6 Thoughts
1) A disappointing loss, but not a bad one. Energy level was high against a good and especially tall team, and a solid bounceback from a desultory effort against New Jersey. Even without Marion the Heat was able to compete on the boards a little, and they had chances late, but couldn't catch a break. Coming in to the season, I thought this was the type of team that Miami couldn't compete with - that they were able to demonstrates the considerable moxie they are playing with thus far.
2) I almost can't believe it, but Chris Quinn has fashioned himself into a legitimate NBA role player. 10 points and 5 assists in 30 minutes tonight, including a Plumber-special look-away-then-shoot three point play at the third quarter buzzer. He is a legitimate shooter off of an NBA bench and he doesn't turn the ball over. Still going to have trouble defensively, but he competes on that end.
3) Beasley saw punitive pine time in the second half. He had a couple of plays where he didn't contest drivers and Spoelstra yakked him. Disappointing because for the first time I thought he and Wade started to play off each other in a two man game. They will figure it out. He contested a drive in the first half, actually, took the blow, and got called for a block - it was debatable whether he got outside the circle or not. Dick Bavetta made the call, so maybe it was correct, but I certainly wouldn't, ummm, bet on it
4) A Mark Blount sighting - stumbled his way into three rebounds in eleven minutes. One was a surreal moment where LaMarcus Aldridge lost control of a layup and the ball seemed to hover in front of Blount's face for days before reluctantly cradled it. Took three long jumpers - it would have been more but he only touched the ball three times. Demonstrates the general reaction time and awareness of my 95 year old Grandpa Les driving in a severe fog. In related and disturbing news, Jamal Magloire has begun practicing, and expects to return soon. I could have sworn he supposed to be out longer, wasn't he?
5) Miami played its second straight game against a highly touted rookie big man. Greg Oden played 16 minutes and had a bucket and a couple of blocks. He looks awkward offensively, but is long, pretty quick, strong, and is already a menace defensively. Maybe I have been influenced by others saying it, maybe it is because he looks 40 - but he just seems like a guy with a body that can't hold up. I hope it does, because he seems like a good kid. If he can hold it together, he is definitely going to be a big-time player.
6) I haven't seen Derrick Rose yet - until I do, the best rookie I have seen so far is Rudy Fernandez. He was terrific in the Olympics and he was terrific tonight. He is a whirl of activity at about 6'6" or 6'7" - he gets to the rim and finishes with aggression, he shoots it from deep, and has a nice in between game. He is a high level NBA small forward right now. If there is any criticism to make of him, it is that when he touches it, it is going up. On the whole, though, extremely impressive.
