The Official Miami Heat 09/10 Countdown to Contention Thread.

Listening to the game on my way home from work and it sounded like a lousy outing for the Heat in the first half.

 

I'm juSt seeing the box s ore. Strong 3d q. It'd Wade show again. If D holds their ground, and the bench takes some pressure off Wade, heat should come out victorious.

 

My how things have changed in just a quarter. The real Miami Heat showed up.

 

Love it. Our effort on D tonight when it counted was spectacular. Plus the bucks lost to the bobcats. Life is good.

 

We beat hawks in 6, and take at least two from LeBrons, I would count it as a pretty damn good finish.

 

Keep rollin, rollin, rollin, rollin... impressive win was impressive

Many forget that although 20 games under .500, Indiana is 20-17 at home and I believe were on something like a 7 or 8 game home winning streak?

7-3 in their last 10 actually.

Up next: Minnesota. Revenge for that dreadful meeting in February.

 

On the norm I'd go with this as we seemingly outplay Boston EVERY MATCHUP and ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO LOSE (yes, I am completely discrediting them and rightfully so if you've witnessed how we've lost against them)... however, they're on a downward spiral right now. I am not as afraid of that matchup as most are, especially if we go into the postseason on a tear and they're still iffy overall.

It's the Rondo matchup that scares me with Arroyo / Chalmers chasing him around for 35-40 minutes per outing. Not so much the "big 3" and DEFINITELY not Doc.

In a perfect world the Heat win out as they really should with this remaining schedule... and Atlanta slips a bit and/or Boston just catches fire. I want a 4/5 matchup with Atlanta again. Want to devour.

On the flip side, if you look at the big picture the 6th seed with a 3/6 matchup vs. Atlanta IS ideal as it'd set up the winner to face Orlando (or Charlotte/Milwaukee in all fairness) in the semi's, and we obviously have a better shot with them than Cleveland. Of course that's looking ahead as we won't be favored to win either first round matchup, but still. It's a brighter road. I just want to keep winning now.

 

If the goal is simply to make the playoffs and be competitive in the first round, then the 5 Seed is fine. We'll take Boston to 7, easily. If the goal is to make it as far in the playoffs as possible, perhaps an ECF appearance, then the 6 Seed is where we want to be.

I'll go ahead and say it: if we make the ECF, then the Finals are a legitimate possibility, as the Cavs are massively overrated and can fall in a long series.

 

I'm rooting on Miami AND Milwaukee (they own tie-breaker) to win out for that reason.

Or Boston to jump Atlanta, as the two are a game apart.

Really want to end the regular season and go into the postseason with a boom...

 

I think that's the biggest difference between the two... STAT is that, Bosh isn't.

Advantage STAT: Shot Blocker/Changer.
Advantage Bosh: Two years younger.

Really can't tell too much of a difference aside from that. Of course both players are better than the other when it comes to other attributions/contributions, but slightly.

That's my only true knock on Bosh. Neither are anything more than average at best post defenders, but Bosh is pretty soft. STAT will stand up.

Either way, I really like Joel Anthony as a 15-20 minute per game compliment to either of the two.

 

I still prefer the 6 Seed, but I see where you're coming from. I think we'd do best against ATL in a 3-6 Seed matchup. Orlando can be beaten, so that's a clear shot to the ECF as far as I'm concerned. Going in as the 5 Seed against Boston... well, that's dicier.

I don't think this organization has it in them to tank when they know that they can land a big-name FA this offseason, so I suppose we're looking at Boston in round 1, barring some last-minute collapse.

 

What an impressive turnaround by the team. Wade is as focused as he has been all year and the rest of the team is starting to believe that we can actually field a competitive and tough basketball team. Let's hope and pray this keeps Wade in Miami and that it attracts a couple of max contract bigs.

 

Miami's defense... as 126 has been saying for quite some time now... is unbelievable. Aside from a few guys we don't really have any great defenders or even that "true" stopper on the perimeter, so it just tells you how much the entire team has bought into the system. Kudos to Spoelstra (yes, this is coming from me) on that one, no doubt. He's been preaching defense ever since he's got there and as a fan I never bought into it myself because I didn't see the guys that could make it happen, but he's really got this team keyed in on it.

As for the playoff race... don't see Miami falling out of the 5th spot now with Andrew Bogut out for the season. What a nasty fall he took. It's a shame it happened. I like watching that Bucks team and was looking forward to seeing them matchup with Boston, Atlanta, or Orlando in the first round. Don't know how much of a threat they'll be to watch now without Bogut in addition to Redd being out. They'll be damn dangerous if healthy next year, though.

