be out there in crunch time, but if he's playing with good energy, why not extend the minutes from time to time?
- Chalmers/Cole..I know a lot of people seem to think Cole will take his job at some point, I don't. Chalmers can hit shots, Cole can't hit the NBA 3. good mix bringing him off the bench for energy. that stays as is all year from what I see.
- This 'we're not taking 3's this year' kind of needs to loosened up a little..if they're resistant, defenses are going to pack it in..and maybe it's me but the paint area seemed a little more crowded the past two nights. Nothing wrong with taking those looks if they're there.
- If they won't shoot 3's, go in the post and go hard..none of this hesitancy in the mid-range resulting in congested lanes. (looking at you LeBron ie the New Jersey game..bring that more often) And why not run LeBron and Wade off more of the post screens to get them post-ups that were seen time to time in the post-season with success? Wade/Bron pick & roll..why not more of that?
- Defensively went down a few notches on this road trip..not flying around to the ball like they were early..that's to be expected..it's the regular season, but overall..I don't think the team defense has been sharp and really to me that was by far the difference in the GSW game and reared it's face in key spots against LAC.
- People can and will laugh but I'm an Eddy Curry fan and actually think he will in time, add another dimension to your team. Be it this year or next. You bring him in to work with a 2nd unit off the bench, and he can add a nice piece to the puzzle, at least in the regular season. I would actually trust the Heat organization that they're whipping him into shape and from recent pics that seems to the be case.
Overall..Barring Kobe playing at this level the rest of the way (I'm skeptical)...Chicago is the only team I can see beating you guys in 7. Mostly because they won't run, they'll grind things to a halt like last year..thing is..if Miami's defense isn't locked in -- it's possible that Rose has enough to get things done now. So, The thing that relates to now is Chicago does not/will not take their foot off the gas in the regular season and if I were Miami I wouldn't want to go in there for Games 1 and 2 again this year. I would be working hard to lock up home court.
otherwise..IMO OKC would engage in the uptempo game and get blitzed. Boston -- way too old. Dallas -- old and wrong parts now. Knicks -- I wish.
having watched every Heat game this year minus @ Charlotte due to being a LeBron fan and hoping this is finally his year...I have a few thoughts.
- First, the 4th and OT @ GSW and the entire LAC game is the worst I've seen you guys play outside of the ATL loss (again didn't see the CHA nail-biter) and you did everything you could to piss away both, on the road..it happens.
- Why can't Spoelstra make offense for defense substitutions with James Jones? (or Mike Miller when he's healthy.) Having one shooter in Chalmers on the floor late is a hindrance. I actually don't get why Jones gets cut out of the rotation entirely, hard to tell me you can't use that guy hitting a couple shots in 10 minutes of work. If he's hot, leave him in..cold..quick hook.
- Haslem seems to be a killer on offense so far, I know he's supposed to be $ from mid-range but he's been terrible. His value is defense and rebounding and he brings it but sometimes I don't get why Joel can't play a few more minutes. Don't get me wrong, he can't be out there in crunch time, but if he's playing with good energy, why not extend the minutes from time to time?
- Chalmers/Cole..I know a lot of people seem to think Cole will take his job at some point, I don't. Chalmers can hit shots, Cole can't hit the NBA 3. good mix bringing him off the bench for energy. that stays as is all year from what I see.
- This 'we're not taking 3's this year' kind of needs to loosened up a little..if they're resistant, defenses are going to pack it in..and maybe it's me but the paint area seemed a little more crowded the past two nights. Nothing wrong with taking those looks if they're there.
- If they won't shoot 3's, go in the post and go hard..none of this hesitancy in the mid-range resulting in congested lanes. (looking at you LeBron ie the New Jersey game..bring that more often) And why not run LeBron and Wade off more of the post screens to get them post-ups that were seen time to time in the post-season with success? Wade/Bron pick & roll..why not more of that?
- Defensively went down a few notches on this road trip..not flying around to the ball like they were early..that's to be expected..it's the regular season, but overall..I don't think the team defense has been sharp and really to me that was by far the difference in the GSW game and reared it's face in key spots against LAC.
- People can and will laugh but I'm an Eddy Curry fan and actually think he will in time, add another dimension to your team. Be it this year or next. You bring him in to work with a 2nd unit off the bench, and he can add a nice piece to the puzzle, at least in the regular season. I would actually trust the Heat organization that they're whipping him into shape and from recent pics that seems to the be case.
Overall..Barring Kobe playing at this level the rest of the way (I'm skeptical)...Chicago is the only team I can see beating you guys in 7. Mostly because they won't run, they'll grind things to a halt like last year..thing is..if Miami's defense isn't locked in -- it's possible that Rose has enough to get things done now. So, The thing that relates to now is Chicago does not/will not take their foot off the gas in the regular season and if I were Miami I wouldn't want to go in there for Games 1 and 2 again this year. I would be working hard to lock up home court.
otherwise..IMO OKC would engage in the uptempo game and get blitzed. Boston -- way too old. Dallas -- old and wrong parts now. Knicks -- I wish.
