1) He got here in 2003, and he's meant as much to this franchise as anyone. He's iconic amongst his team's fan base in a way few athletes ever become - he is the Heat, and the Heat are him. Time has robbed him of a significant portion of his skills, but tonight, when his team needed him desperately, he delivered a game-saving performance. Dwyaaannnnneee Waaa- nah, dude. UD. Kick-started the Heat in the third quarter with a putback in traffic, then a blow-by tomahawk slam on Roy Hibbert to give the Heat a lead. Later in the third, during a frenzied stretch in which the Heat blew the game open, he spaced the floor out to the left baseline, and dropped three straight vintage UD rainbow jumpers. Then, in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, snuffed out the last Pacers surge by swishing another baseline jumper, and drawing a charge on Lance Stephenson. Ballgame. 8-9 for 16 points for Udonis. Some day when that #40 is hanging from the rafters, you can think about this game a little and smile...Let it fly.
2) Let's be honest: the Heat have a huge problem right now. Realistically, you probably can not win an NBA championship with KJ James, Udonis Haslem, and Mario "Emcee" Chalmers as your three best players, no matter how consistently terrific Almario Vernard is, and no matter how I wear his t-shirt during these playoff games (tonight with a long-sleeve Polo pullover underneath, in a tribute to my cousin Josh who, as kids, used to wear a Red Sox three quarter sleeve batting jersey over a buttondown plaid dress shirt - sweet look!). KJ James tried something similar for years in Cleveland - it doesn't work. But that's where we are right now. Udonis saved the day, and Emcee (12 points, 6 assists) was the only kid who showed up in the first half, penetrating and scoring to keep Miami hanging around during a half in which they played horribly. James took the first half off - it looked like he knew it was going to take a do-it-all Herculean effort from him down the stretch for Miami to win, and he bided (word?) his time and conserved energy for as long as he could. He outscored Indiana in the third quarter 16-13, and also repeatedly got middle and found shooters (usually UD) - 4 assists. He, UD, and Mario generated almost all the offense...You know what is odd? Pacer fan/Heat hater and TNT analyst Steve Kerr spent all game bitching about some real or perceived wrong that was foisted upon his beloved Pacers - at one point, KJ James dribbled over a screen, DJ Augustin took a weird foul by whacking James across the chest as he dribbled by, James didn't whip his head (aka "The Derrick Rose"), or stagger ("The George Hill"), or do anything except square up and continue the play as the ref blew the whistle and called the obvious foul. Even Augustin didn't argue - it was a foul, it was kind of pointless, and everyone was prepared to move on. Except for Steve Kerr: not ready to move on! As they showed the replay, Kerr sneered and smirked out a "oh yeah, I'm sure little DJ Augustin can make James fall like that..." But James didn't fall, he didn't do anything except continue to play until the whistle stopped him. He didn't even mean-mug the referee or Augustin like David West does after anyone touches him (more on that down in #5). But Kerr never stopped, he was on James all night. Then, in the fourth quarter, as the Heat continued to hammer Indiana, he switched tactics to a "Miami is totally reliant on James" kind of strategy, implying that the Heat couldn't win the game without KJ, as if that was some kind of criticism. Umm, duh? Steve Kerr does realize that KJ James is on the Heat, right? He's part of the team - it's not KJ James, and then there are 14 other guys unrelated to him. In fact, I would almost argue, Steve Kerr, that's why the Heat got James in the first place, to help them win games cuz he's super-good. What a weird, super-douchey meltdown during the playoffs from Steve Kerr. He's less objective than all-time Pacer great Reggie Miller (who's really more "dopey" than "biased"). Great head of hair on Kerr, though, can't say I'm not jealous.
3) Both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh looked out of it. Wade can't move at all - he doing that thing where all his shots are running throws, and when he does shoot a jumper, he can't get off the floor at all, so he just leans back and splays his legs to try to generate some oompf. He was terrible. Bosh sprained his ankle in Game 3, and looked very limited tonight. His gait looked even more dainty than normal. They were a combined 6-15, and that's probably not going to be good enough to win most nights in the playoffs. They did grab a combined 11 rebounds, and Dwyane added 4 assists, but their health is very troubling. Even if they get out of this series, it's hard to imagine beating San Antonio with these two guys as hobbled as they are right now. Yikes.
