Before I get into all the doom and gloom of actually recounting the game, I want to remind Heat fans there are a lot of things to feel good about going into tomorrow’s game 5.
At the top of the list is the showing we got from Udonis Haslem last night. He’s back. He’s finally getting decent minutes and doing something with them, notching a solid 12 points and 17 rebounds.
Next is the fact that our defense on Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett really improved in the second half of that game. The Celtics scored 61 in the first half. They hardly put up half that the rest of the way, scoring 32 in the second half and overtime. That’s huge.
We’ve taken their best shot and still had a great chance to win both games. Now we’ve got homecourt in a three game series. But it is absolutely imperative that the Heat take Game 5. On to our observations of Game the Fourth
A start for Joel Anthony. With the incredibly flat beginnings we’ve had from the Heat lately, I think we’ve got to get Haslem back into the starting lineup. There is no question the effort will be there from him. I vote more Rony Turiaf as well.
OK, let’s seriously start calling fouls on these obscene KG screens.
Contact the NBA league office. Let the NBA know you're not stupid, Let your voice be heard,
KG tipped in a bucket for us early which was pure delight.
Despite the rest of his seemingly ubiquitously crapped on first half, Wade did have a couple beautiful spin moves to the basket early. I know he’s got to step it up, but we ought to at least acknowledge how tough his job is. We all expect more from him, but he was also millimeters away from being the hero with a 3 at the end of it all. I know how it is being a fan, how the emotions get involved, but after listening to the radio and watching the ESPN shows and hearing and seeing all the raging, I really feel blessed just to watch these guys play
The fouls in this game are clearly totally about pecking order. They obviously tag fouls on the guys whose names aren’t as well known.
an Alley to Lebron! James Jones is professional, hitting a shot soon after entering
UD hits a couple shots, and we need Wade in rhythm early
Let’s all not forget that Rondo tried to kick Shane Battier on the ground.
Rondo probably did us a huge favor with his stupid remark at halftime about the Heat “crying in transition”. Surely Wade takes big-time offense to that. One hopes
The Celtics go up big again before another amazing comeback by the Heat. Really superb defense in the second half. This time the Heat make it all the way back. It’s tied when Udonis re-enters.
Some good Norris Cole moments here, he seems to do a much better job on Rondo. Cole made a great drive straight to the rim at one point too. I like when Chalmers and Cole do that.
A clutch 3 near the end of Regulation from Lebron.
I don’t want to get caught up in the officiating, but the foul calls on Lebron were totally ridiculous. His last three were mystifying, topped by an utterly absurd call as Pietrus seemingly grabs his man-place, and LBJ fouls out in overtime.
After listening to the talking heads all trash the Heat players, I have to say: Listen, I know some of the performances from Heat supporting players have been underwhelming recently, but I’m getting really tired of hearing people questioning if guys like Battier and Miller “can really play”. An Olympian and an All-Star. It’s fair to expect exceptional from guys who make as much money as they do, but I think all this is bigger than the individual guys. I put it on coaching, more than anything honestly. Our role players need a pecking order. I think we would get more consistent production if everybody knew exactly what they’re getting into, what’s expected of them, etc. Here’s mine
Haslem
Chalmers
Battier/Miller
Norris Cole
Joel Anthony
Turiaf
James Jones
Then even the least used players would feel something is expected of them every night, rather than just being an oft-maligned question mark. Hopefully, Chris Bosh returning will end this excuse factory from Spo’ about the instability of the rotation.
We’ve got to push through the absurd officiating. Right now, all four teams left in the playoffs are even. Six wins from hoisting a championship trophy. Even the sacred and holy Spurs have lost two in a row on the road. This is what the Eastern Conference Finals are all about. I expect to see the Heat’s best game of the year tomorrow night, now let’s enjoy watching Game 5 and LET'S GO HEAT!
No comments:
Post a Comment