Jim Mandich, former Dolphins great, broadcaster, dies

You won't find many football related posts here, but I wanted to take time to pay my respects to a Miami Dolphins great.

Jim Mandich, 62,  former Dolphin tight end and long-time sportscaster died Tuesday night from complications of bile duct cancer.

I never heard a bad word spoken about Mandich, and judging from some of his closest friend's tweets, there was nothing bad to be spoken of.

Mandich announced in March of 2010 that he was sick, but still announced Dolphin gams through the 2010 season. He did not continue his popular radio talk show on WQAM.

Obviously, I wasn't alive to see him on the field, but I can remember listening to his show with my dad at a young age and really getting turned on to sports radio because of him. After another heartbreaking Sunday Dolphins loss, Mandich brought the voice of reason that many "Dolfans" needed.

Mandich was drafted by the Dolphins out of the University of Michigan in 1970 and was and played eight seasons with Miami. He's a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and announced Dolphins games from 1994-2004 and from 2008-2009.

No more doubts about Heat duo - Plus Wade's top 10 plays video

Did people really question whether Dwyane Wade and Lebron James could play together?

It's seems so ridiculous looking back on it now, but there were actually some who doubted the effectiveness the duo would have considering both need the ball in their hands. 

With an extremely slow start, Miami Heat critics basked in the teams early season struggles. At times the team looked something like the bizarro Harlem Globetrotters, missing on alley-oop dunks and crossover dribbling the ball off each others feet with regularity. 

But as the season progressed, fans soon got what they expected, and detractors got what they feared: An unstoppable tandem that would learn to share the glory, instead of singularly dominating it. 

And the two have managed to do so without any noticeable drops in their career averages. 

For his career, Wade has averaged 25.4 points per game, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists. This season, 25.5, 6.4, and 4.6. 

James career averages look something like 27.7 points per game, 7.1 rebounds, and 7 assists. This season, 26.7, 7.5, and 7. 

Yes, all has worked out so far in the "experiment". 

Take a look at Wade's top 10 plays of the season according to NBA.com. Number four is a particular favorite of mine. So "Jordan-esque".

Up 2-0, Heat to look 'keep moving forward' vs Sixers

Don't expect the Philadelphia 76ers to lay down Thursday night.

After clobbering the Sixers on Monday, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra reminded his players that many times, Game 3 is the most competitive of a series.

"No exhale," Spoelstra said. "We have to keep on moving forward. We cannot take a step back. We did what we were supposed to do. We won two games at home, and now they're looking to do the same thing. The most competitive game likely will be Game 3."

Lebron James tries to get to the rim through two Sixer defenders

And be sure Sixers coach Dough Collins will have his young team ready to play.

Collins is realest; He's aware who the better team is. But don't expect that to keep his young team from being competitive.

"If they're playing great, they're the better team," Collins said. "If they're on top of their game, they're the better team. That doesn't mean we aren't going to play and compete and fight."

Spoelstra is trying to get his players to come into Game 3 with a sense of urgency. He still wants the Heat to take each day one game at a time, but as the Heat boarded the team plane Wednesday, they did so with the intent of ending the series on Sunday.

"It's never dangerous to think that way," forward Lebron James said in regard to the thought of a sweep. "You take every game likes it's its own, of course. We're going on the road and we're trying to win both. If I came up here and said we're trying to win one, then people would look at it as crazy. We're trying to win both, but Game 3 is the most important one."

Lakers forward Lamar Odom wins NBA's sixth man award

This is usually a spot reserved solely for Miami Heat talk. But with the NBA's announcement Tuesday that the Los Angeles Lakers' Lamar Odom would be named the leagues Sixth Man of the Year, I thought, why not show the former Heat forward some love.

Odom played for the Heat during the 2003-2004 season, a season that many fans will remember as one of the most exciting in franchise history.

He joined a Heat team that was coming off a terrible year in which they had won only 25 games. Coming into the season there wasn't much optimism surrounding the Heat, but after getting off to a slow start, Odom and a group of young talented rookies such as Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem and savvy veterans like Eddie Jones and Brian Grant proved to be a tough out for anyone.

From left to right: Lamar Odom, Eddie Jones, Dwyane Wade, Brian Grant, and Caron Butler

The Heat newcomers brought an unbridled energy to the team that had been lacking for a couple seasons. After defeating the New Orleans Hornets in a memorable seven game series, the Heat would take the playoff tested Indiana Pacers to six games before being eliminated.

Odom's season with the Heat still holds up as one of his best years as a professional, averaging 17.1 points per game and almost ten rebounds.

I remember being so enamored by Odom's versatility. Here was this 6'11 giant bringing the ball up the court with such ease and shooting (and making) three-pointers without hesitation. There weren't many players that I could even compare his game to.

It's a travesty that Odom has never been an NBA All Star. Many felt that once again he was snubbed this year. He ranks sixth in regular season triple doubles among active players with 12, and every other player in the top eight of that list is a multiple all star.

Odom was traded to the Lakers prior to the 2004-2005 season in a package with Grant and Caron Butler for Hall of Fame center Shaquille O'Neal.

Obviously, everything worked out. Odom has two championship rings and the Heat won their first title in 2006.

But I can't help but wonder what that team would have become. With a core of Odom, Wade, Butler, and Haslem, that Heat squad will always be remembered as the top "what if" team the Heat ever assembled.


Here's a good highlight tape of some of Odom's best stuff through the years

Lebron James says Chris Bosh is Heat's 'most important player'

After the Miami Heat's victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 Saturday, Lebron James confidently stated that Chris Bosh is the "most important player" on the team.

James Jones echoed that sentiment, saying that "we can only go as far as he goes, and we can only play as well as he makes us."


That's SOME pressure to put on your THIRD option this late in the season.

Only, that pressure has actually been there all along. 


Even back in January when Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told NBA.com that Bosh "is probably our most important player", it was clear that early on, the Heat genuinely believed this to be true. Whether the fans buy in to this idea doesn't matter; the team believes it, therefore Bosh has to believe it too.

