This time it was his right hammy. His "bad knee" is his right knee....so yep...it was due to compensating.
They don't suck, but they'd be a lot better on a team with LeBron and a healthy Wade. Ennis has ability but he doesn't look ready to contribute meaningfully right now. Chalmers is what he is at this point. Haslem still gives it everything he has, but he doesn't have much anymore. Fact is, our lack of depth is killing us. When we had LeBron, we could cover up a lot of that. Not so much now. You look even at Milwaukee, Bayless and Mayo off the bench is a huge luxury. Milwaukee doesn't have a single star playing right now (though Giannis may get there) but they have about 10 solid NBA players. Right now we have 6 healthy.
As for the man of the hour, while he wasn't "great" last night, I think you saw just how terrific Whiteside can be, and I think will be. Even when eh was struggling with his shot, he didn't let it affect his defense and Milwaukee essentially avoided the paint for most of the first half while he was in the game. Only shooting 70% in the first quarter even kept them in the game. Whiteside is so instinctive on defense, rotating to the right guy, etc. And he's athletic enough to actually cover that ground and make those plays. Most 7 footers aren't. Most of them are stiffs like Hibbert. I didn't mind him trying some jumpers in the first half as he needs to work on that and if Wade misses significant time, he's going to have become more of a focal point on offense. I think he has a real chance to develop a little Haslem-esque jumper and he has good footwork with his back to the basket. He had a few nice plays last night where he got And 1s and his free throw stroke was already much improved. He'll also learn how to affect other shots that don;t directly challenge him, like the floaters Mayo was using. He also needs to get better on the offensive glass. Martin was doing a tremendous job of boxing him out. All of that is stuff that is likely to improve with experience. The guy is a major, major talent. A bad game was 16 and 16, even though some of that was garbage time. He has more talent than a DeAndre Jordan.
Not sure I see the point in him working on jumpers in 2015. He just got to the Heat, didn't go to training camp or anything with them. Let's take some time establishing what you are and what you're good at before we start trying to add pieces to your game.
He might be good at it in practice, we don't know. He's going to need to become more of an offensive focal point. We're running out of other options at this point. If Wade misses significant time, the best way for us to get open perimeter looks is for Whiteside and Bosh to command double teams down low. Chalmers is really the only other penetrator/creator we have.
My wishful thinking list before trade deadline.... Goran Dragic Avery Bradley Darren Collison Arron Afflalo < rumors we showed interest in this guy a few weeks ago.. just rumors though... Isaiah Thomas Nick Young Nate Robinson Gerald Henderson Jameer Nelson Jarrett Jack Pretty much in that order, those are the only ones that I think are realistically available.... I'll be happy if we land one of my top choices... but if not... two of my bottom to mid choices would be necessary to fix some of the issues we have..
I completely forgot about him.. Honestly... I would give him significant minutes... He showed a lot of promise in summer league... so did Ennis... but with the way our point guards have been playing... it's time to see what he's got... Give him minutes over Cole and Napier...
It's worth a shot, and this counts as his 2nd ten day contract so at the end of this one they either have to sign him for the season or release him. Might as well see what you've got. At least he's an athletic slasher type, which we are sorely lacking.
And Napier right now is brutal. You could live with his lack of offensive aggressiveness but he's a turnover machine. He's got promise, but he's a negative out there right now.
Napier has promise, because he has great PG characteristics. He has a great handle. He is an unbelievable passer. BUT HE CAN'T GET HIS SHOT OFF. Massive Red Flag.
Per Winderman, Wade expected to have "extended absence" and he is unlikely to play before All-Star Break. No news on Deng or bird yet but neither injury is expected to keep either out much longer.
You would think Napier would have loosen up already.... All he needs to do is knock down the shots he has .. Hes overthinking and just aiming the ball... He needs to settle down and take the job while its available..
I kinda agree with this. Zo never had a jumpshot, but he was really good at attacking the basket with one-handed jams and dunks, as well as high percentage shots in the paint. If Whiteside could all that well, he won't ever need to develop a jumpshot. That said, if he establishes himself as a force in the paint on the offensive side of the ball then later adds a consistent shot of 15-17 foot jumpers, I'm cool with that. But baby steps first.
You guys see the Heat's home intro? Fire shoots out..the Heat logo spins and catches fire on the big screen...crowd goes nuts? I fully expect that logo to spin, catch fire and then spew blood all over the 100 level as Burnie spontaneously combusts. Riley then challenges God to a fist fight to settle this stigmata BS we are going through this year.
If Wade is out for an extended period of time, you have to shift to looking toward the future, right? Without him in the lineup we are in trouble.
Night life's enticing, but look what that did to Tyson. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming
Yeah, I minimum cashed too in the big money lineup thanks to Wayne Ellington's 40 points, lol. Go figure. Of course I got Harden in 4 lineups tonight. I am just excited Terrance Jones is back. Man, we really miss that dude. We should have a nice big man rotation now.
Josh Smith and Donatas Motiejunas showing a lot of pep in their step tonight. Terrence Jones is breathing down their necks. Step your game up, fellas. I love it. Now, we can bench Dwight when he plays like s**t, which is most of the time.
The present is the future. If youre suggedting tanking thats not going to happen. We will be in the playoffs.
35 points and 11 rebs at halftime coming from D-Mo, T-Jones, and Josh Smith. I haven't seen our big men do that much work in one half all season. Usually Harden has to do everything. Step your game up Dwight, or get the hell out.
Blazers v Cavs was great. Aldridge and Irving back and forth all night. Thankfully Irving came up bigger.
The availability of our draft picks is dangling over several teams.... As of right now .. the Cavaliers own our pick, top 10 protected.. the Sixers have our second round pick for 2015 and 2016... And the Celtics are also in the mix for a second round pick this and next year, depending on the Sixers.. due to the Joel Anthony trade. lol Riley worked the pick system as much as he can..
Yeah but melo is playing. So is Langston Galloway and Lance Thomas...aka our 2nd and 3rd best players
They gotta sit Love soon, right? He can barely move out there. I know there's not depth behind him but you gotta give the guy a break. AS break is in 2 weeks - wonder if they shut him down a week early for an extended rest.
The Heat could use that pick too. They need to get younger and get someone w considerable upside. But hey, 7th seed.....in the East!
