6 Thoughts
1) Remember the last game, Sunday night against the Knicks, when Miami blew a huge lead at home, got behind, then scrapped back late, only to suffer an excruciating loss in the final moments? It couldn't get no worse, right? Uh oh - it just got worser! In honor of new Heat point guard Mike Bibby, let's do this, let's get pasty!!!
2) Miami led by 24 early in the second half. Dwyane Wade had scored 24 in the first half, with 4 steals; LeBron had scored 23 - their first half of the season with 20 plus points each. Over the next 14 minutes or so, Orlando outscored Miami 40-9, to take a seven point lead in the 4th quarter. 40-9!!! What happened?
3) First, Dwyane Wade was mind-bogglingly terrible. Not just his play - though it was bad - but his decision-making, and, especially, his effort level. He spent the first half posting Jason Richardson and JJ Redick, muscling inside and finishing. He spent the second half dribbling aimlessly on the perimeter, occasionally launching a bad jumper, or running the clock down before flippping the ball casually to a teammate, putting them in a bad spot on the perimeter with a short clock. Occasionally, he got fouled, stepped to the line, and missed two free throws. Defensively, he wandered all over at low speed while his cover Richardson drilled triples - JRich finished 6-8 for 24 points. I don't even have jokes for him - it was sad.
4) Second, if Dwyane Wade adjusted the effort level from a 9 to a 0.0, LeBron was only slightly less at fault. He, too, was aggressive in the first half, and spent the second half lazing on the perimeter - let's say he took it from a 9 to a 2. I don't have any jokes for him either - Orlando is not a particularly talented defensive team...if Dwyane and LeBron make any effort at all, the game is over after three quarters. No jokes for LeBron, either...After the game, Coach Spo said he didn't think the team relaxed. Spo: get off the Charlie Sheen. They didn't relax? Really? Is that a joke? I don't even know what to make of Spo these last few days - it is his job, really his only important job, to get a consistent level of energy out of this group. Right now, he isn't getting that. If he doesn't want to call his guys out in the media, fine, say nothing. But don't say you thought they played hard - we all watched the game, they didn't play hard. If you can't see that, that's a huge problem...
5) Okay, let's let it go - was it terrible? Yes, it was terrible. And the next 9 - nine - games are against top teams, including San Antonio twice, Chicago, and the Lakers. So it's time to take it up a level. And how best to take it up a level? That's right: sign newly waived point guard Mike Bibby to the roster!!! Bibby has divided Casa Minutos: Dos loves his "cautious" and "energy-conserving" approach to defense, his ghetto-Kermit the Frog voice, and his ability to space the floor with threes - he's a long-time favorite, although admittedly, he'd be more effective for the Heat if this were 2005. M.Minutos dislikes his headband, his beady-eyed sneer, and the fact that he is the pastiest black man in the NBA. Either way, I think we all agree, at least he isn't Mario Chalmers! Emcee still started tonight, but when Bibby replaced him with a minute to go in the first quarter, the crowd gave a rousing cheer. "Eric, I think part of that cheer is for the six million dollars Bibby waived on his contract for next year to be able to join the Heat," postulated Tony Fiorentino when the crowd erupted. Part of it? Yes! A small, small part! Mostly we were cheering Mario going to the bench - with the knowledge that Mr. Bib Shots will soon be the starter. Adios, Emcee - we'll see you at the end of the next blowout - if we ever blow somebody out again!
6) The ancient Egyptians had a hieroglyphic symbol for it which resembled a man with his arms stretched skyward, fists balled...in the second century BC, the Greeks revered it, and in the historic city of Samothrace built a statue depicting the god Nike to honor it...the earliest Spanish conquerors called it "ganando," and it inspired them to construct massive fortresses in Old San Juan, and throughout the New World, to protect their investments...in the early days of this great nation, we called it "Manifest Destiny," and we spread out across the Americas, through force of will and firepower...now, in its simplest, and most perfectly realized form, we call it simply: "Winning...!" #charliesheenistheillestphilosopheralive