On Monday night, Bosh backed up his Game 1 double-double finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds on 9-of-13 shooting. Another impressive showing against one of the league's better power forwards, Elton Brand.

Oddly enough though, the national perception of Bosh for much of the season was that he was the Heat's weak link. Whenever the team went through a rough patch, Bosh took the brunt of the blame. Critics pointed to his drops in scoring and rebounding and regularly questioned his toughness, just as many did to Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol before he won a championship. 

But if you've actually watched a good amount of Heat basketball this year, you know that Bosh has been nothing but consistent. Sure it took him a couple of weeks to get used to being the third scoring option after being the primary scorer for seven years with the Toronto Raptors. But even before asking for the ball more in the post, Bosh was shooting the ball as well as any player at his position, regularly sinking mid range jumpers with ease.

On a team with James and Dwyane Wade, Bosh is simply an easy target. In March, Bosh was blasted by critics after a seven-point performance against the Portland Trailblazers, a game in which he was clearly outplayed by power forward Lamarcus Aldridge. The belief that week was that Aldridge was a superior player. But is he really? Is Aldridge flat out better? Or are his stats better than Bosh's because he's his team's first option as opposed to the third? I find it hard to believe that if Bosh were in Aldridge's position, that his numbers wouldn't be the same, if not better.

Bosh should be judged on how he performs against his counterparts in the playoffs. Players like Brand, Kevin Garnett, and Gasol. And ultimately, that's what will happen.

Most feel that in 2006, the Heat won the title due to one of he greatest performances in finals history at the hands of Wade. A performance that will be remembered in NBA lore. But really, it was center Shaquille O'Neal that made Wade's legendary performance possible. His presence down low made defenders stay honest and gave Wade more room to work. Wade won it, but he wouldn't have won it without Shaq.

In a way, Bosh is going to need to play that Shaq role. He has to be that post presence that allows the ball handler (only now there's two ball handlers) to do the work.

This is what James means when he talks about Bosh's importance. He means that Bosh has to be the piece that makes everything work. Nobody expects Bosh to be the leading scorer. But he needs to hit his shots. He needs to rebound. He needs to play defense. He needs to be effective.

In other words, he needs to continue doing what he's done all year.

Hopefully he will.



Check out the incredibly bad "Bosh Song" if you haven't heard it.

Despite big three's subpar performance, Heat beat Celtics

Back in February, the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade referred to the Boston Celtics as his teams' "bigger brothers". He compared the Heat's struggles against the defending Eastern Conference champs to those that Lebron James and Michael Jordan both went through against the Detroit Pistons, before ultimately making it to the NBA finals.

But on Sunday, it was the Heat that looked like the veteran team, with an impressive 100-77 win that surely left many Celtics fans doubting the wisdom of general manager Danny Ainge. 

Ever since the Celtics traded their beloved center Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team has plummeted to 29 in rebounding and opponents have taken advantage ever since. 

What should be most alarming to the Celtics is the fact that only one of the Heat's best three players played particularly well. While James finished with 27 points on 11 for 19 shooting, Chris Bosh finished with just 13 points and Wade continued his struggles against the Celtics finishing with 14 points on 4 for 12 shooting. 

Joell Anthony and Lebron James both go for block on Paul Pierce

Often criticized as the weak link of the team, it was the Heat's bench that would provide the spark in the victory with a combined 32 points. 

Point guard Mario Chalmers hit some big three pointers and finished with nine points. Forward Juwan Howard scored six and swingman James Jones scored five. 

But it was center Joel Anthony who was most effective, finishing with seven points and 10 rebounds and consistently disrupting opposing shots at the rim. 

"Obviously we understood there was a lot at stake with this game," Anthony said. "We understood what position we were in and what position we wanted to put ourselves in. Everyone just came really focused for this game and make sure we executed and do the things we needed to do." 

After averaging 14.3 assists in the previous three Celtics victories against the Heat, Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was held to just seven points and five assists this time around, turning the all star into a non-factor.

"I think we were covering up a lot of mistakes with our energy, disposition, saving possessions," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I think against great players like that, that's what you have to do. Ideally, we're trying to do the same that we did in the previous three games but we were a little more conventional." 

With a win against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, the Heat would need just one final win against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday to lock down the second seed in the Eastern Conference. As the the number two seed the Heat will have home court through the first two rounds of the playoffs. 

Udonis Haslem's return to Miami Heat doubtful

With each day that passes, it seems less and less likely that the Miami Heat's Udonis Haslem will play again this season.

Haslem missed practice on Tuesday due to soreness in his left foot, the same foot that was operated on in November to repair ligament damage.

When the co-captian went down 13 games into the season, there seemed to be a sense of optimism amongst his teammates and fans that Haslem would make it back in time for the playoffs. It's starting to look like that was just wishful thinking. 

"I'm not getting coy about it," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "None of us know at this point. Until he's able to go full speed, running, cutting, side to side and contact work and how his foot responds to that, we won't know. He's still a ways from that."

Haslem is perseverance personified. Many gave him the benefit of the doubt due to his unquestioned work ethic and sheer passion for not only the game, but the Heat organization as well. You better believe that nothing hurts him more than watching his teammates from the bench. 

But with only four games left until the playoffs, Haslem's chances of getting a couple of games under his belt before the rigors of a best of seven series begin are all but over. 

And even if Haslem manages to get healthy enough to play, is it really in his best interest to do so? Better yet, is it in Spoelstra's best interest to let him play?

Looks like once again Spoelstra is in a no win situation. If he doesn't play him due to concerns of re-injury, fans will ask "Why isn't Udonis playing?". If he does play him and he gets injured, it becomes "Why was Udonis ever out on the court?".

Haslem will not be 100 percent this year. Throughout the season many said that a Haslem at just half strength would be better than almost every option on the Heat's bench. I once too felt this way. But now I'm not so sure. 

I'm not sure it's wise to risk permanently injuring a guy who has been such a vital and beloved member of the Heat Franchise for eight years. I find it hard to believe that a 50 percent Udonis Haslem is going to make or break the Heat's chances at a title. 