 

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2wa1IYEFOg"]YouTube- Andrew Bogut Breaks Arm[/ame]

 

Thats up there with Theisman's and Willis' injuries.

I hope he gets better soon.

 

Atlanta loses to Charlotte tonight... but Boston is currently down a few to New York in the fourth Q.

If Boston wins then the two teams are dead even at 49-28 (3/4 seed).

Boston's remaining schedule = @ TOR, vs. WASH, @ MIL, @ CHI, vs. MIL

Atlanta's remaining schedule = @ DET, vs. TOR, @ WAS, @ MIL, vs. CLE

 

IN OTHER RELATED NEWS!!!!

Earl Barron's got 17 points & 17 boards in that game right now.

 

Yeah... they got lit up by Gallinari holy ****.

They were up 2 with about 30 seconds to go and he nailed a triple like nothing.

 

See, thats what I dont get why Heat fans are high on this win streak. If you noticed, its really only Eric Reid and Tony Fiorentino thats jumping about this win streak. You know why it isnt making headlines? Because on our 8-game win streak, those 8 teams have a combined record of 238-378 and not a single team has a winning record.

 

No, Chicago as of right now does not have a winning record. And yes, thank you for correcting me on the others. I misposted. What I meant to say were true playoff contenders and not winning records. My mistake.

I'm talking about the win streak, so stay on course.

Actually, a Heat/Lakers fan. My "problem" is as much as I have a bias for the Heat to win it all, I use common sense and I am realistic. In my original post, although I posted incorrectly, I was pointing out that this win streak of ours isn't really that impressive considering our opponents. The last time we played an actual playoff contender was the Magic and we lost. Before that were the Spurs and we lost. Do I want the Heat to win? Of course, but this win streak doesn't say much is what I intended in my original post.

 

Why wouldn't you be happy? Winning is winning.

 

Ira Winderman made a great point about this win streak on Joe Rose the other day. Basically he said that if the Heat had beaten these weak teams in the middle of early part of the season, people would think they're a better team. But because they're playing this stretch at the end, many are calling it a fluke.

I agree with this. And, the Heat are doing what they're supposed to do: taking care of business against inferior opponents. Not to mention they've been without JO for a few of these games.

 

What are you talking about, especially with you quoting MY POST to make that statement? Where did I ever exaggerate this win streak and take it for more than it is? You act is if my post contains a statement such as, "we're on our way to the NBA Finals now, baby!"

I honestly could care less who we're beating... we have no control over our schedule. We're beating everyone we're playing right now. I could care less if it's @ LAL or home against New Jersey. Winning is all that matters.

 

I'd love to hear the story on how you became one of those...

 

Krypto... Question...

How did you feel in 2008 when the Dolphins won the AFC East by going on that late season push where they beat up on (barely, and mostly at home) San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, Kansas City, Buffalo, St. Louis, & NYJ... and lost to New England (only tough opponent) at home? In fact, Miami only beat one playoff team (8-8 San Diego) that year. Did you feel less about the accomplishment?

 

This is true. If we had taken care of business against teams like Minnesota earlier in the year we'd be pacing for 50 wins. It's all good, though. During this stretch (I like to look at the current stretch of 15-20 games rather than the streak alone) we've got wins against the Lakers, Hawks, and Bucks... that's the defending champs, third seeded team in the East, and at the time a team ahead of us in the standings that was beating EVERYONE.

 

Its simple: he is a bandwagon fan.

 

I keep forgetting that if Toronto misses the playoffs we don't get their first round pick (lotto protected). I've been rooting for them to miss the playoffs to piss Bosh out the door, but I think it'd be even more of a pisser if they make the playoffs and get SWEPT by Cleveland (blown out in practically every game)... plus we'd get the 15th pick. Win win, son. Go Raps.

 

How does the draft look this year around the 15th pick?

If the Raps don't make the playoffs, don't we get their #1 pick next year regardless (not lotto protected)? If so that could potentially be after they lose Bosh and presumably a much better pick.

 

Whyyyyy couldn't we of gotten screwed in the lottery last year? God I've grown to hate Beasley. He is so garbage half the time. If his shot isn't on which it rarely is he brings nothing to the table and his attitude/approach is lackluster as hell. I'd tak not only Rose but Mayo, Lopez, or Westbrook over him in a heartbeat and about 5 players from the 2010 draft class which was said to be weaker.

/irrelevant rant

 

10 games over five hundy... Sonnnnnnn

meanwhile,

Hawks lose; Celtics win (tied for 4th now)
Bucks also win to stay ahead if Miam by virtue of tie breaker

 

the + / - for tonight's game:

beasley -20

haslem +24