4) Miami won the game on the defensive end. They held Indiana to 45% from the floor (still not great), but only allowed 6 offensive rebounds and 15 free throws. The more the refs let the game get athletic, the more it benefits Miami, obviously. Miami started trapping hard in the third quarter, and doubling quickly on the Pacers bigs. It's not the way the Heat prefer to play, but they had to scramble the game somehow - letting Hibbert and David West back their way into the lane for 9 seconds, then turn and plop the ball into the hoop, apparently became tiresome for Coach Spo and they switched strategies. On this night, the scrambling worked: Indiana's second half offense boiled down to "Paul George either makes a long, contested jumper, or throws a pass directly out of bounds." Hibbert was great again with 8-14 for 22 points, but had only 2 offensive boards, and was quiet in the second half. Defensive play of the game? When David West caught the ball on the left wing, lowered his shoulder into Chris Bosh, drove him seven steps sideways into the lane - without dribbling, by the way - missed his runner because he was too busy traveling and shoving Bosh, grabbed his own rebound, pushed Bosh again with his right arm, tried to flip it back in with his left hand, and 6'1" Norris Cole came flying in and absolutely hammered that weak-ass poop out of the sky. Mr. West? It was just one aggressive defensive play out of many in the second half. But it was a really, really satisfying one play.
5) Altercations! Well, Birdman's streak of 130 made shots in a row, or whatever, is destined to live another night, because it seems unlikely he'll be playing in Game 6. He got shoved in the back by Paul George on a rebound in the second quarter, turned around, saw Tyler Hansbrough and assumed Hansbrough had been the offending pusher - seemed like a safe bet at the time, that really was the logical assumption to make - ran over to Hansbrough, and bodychecked him. Hansbrough saw him coming, and went down flailing like a baby bird who'd been hurled out of the nest by his momma. In a series marred by "flop talk," it was the biggest flop of all. They got up, squared off, Bird shoved him hard, and was going back after him for more until a team of refs and Heat security personnel pulled him back to the bench. Hard to believe he won't be suspended. Also, to add insult to injury, Reggie Miller Hubie'd him with a "Chris Birdman"..In third quarter, big, tough David West went after little Mario Chalmers and got in his face, daring him to do something, while Chalmers did what he always does, which is to look off into space and dream about video games (that's between 60-80% of his normal day). He couldn't have been less intimidated - he, and everyone else in the NBA, has seen West's act before. If West really wanted to fight, Chalmers is standing right there in front of him - why doesn't he take his shot? All West wants to do is get in your face, and dare you to do something, as if you weren't just standing there minding your business when he ran up on you. Loser. Udonis quickly inserted himself into the situation - that's his job, West outweighs Chalmers by 60 pounds, at least - and West didn't want any of that either. He kept talking, but that's it. Blah, blah, blah. Udonis would rip that kid apart, limb from limb. Jesus Christ, David West: man up and take your shot at UD, or shut up. You look like the biggest puss in the NBA. Or, really, just grow up...Finally, Lance Stephenson threw a cheap elbow into Wade's mouth late in the game, which electro-shocked Dwyane into instantly driving and scoring on the other end, the one play he made all night. Those two have been whacking at each other all series.
6) Can you imagine: me in the Olympics, doing my thing, winning that 100 yard swimming thing, going up on that podium, getting my little gold medal, whatever...And then marrying Lolo Jones...For real...Look, here's me and Lolo at tonight's game, look at how in love with me she looks! I love you, Lolo, I'll see you when I get off work tomorrow! You want to get home-brewed beers at the Due South, or go to Juice Berry for a Tuna Melt? You don't have to decide now...
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Game 6 is Saturday night in Indiana, aka the "Show Me" state. Based on how Dwyane and Chris looked tonight, I think it's fairly safe to assume we'll be back for Game 7 on Monday in Miami. Saturday is M.Minutos' birthday, though, if anyone can bring the magic, it's either her, or UD and Mario Chalmers! If you need me before Saturday, I'll be loloing...
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