Hopefully Haslem proves me wrong.

Who knows, maybe the Heat are just playing the manipulation game. Maybe he's a lot closer to returning than Spoelstra is giving off. 

Either way, right now Haslem has to be looked at as nothing more than a bonus if he returns. 

"We're focused with what we have," guard Dwyane Wade said. "The biggest thing for him is to get healthy. With that injury, you can't rush it and we don't want him to rush it at all."

And if he does return, his brothers will be there waiting.

"When he's ready to go, we will welcome him with open arms," forward Lebron James said. "We're definitely ready for that No. 40 jersey to be dusted off out of the maintenance room and get back on the floor."

Derrick Rose for MVP not so cut and dry

The due date for members of the NBA media to get their vote in for the NBA's Most Valuable Player is April 14. Too bad the decision was already made weeks ago.

At least that's how many feel, particularly those that are fans of the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Los Angeles Lakers; fans that feel that their player has been unfairly banished from the race due to an early crowning by the media of Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose.

This isn't a piece designed to undermine Rose, who has had nothing less than a truly great season. He's led his team to the best record in the Eastern Conference with a current record of 53-20 and has managed to do so without starters Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer for 30 and 18 games respectively. He is the only player who ranks in both the top ten in scoring and assists, an undeniably impressive accomplishment.

Is Derrick Rose really the MVP?

But I can't help but wonder if this common understanding of "Rose for MVP" by the majority of fans and media alike, has more to do with exceeded expectations than anything else. Because before the season began many analysts and NBA writers figured the Bulls would finish no better than the fourth seed. Clearly, those expectations were low. Now, because a player proved a couple of doubters wrong and managed to keep his team afloat while two of his teammates were injured, the race is over? I don't buy that.

The award shouldn't be about expectations, it should be about who's the best. Because the best is always the most valuable.

Lebron James is the most physically skilled player in the NBA. Many would say he's the best in the league. So does this mean that if Heat teammate Dwyane Wade went down early in the season and missed 30 games just like Noah, that the MVP talk of James and Rose would be reversed? Surely James' stats would be inflated due to more time with the ball in his hands. And I think it's safe to say that the Heat would still be relevant without Wade, with Chris Bosh becoming even more effective as the second option.

Instead, James' shot at a third consecutive MVP has been lost due to a media perception that despite the facts, Rose is a more "clutch" player than James and more valuable to his team. But if your idea of value translates solely to wins and losses, then Rose isn't the MVP, it's the Magic's Dwight Howard. Take Howard off the Magic and you're talking about a mediocre team at best that probably doesn't make the playoffs.

But if you break down the numbers, you'll find that since the 2006-07 season, James has shot a higher percentage (22.0) and scored more points (31) in the last ten seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime than his supposed super-clutch teammate, Dwyane Wade.

Or how about just this season. According to 82games.com, with five minutes left in the fourth quarter or overtime with neither team ahead by more than five points, James ranks second in the NBA, scoring 48.7 points on .439 percent shooting. Rose ranks seventh, at 45.2 points on .375 percent shooting.

So what's more important? One or two buzzer beaters that give off the illusion of the so called "clutch gene," or better overall fourth quarter production?

Lebron was named MVP of the league in back to back years with a Cleveland Cavaliers team that he clearly made infinitely better. Without him, the team has crumbled to worst in the league.

My point, is that James is the same player as then. It should not be held against him now that he's surrounded with two other great players. If anything, he should be rewarded for still managing to maintain much of his stats playing alongside one of the best players in the league.

If Rose is your pick, fine. You won't get an argument from me. But to say it's so clear cut, well, that's simply not correct.

Big Three each score 30 in win over Rockets

The Miami Heat snapped the Houston Rocket's five game winning streak Sunday, with an exciting 125-119 victory in which the Heat made Franchise history along the way. 

The Heat, now standing at 51-22, have won five straight and eight of their last nine and currently sit only a half game back of the Boston Celtics for the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. 

"A fan's delight, a coach's nightmare," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of a game that surely won't be remembered for it's defensive prowess.

Not only was this the first time in the Heat's 23-year history that three Heat players scored at least 30 points in the same game, but it was only the second time in NBA history and first since 1961 that a team had three players score 30 points and pull down 10 rebounds in regulation.

Lebron James finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists, Chris Bosh had 31 points and 12 rebounds, and Dwyane Wade added 30 points and 11 rebounds in a game that probably made many ponder, "Why don't they do this every night?" 

Lately, it seems like they have.

No, they haven't been setting franchise records on a nightly basis; but in the last nine games the Heat's big three have shown the kind of nightly consistency that has been lacking for much of the season. Too many times this season the Heat lost big games due to a lousy night from one of the three. But with only nine games remaining before the playoffs, that no longer seems to be the case.

Take Chris Bosh for example. After unfairly taking the brunt of the blame for the Heat's struggles at various points in the season, Bosh has recently silenced his critics, putting up the kind of numbers that he did as the first option for the Toronto Raptors. In his last nine games, Bosh has had seven doubles (24 points and nine rebounds against the L.A. Lakers) and has scored 30 plus twice. 

Wade and James have looked like the best two players in the league at their respective positions, both earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors during the stretch. 

It may not have been the kind of defensive basketball that has been a staple of the Heat organization for years, but even Spoelstra couldn't help but smile when speaking about the historic night.

"That's what makes great players special, " Spoelstra said. "They can be great during the year and still find another gear, another level they could go to."

"We're just trying to win," Bosh said when talking about his team's historic accomplishment. "That's the bottom line, we're just trying to win games. And historic things that happen, we can have a sense of accomplishment." 

Heat look to avenge worst loss of season against league's best

Just four days ago the season and hopes of an NBA championship were all but over for the Miami Heat. The experiment had failed. Lebron James and Dwyane Wade couldn't couldn't figure out how to play together. Chris Bosh was too soft. Erik Spolestra wasn't the man to lead the team. At least that's what you might have been conned into believing if you'd watched only five minutes of Sportscenter during a five-game losing stretch that started back on February 27 and didn't end until this past Thursday.


