Never Say Die

   

     Not dead yet. Where are all the Heat fans right now, amidst all this talk about who we need to get as a coach? This season is not over. Last I checked the first team to notch four wins gets the series. I am officially calling out the crowd at that game last night, you guys could have been a LOT louder. There have been plenty of championship teams that have been down, down 3-2 and looked like total crap before they turned it all around. They got this.
     How does the ref make that call against Haslem with 15 seconds left in the game? You know what the great thing about a conspiracy is? Everybody says “Oh, suure, it’s a conspiracy” And “They still have to put the ball through the basket” Granted, it’s a little bit of Column A and a little bit of Column B, but no one’s suggesting David Stern puts a gun to the ref’s heads and says “these guys gotta win”, they just let them know, that if there’s a chance, to influence it, to tilt it a certain way. I’m sorry the calls are way too ridiculous.
     That said, speaking of way too ridiculous, how about the amount of defensive rotations botched by the Heat last night? There were so many that it would really seem to indicate a larger issue than just a couple of mistakes made by players. Like I said before, granted, it’s a little bit of A and B, but if we’re missing assignments left and right, don’t you kind of look at the guy in charge? No more questions for now though. This game coming up, this is it now. We’re going find out who really doesn’t want to go home.

Game 5 Notes

     Bosh active, not starting. Really could have used him drawing out Garnett in the 4^th Quarter. Spo’ says after the game “I wanted to be fair to Chris” or something like that, which is his way of saying “he was missing defensive assignments” but dang man. Forget fairness right now. On the other hand, better not to re-aggravate the injury and they could have won without him.

     Battier has a drive for a two pointer early, this may seem minor in the wake of everything else right now, but some plays like that in general are probably a good idea once in a while to get our shooters in rhythm. By the way, The Heat shot 26 three-pointers last night. What? On Thursday night, at least, they do have an opportunity to play much better.

     Rondo and Kevin Garnett were ice cold in the first half. KG eventually came around.

     Really enjoy having Udonis out there. It feels so much more like a team when he’s on the floor.


Some delightful Heat moments for any one questioning the Heat, who may otherwise forget (like the kid said, "Good job, good effort". Words to live by.):

     An Alley to Wade

     A wonderful block by Lebron on Paul Pierce, who falls into the stands

     Bosh puts up an And-1 down low right in KG’s face

     Just multiple great drives by Lebron in the first half. Perhaps if Bosh had been in late, the lane would have been cleared for more of that in the second half.
     I wouldn’t mind at all if Lebron just went off for fifty. You always hear the classic killer instinct thing, when you’re the best player in the world, you go to work, demand the ball, get a screen, and just cut their throats. Down in South Florida we say, get the ball, get the screen, straight up chew these guys' faces off

     Mike Miller draws a charge on Pierce. Ira Winderman had an interesting take the other day, proposing the league eliminate charges entirely. With this officiating chaos, all kinds of suggestions are being made, including expanding the no-charge circle under the rim to varying degrees.

     In the second half, Lebron puts one up down low that rims out, Pierce tries to tip it out but Lebron collects the ball and puts it in

     Chalmers drivin. Udonis fullcourt pass to Chalmers.

     Rondo, “one of the greatest ever” gets an entertaining backcourt violation

     Wade is penetrating and dishing pretty well. Battier did knock down a huge 3 that should have been an And-1 if the calls were being made the same both ways.

     Rondo gets a breakaway, but like a speeding bullet, unseen, from behind Norris Cole jacks him

     LBJ drives and lays it in right in KG’s face. Then hits a 3. Pierce airballs it, KG rebounds and does the same.

     An amazing drive by Wade and then a redonkulous block.

     Then we let it slip away. Real tough one. “Our mistakes can either define us or they can galvanize us”, didn’t Pat Riley say that in the 2006 Finals? Game 6, now. Boston Garden. Do or Die. Tell you what, I don’t like it, but now that we’re here, wouldn’t have it any other way. This Celtics team is bringing such a hell of a fight to us and you know, I’m glad, because if we make it out of this, the Heat will be a lot better for it. Hey, you gotta put it all out there. Win or lose, there’s no question either way we’re going to learn from the Cetlics what championship basketball is all about. They’re not perfect, it’s not always pretty, and I don’t like them, but that’s how it is. Come on, guys. I want the Heat juju to be through the roof the next couple of days. Chew their faces off. See you Thursday night