But funny how a measly two games can change everything.

Heat point guard Mike Bibby hit five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points against Memphis

After an encouraging 94-88 win for the second time this season against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers Thursday and a 30-point beatdown to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, the panic meter has dropped for the Heat, (there's actually an ESPN Heat panic meter) if only momentarily.


"It feels good to get some wins. The expectation of us going out and playing at a high level every night was waring on us a little bit," James responded after the Grizzlies win when asked about the significance of this particular point in the season. "We said it's just going to take one win and everybody could let their hair down and relax. We've been able to do it the last two nights."


Now the Heat look to make it three in a row Monday night against a San Antonio Spurs team that embarrassed the Heat earlier this month in a 125-95 shalacking, that only further raised doubt in the minds of Heat critics and fans alike.


When the two teams last met, the Spurs dissected the Heat's defense with ease, as the Spurs finished with eight players scoring in double digits and set a franchise record with 17 made three-pointers.


The Heat hope for a much different outcome this time around, with the Spurs entering the game with the best record in the league and riding a three-game winning streak.


Regarded as being one of the better run organizations in professional sports, Spolestra has nothing but high praise for the Spurs.


"We've always had the ultimate respect for them and what they've been able to accomplish. This year, it's probably a little bit of a surprise how well and how efficient they've played. They've already been tested through adversity. They've been through playoff battles.They've been through all the ups and downs."

You have to believe this Heat team wants some sort of revenge. They may not all come out and say it, but leave the admission to Chris Bosh, who's never short of words when it comes to talking about how he really feels.


"They beat the crap out of us and it was on national TV. Everyone saw it." said Bosh.


"We want to redeem ourselves."

Lebron owning up to late game failures

After another brutal 87-86 loss to the Chicago Bulls Sunday, it was pretty hard for a Miami Heat fan to find any reasons for optimism.

Once again it had all the components of a "big-game Heat loss", such as blown double digit leads, lack of bench production, and missed final shots.

This time around it was the Heat's failure to secure a rebound that would have put them in position to close out the game.

With less than 20 seconds left in regulation, Bulls forward Luol Deng stepped to the free throw line with his team down 86-84. At this point, the Heat had to feel pretty good about their chances, considering that even if Deng hit both free throws, the Heat would still have about 18 seconds left to play for the final shot or at worst take their chances in overtime.

Deng would only convert on his first of two free throws, but in the ensuing scuffle for the rebound the Heat's Mike Miller was called for a foul on Deng which sent him back to the free throw line with a chance to take the lead.

This time Deng would convert both free throws giving the Bulls an 87-86 lead, and ultimately the win.

During the Heat's final timeout, Heat head coach, Erik Spolestra would draw up a play designed to get Bulls center Jokim Noah covering Lebron James at the top of the key. The play worked up to that point, but the mismatch wasn't enough as James missed on a driving left-handed layup. Dwyane Wade would then take one final fade away jumper after securing a great offensive rebound, but that wouldn't drop either.

But it's what was said after the game by the Heat's biggest star, and perhaps biggest culprit, that should make Heat fans feel a little better. During the post game press conference, a clearly worn out Lebron answered questions regarding the current mental state of the team and also alluded to his own late game struggles.

"I told the guys that I just keep failing them late in games," James said. "I won't continue to do that"

A simple, yet meaningful quote.

Lebron owning up to his struggles and taking the blame. Letting his teammates and fans know, that he has to be better.

And hopefully he will. Because being "clutch" in the biggest moments of the game doesn't always mean that you need to make the winning shot. Maybe creating for another teammate to have a better shot is what is sometimes needed.

But whatever happens in these last couple weeks of the season leading up to the playoffs, it's refreshing to know that despite the daily criticism from the media and the fans, the most talented player in the world isn't too big to admit his failures.

Heat need wins against NBA's best before playoffs

With a loss to the San Antonio Spurs Friday, the Miami Heat are now 1-8 against the top five teams in the NBA.

With their one true, signature win coming against the Los Angeles Lakers this past Christmas, the Heat have not won another game against a serious contender such as the Spurs, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, or Chicago Bulls this season.

In defending their team against all the "Heat Haters", (and my God, there are so many) Heat fans have often said to "wait for the playoffs"; meaning that no team could beat us in a seven game series. But how could we be so sure without any evidence?

The Heat need to get a couple of wins against some of the best teams in the league before the playoffs start just to instill some confidence in the players. They'll get another shot on Sunday when they host the Bulls for a 1:00 p.m. start.

But enough of the sad, gloomy talk for a minute. Instead of posting a video recapping the Heat getting massacred to the Spurs, I decided to post a pretty funny video mocking Heat forward Chris Bosh courtesy of onionsportsnetwork.com. Check it out.

Onion SportsDome
Tags: Onion SportsDome: Chris Bosh Left In Hot Car For Hours By Heat Teammates, COMEDYCENTRAL

Heat suffer biggest lopsided loss of season to Spurs

After perhaps the most dissipointing loss of the season to the Orlando Magic Thursday, the Heat had no time to lick their wounds, as they hopped on a flight to Texas to face the NBA's best, San Antonio Spurs, for a Friday night 9:30 tipoff that resulted in 125-95 Heat loss.

It seemed like this one was all but over early, with the Spurs tying a franchise record for three-pointers in a quarter, going 8-of-11, jumping out to a 36-12 lead at the end of the first.

The Heat managed to cut the lead to 12 at the half, but the Spurs outscored the Heat 33-22 in the third and went into the fourth quarter with a 24 point lead.

Heat head coach Erik Spolestra pulled all of his starters with about eight minutes to go in the game, in a statement that all but admitted defeat.

The Heat simply didn't have it Friday, in a loss that was their most lopsided of the season, in an effort that might have been their weakest. In what has become a recurring theme in the last five games, the Heat neglected to defend perimeter jump shots, with the Spurs converting on 17-of-28 three-pointers which was also a franchise record.

"This is a team that's clicking on all cylinders right now," Lebron James said when speaking about he Spurs. "Everyone on the team has confidence, Tim Duncan all the way down to the last guy off the bench. We saw tonight why they are the best team in the league."

The Heat's big three all put up solid numbers offensively with James leading the way with 26 points, but a lack of production from the bench aside from Mike Miller and constant defensive breakdowns is what proved to be the difference.

The Heat were again torched by one the leagues best point guards in Tony Parker, who dissected the Heat's defense with ease, finding wide open shooters at all angles of the court.

After the loss, Dwyane Wade spoke of the need to right the ship immediately, with a game Sunday against the Chicago Bulls, who took over the second seed in the East with a win Friday.

"We've been through losing before, so it's not anything new," Wade said. "In this league you can turn it around fast or you can stay in it for a while."

After tough loss to Knicks - Heat's true test begins

After the Miami Heat's troubling 91-86 loss to the New York Knicks Sunday night, Heat fans were left searching for answers after a game that many felt (including myself) would be a reasonably easy win.

The game seemed to be in the Heat's control early with a 15-point lead with about 4:30 left to play in the first half. But the lead was soon squandered, with the Knicks rallying on a 16-0 run to go up 52-51 to end the second quarter.

After the game, Heat head coach Erick Spoelstra spoke about a team that has yet to play up to their true potential.

"We will have our breakthrough,” Spoelstra said. “As painful as it is right now, there will be a time when we break through, execute and win a game like this against a quality opponent going down the stretch. What you hope is that the pain of a game like this resonates enough to make a change.” 

Spoelstra has shared this kind of sentiment throughout the season, especially after a disheartening loss such as the one Sunday.

He has stressed repeatedly throughout the season for the team to learn from their mistakes; to cutback on turnovers and to learn how to close out games.

And while this loss didn't come at the hands of one of the better teams in the league, it further fueled doubts about the Heat's championship hopes, with no signature wins coming this season outside of a road victory over the L.A. Lakers this past Christmas.

So far this season the Heat are 0-5 against the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, the two biggest threats to the Heat in the Eastern Conference.

The next ten games will be telling for the Heat, with perhaps it's toughest stretch of the season with games against opponents all over 500, including the Orlando Magic, two against the San Antonio Spurs, Bulls, Lakers, and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Once these ten games are through, Heat fans should have a pretty good idea of how their team will fare once the playoffs begin. A couple of wins against solid teams like the Portland Trailblazers and Atlantic Hawks won't be enough.

This team needs to prove to themselves that they can beat the leagues best. Because without a hand full of wins against legitimate title contending teams, why should fans, or the players for that matter, have any confidence in terms of being a true contender?

The loss to the Knicks was horrible; maybe the worst of the year. But New York is the least of the Heat's problems. When we look back, this game will be remembered as nothing more than a tough loss in a rather meaningless game. Fans shouldn't look at the game as anything more than that.

Instead the game should serve as a reminder.

A reminder that no matter how talented three of your players are, THREE PLAYERS aren't enough.

It's going to take a team effort every night, and an understanding of how to finish your opponent.

Point guard Mike Bibby possibly headed to Heat

According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, point guard, Mike Bibby and the Washington Wizards have agreed to a buyout. 

Sources supposedly told Broussard that Bibby is headed to the Miami Heat, where the 32-year-old feels that he could compete for a title immediately.

This season, Bibby is averaging 9.1 points per game and 3.6 assists.

With a career average of 15.8 points per game and 5.9 assists, the 12-year veteran is not the same player he once was.

Nonetheless, most would consider Bibby a clear upgrade over Heat point guards Mario Chalmers and Carlos Arroyo.

Arroyo, who has been designated to garbage minutes during blowouts, is a steady point guard in terms of taking care of the ball, but is severely limited offensively and is too small to guard most opposing point guards. Chalmers on the other hand happens to be a decent defender, but commits far too many turnovers and doesn't knock down shots with enough consistency.

If nothing else, Bibby would bring valuable experience to the point guard position.

He is best known for leading the Sacramento Kings against the Los Angeles Lakers in some early 2000's playoff series such as the 2001-2002 season when Bibby and the Kings lost to the L.A. in the Western Conference Finals in an epic 7-game series.

For those that don't remember, Bibby hit a game winner in game 5 of  that series; a shot that earned him a reputation to many as a "clutch performer" and a 7-year $80.5 million contract. Check it out

Chris Bosh gives best and worst performance of career

With the Oscars coming up, Chris Bosh has to get some serious consideration for the Best Actor Award. 

During the third quarter of 93-89 loss to the Chicago Bulls Thursday, Bosh fell to the floor like a sniper victim after "suffering" what appeared to be a slight elbow graze to the nose from Bulls forward Carlos Boozer. It was a flop so bad that all-time flopper great, Vlade Divac probably felt the need to get up and give Bosh his well deserved standing ovation.

After Boozer was called for the offensive foul, Bosh proceeded to roll around the floor for what seemed like an eternity, as Bulls fans delivered an echoing onslaught of boos after watching the replay.

But the the flop wasn't the most embarrassing part of the night for Bosh.

In a night that might be remembered as perhaps his worst game as a professional, Bosh shot an epic 1-of-18  from the field, uncharacteristically missing wide open jumpers and point blank lay ups that made Heat fans watch in bewilderment, after becoming so accustomed to watching his nightly consistency.

But the flop was what made this game so memorable for me. I'm sure it's a night Bosh would surely like to forget, but he should find some solace in knowing that if you search "Worst NBA Flops" in YouTube, he's the third video that pops up. That's a lot of hits Chris! 

Here's the Bosh video, along with a compilation of some of the worst NBA flops of all time. 

No need for Heat to worry about Knicks - for now

Ever since the rumors began about star forward Carmelo Anthony wanting a trade after he turned down the Denver Nuggets $65-million extension last summer, most assumed that he would end up on the New York Knicks.

Even throughout the five month long guessing game that was conducted by writers, analysts, and fans alike, the general consensus always remained that ultimately, Anthony would leave the Denver Nuggets to join up with Amare Stoudemire in the Big Apple.

Monday night all the assumptions and rumors became reality, when the Nuggets shipped off Anthony along with former all star point guard, Chauncey Billups, and formidable role players Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, and Renaldo Balkman to the Knicks in return for Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, and a 2014 first round draft pick.

Knick fans have to be rejoicing today. And well they should be. They just got one of the most dynamic players in the game; a pure scorer with as deadly a mid range jumper you will find, and a knack for getting to the basket that puts him up there with some of the best players in the league.

But let's be honest. Does this team really scare the Heat? Is Anthony, Billups, and Stoudemire a good enough trio to compete with Miami's big three?

If you're a Knick fan, surely your answers' an emphatic, "YES!".

If you're a Heat fan, your answers' probably a sarcastic, unworried, "Please".

My answer would be, "Teams that don't play defense can't beat great teams."

Statistically, the Knicks are the second worst defensive team in the league, allowing 105.9 points per game.

Judging by his history, it seems Knicks head coach Mike D'antoni's philosophy has always been score as much points as possible; run at full speed the whole game, shoot lots of threes, but don't worry too much about defense.

Sure, the Knicks are second in the league in scoring at 106.2 points per game, but so were the Phoenix Suns when D'antoni was the head coach. And that team didn't play a lick of defense either. Aside from a couple of very good seasons, the suns never truly had the makeup of a championship calibre team.

The other five top scoring teams in the league along with the Knicks, are the Nuggets, Houston Rockets,  Suns, Oklahoma City Thunder, and San Antonio Spurs. Aside from the Spurs, none of these teams are viewed as a serious contender to make it the NBA finals.

Compare that to the top six teams in defense: The Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets, Orlando Magic, and Miami Heat. Of those six, the Celtics, Bulls, Magic, and Heat all have been recognized as legitimate finals contenders. 

What does it all mean?

It means you need to play defense to have a chance.

Anthony hasn't played much defense up to this point in his career. I don't see much changing with a switch to a D'antoni system.

The Knicks are finally good enough to make some noise. They'll get fans at the Garden excited, they even have a good shot to win a playoff series. But until defense is emphasized, or until they go and grab a dominant defensive center such as Dwight Howard, I'm not worried.

I don't think the Heat are either.

James Jones becomes fourth Heat player to win 3-point shootout

Heat fans are probably used to this by now.

This past Saturday at All Star Weekend, for the fourth time in Heat history and the third time in the last five years, a heat player has taken home the trophy for winning the 3-point competition.

This time around it was James Jones, joining Glen Rice, Jason Kapono, and Daequan Cook as Heat players who have won the contest.

Jones beat out the Boston Celtics', Paul Pierce, last years winner, and NBA all time leading 3-point shooter (3-pointers made) Ray Allen.

"We've had our struggles with the Celtics in the past, but the Heat came out on top Saturday," Jones joked with reporters after the contest.

The award is a testament to the all the grueling work Jones had to put in in order to get himself back to being the deadly long range shooter that has defined him for most of his career. In 2008, right before his first season with the Heat was set to begin, Jones ruptured a tendon in his right wrist, his shooting hand, and there was some serious doubt as to how effective he could ever be again, even after intensive rehab.

Jones, a Miami native, cites the time he spent recovering as the low-point in his professional career. "As a shooter, I felt like I was really starting to find my niche in this league. To have that injury, my walls came crumbling down." Jones said.

As the Sun-Sentinel's Ira Winderman reported, the Heat's medical staff actually had to rebuild Jones' wrist. His tendons had to be repaired and other tendons actually had to be inserted in.

It wasn't until the beginning of this season that fans truly got an understanding of how intricate of a piece Jones could be for the Heat. For about the first month of the season, Jones lead the league in 3-pointers made and is currently proving to be a defensive presence, taking over injured forward, Udonis Haslem's role as team leader of charges taken.

So while a 3-point trophy may not be exactly the kind of keepsake that Jones was hoping for at the beginning of the season, it should serve as a reminder to him of all he withstood to get back to this point.

"I always wanted to prove myself that I could be labeled one of the best shooters in this game," Jones said. "I think I proved it here today."

Championship this year would be more special than years to come

Over the past eight or nine years there have been a hand full of seasons for the Heat that just seem to stick out. Weather for good reasons or bad, certain years find a way to leave an imprint in your mind, free for you to conjure up whenever you feel like remembering Heat history. 

One season that brings back vivid, heartbreaking memories, is the 2004-2005 season when the Heat were eliminated on their home court by the Detroit Pistons in a gut wrenching game seven. I remember being so confident leading up to that game. I remember feeling that we were the better team; the more complete team. I then remember smashing my Metro PCS cell phone into a thousand pieces after watching my beloved team squander a 6-point lead with only 3 minutes remaining. 

Before this season, I felt that that 04-05 team was the best we ever assembled, with a Shaquille O'Neal giving a year long, MVP-type performance (he finished 2nd in MVP voting), a 23 year old Dwyane Wade blossoming into the superstar very few suspected he would, and a supporting cast made up of young, tenacious players like Udonis Haslem and hungry veterans like Eddie Jones and Christian Laettner.  

The past two seasons have been rather forgettable, with the Heat getting eliminated in the first round both years to the likes of the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics. 

But even with 05's heart break, and 2006's ultimate achievement, there's something about this newest rendition of the Heat that gives off a sort of mystic quality, something that I don't remember feeling in any previous year. Because even if you're not a Heat fan, (or an NBA fan for that matter) I defy you to give me another team that has garnered as much attention / interest as this one. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN INDEX ON ESPN.COM FOR GOD'S SAKE!

Because once all the attention and criticism of this team has subsided, we as Heat fans will look back on this "innagural" season and smile. We'll remember the nightly boos. We'll laugh at the infamous "bump". We'll think back to Lebron's masterful performance in his return game to Cleveland. 

But as fans, we're also greedy. Those memories aren't enough. We want a championship memory to go along with the other ones. And as three of the best players in the world, I would imagine that Wade, James and Chris Bosh aren't content with waiting until next year. Just recently, Wade attested to this when he told espn.com that his team is "still in the learning process. And we're trying to fast-track it very fast. We're trying to win a championship now. And a lot goes into that. And it's not always glitz and glamor and fun. Sometimes it's tough. It's been a lot different than anything I've gone through before in a basketball season."

Which is why a championship this first year would be extra special. The Heat may win the title for the next 5 years, and I'd love every one of them. But if the they could accomplish the fete in their first year, as a fresh, new team that's still not exactly sure who they want to be or how they want to play, amid all the controversy and criticism, it would be something that the Heat, along with all their fans could cherish forever. 

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With win over Pistons, Heat go to Boston sitting atop Eastern Conference

After the Heat made quick work of the Detroit Pistons Friday, in a 106-92 rout, the team's focus shifted toward the Boston Celtics, who they will face Sunday in a game that will decide the Eastern Conference's top team (by record) heading into All Star break.

For only the second time this season, the Heat stand atop the Eastern Conference with a half-game lead over the Celtics, who have proved to be the Heat's biggest challenge thus far. And while the Heat are far from the same team that Boston handled with such ease the first two times the teams met, Miami knows that nothing less than a great performance will be needed to defeat what looks like the best team in the NBA this season.

Last time Miami and Boston met the Heat lost 112-107

The Heat will come into TD Garden riding an eight game winning streak while the Celtics have lost two straight and are only 5-5 in their last ten. Much of their struggles as of late have been to due to nagging injures to center, Shaquille O'Neal and guards, Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels, along with star forward Paul Pierce suffering from flu like symptoms. But all four of Boston's most important players will be in action Sunday, when Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Pierce will try to prove to the Heat fans that they're still the team to beat in the East.

While this game may not act as a totally accurate assessment of where the Heat stands as a serious championship contender due to the lack of full strength of the Celtics, one must remember that the Heat is not 100% either. With Lebron James, Wade, and Chris Bosh all suffering injuries over the past couple of weeks, and with vital role player and defensive leader Udonis Haslem just beginning rehab on his badly injured foot, the Heat will try to prove that they can beat a veteran championship team without being completely healthy.

"Now we're sitting on top of the East, going into a hostile place where we did not play well the first game of the year," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra recently said when asked about the matchup. "We respect who the Boston Celtics are and what they've proven the last 3 1/2 years. So this is what everybody, the fans, the media and everybody out there, this is what they want."

Heat should find minutes for Dexter Pittman

It often feels like the Heat doesn't need to be what most would consider a "complete" team; one that has a facilitating point guard, an attacking shooting guard/forward, a rebounding big man, an effective bench, and a solid defensive approach.

At times, it seems as if any glaring flaws simply get cancelled out due to a stellar trio and a group of role players who have been playing exceptional as of late. 

But many critics of the Heat point to the lack of a true big man and true point guard as a weakness that will get exploited once the playoffs start, thus sealing the Heat's fate when it comes to a championship. 

Still, detractors must keep in mind that this kind of team has no precedent.

Never before has a "big three" with so much talent been assembled and with each entering the prime of their careers at the same time. 

Still, neither Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, nor Chris Bosh stands as a defensive option when it comes to guarding the likes of the Celtics' Kendrick Perkins and Shaquille O'Neal or the Lakers' Andrew Bynum. 

Which brings me to the Heat's second round draft pick, Dexter Pittman.

Pittman, a center, has consistently put up impressive numbers this season for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, an NBA developmental team stationed in South Dakota. Since Pittman started his stint for the Skyforce back in early January, the 6-11 Texas Longhorn has averaged 15 points per game, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks and was recently named to the D-League All Star  Game.

While Pittman may not be ready to be the Heat's everyday starting center, the Heat should consider letting him get some minutes just for the sake of precaution. If starting center Zydrunas Ilgauskas or backup Joel Anthony were to go down, there would be some serious concern as to how the Heat's rebounding and interior defense would be effected. And to expect Pittman to hop right into the mix of a championship run without any pro experience would be asking a lot of the rookie. 

With the Heat winning so many games this season by such a large margin, there should be plenty of time for Pittman to get some minutes under his belt. Better start using him now, rather than seeing what you've got once it's already too late.

Next four Lakers games could mean a lot for Heat

In this weeks latest edition of "Where will Carmelo Anthony get Traded?", the Los Angeles Lakers have become the trendy pick.

With so many rumors out there about where the Denver Nuggets forward will ultimately end up, it seems like aside from the New York Knicks, the Lakers are the only other legitimate contender for Anthony's services. 

In a report by ESPN'S, Chris Brossard, Brossard says that the Lakers would consider trading their highly skilled but often injured center, Andrew Bynum in a deal for Anthony.

If that trade were to occur, that could spell even more trouble for the Heat. 

Could Carmleo really end up in L.A.?

The Lakers are currently 0-5 in games against teams that are considered serious title contenders, such as the Heat, the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Boston Celtics (lost twice). 

However unlikely it may be for the trade to occur, it will be interesting to see how the Lakers staff responds after their upcoming four game road stretch against the Celtics, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic,  and Charlotte Bobcats. 

Should the Lakers lose three of those four games, I think there is a great chance this trade happens, with the Lakers in search of their third consecutive title, and the desire of head coach, Phil Jackson to win one more title before hanging it up for good. 

Just the idea of Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom should be enough to make Heat fans quiver. The Heat may be able to boast the best "big three" in the league, but it might not be enough going up against the Lakers potential "big four". 

So if you're a Heat fan, or a fan of any contending team other than the Lakers, what would you like to see happen on the Lakers upcoming road test? Maybe you'd actually LIKE to see the Lakers lose all four games because you think the Anthony trade would make the team weaker, due to the loss of a true center, in Bynum. 

We have to remember that the past two seasons the Lakers have won the championship, it was with Bynum in the lineup throughout the finals. In 2008, when they lost to the Celtics, Bynum was injured and could not play. 

Either way, you can never count the Lakers out. But if they happen to pickup Anthony, Lebron might be chewing his finger nails down to the bone. 

NBA and Marvel apparel collaboration

If you flip on any NBA game, you're bound to see a couple of highlights that'll probably just make you shake your head.

Some will make your jaw drop and leave you in awe. 

Some will make you ask yourself, "How is that even possible?".

The NBA has come a long way from the days of short shorts and set shots. There isn't a night that goes by in the league where the likes of Lebron James, or Dwight Howard, or emerging superstar, Blake Griffin doesn't give off the illusion of walking on air.

With the players being more exciting and athletically gifted than ever before, and with comic book superheroes still holding a soft spot in the hearts of millions, the NBA and Marvel Comics have teamed up for a merchandise deal putting some of the company's most recognizable superheroes in the colors and emblems of various teams.

The new line of clothing including caps, t-shirts, and sweat shirts will first be available at this years upcoming all star game later this month and then eventually sold  nationwide. 

Being a huge comic book geek myself, I can't help but think this is pretty cool. Although I'm a much bigger fan of the DC Universe which hold the rights to superheroes such as Batman, Green Lantern, and the Flash, seeing the Incredible Hulk sporting Celtic green seems pretty fitting, and as much as I hate the Knicks, Spiderman rocking the blue and orange seems pretty appropriate due to his long time association with New York City. 

It'll be interesting to see which hero decides to put on the black and red. The Human Torch seems pretty fitting, no? 

Heres a link to an earlier issue of ESPN The Magazine where the NBA and Marvel previously teamed up to repurpose every NBA team with their superhero counterpart. http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/10/25/espn-magazine-nba-marvel-covers-gallery/

With no clear cut favorite, Lebron might receive third straight MVP

Lebron James recently said that he felt his and Dwyane Wade's chances of winning any future MVP awards were thrown out the window the second they decided to team up.

While James might have just been trying to sound humble, many Heat fans, and NBA fans in general, shared the same kind of sentiment.

Many felt that while the duo had the chance to be great, the mere pairing of the two would cancel each other out when it came time to vote for the leagues most valuable player.

But as the season reaches its halfway point, and still no clear cut MVP emerging (Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, and Derrick Rose all having great seasons, but more impressive than Lebron?), you'd have to say that James has as good a shot as anybody to win what would be his third consecutive MVP award.

Is a third straight MVP in Lebron's future? 

And while one could contend that his stats are down, this is an argument that simply couldn't hold up in court.

Sure, his scoring is down a bit from last year when he averaged 29.7 points per game compared to 26.1 this year, but that should have been expected by everyone. He's still the second leading scorer in the league.

But if you take a look at some of the other major statistical categories, not much has changed.  His rebounding and steals are almost identical to last year and his three point percentage is up.

It all comes down to what the voters are looking for.

Will the voters cancel James out due to the MVP like calibre play of Wade? Or will they recognize the significance of a truly special player who's former team just set the NBA record for consecutive losses at 24.

If James wins his third consecutive MVP he will be only the third player to do so and the first to do it since Larry Bird when he accomplished the fete in the 1985-1986 season.

It'll be interesting to see if the voters do whats right at the end of the season and award the worthy candidate or if they settle for what I call a "default MVP", similar to when the great Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson won the award for the 1994 and 1995 seasons respectively, due to the first retirement of a guy named Michael Jordan.

Real NBA tough guys

After Oklahoma City's rising superstar, Kevin Durant referred to Chris Bosh as a "fake tough guy" following the Heat's 108-103 road victory Sunday, it got me thinking... 

Who are some of the leagues real tough guys? 

And what exactly is it that separates a tough guy from a fake tough guy? 

I've created a list of five current NBA players and I want you guys to tell me if the player qualifies as a real or fake. I'll give my opinion too. 

Paul Pierce = Fake 

Ron Artest = Real 

Kevin Garnett = Fake 

Udonis Haslem = Real 

Glen "Baby" David = Fake 

Just call us the N.W.O. from here on out

Miami Trice? (Doesn't have that great of a ring to it) 

The Heatles? (Pretty corny if you ask me) 

How about The Trinity? (Some might find this one a bit blasphemous)

We're almost at the halfway point of the first season of this ever so fascinating experiment, and still no team nickname has truly caught on like some thought it would.

I've said from the beginning that I don't think this team needs a nickname. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen's Bulls never needed one. Greatness doesn't require a moniker. Your work on the floor is what defines you. 

But with Lebron James "accepting the role of the villain" becoming one of the on-going story lines of this NBA season, and the Heat continuing to be greeted with boos every arena they visit, I must admit, there is one name that I find pretty cool... 

The N.W.O. Or for those who aren't familiar, The New World Order.

Any former wrestling fans out there? 

Remember when the beloved "Hulk Hogan" turned into "Hollywood Hogan" and stabbed Hulkamania in the back? Remember how he traded in his signature red and yellow colors for black white and aimed to take over World Championship Wrestling like a street gang?  (You have no idea what I'm talking about right now if you weren't a wrestling fan.. LoL sorry about that)

Well this is sort of how Lebron James, and the rest of the Miami Heat for that matter, are viewed in their first season together. As the bad guys. The guys that all the fans love to hate. The guys that everyone wants to fail. 

I mean, even rising superstar Kevin Durant, who might be the softest spoken guy in the entire league, had some harsh words for the Heat's Chris Bosh when he called him a "fake tough guy" after the Heat pulled out a tough one at Oklahoma City 108-103 on Sunday. 

Maybe it's time the Heat adopted this nick name. Even if its only for this season. Because just like in wrestling, many fans learn to love the bad guy. Even if it pains them to admit it.

Hollywood Hogan eventually turned back to Hulk Hogan. The fans ultimately forgave him. The fans will ultimately forgive Lebron. The fans will eventually stop booing the Heat. 

But until then, let's embrace it. 

Call us the N.W.O.