6 Thoughts
1) Miami followed up its worst game of the year with an even worse performance, losing at home to Milwaukee. Got down 20 early in the second quarter, and never seriously threatened. First 3 game losing streak of the season. 20-3 Lakers in town Friday night. Difficult times for this unit. This isn't much of an opening statement, I recognize, but it was a terrible game, it is 12:30 am, I endured a lengthy Christmas party earlier this evening, and I don't have the mojo right now. Not to make excuses, but - let's just try to wrap these next five points efficiently and move on with our lives...
2) Dwyane Wade also followed up his worst game of the season with an even worse performance of his own, a 5-16, 15 point stink bomb. Teams are crowding him on the perimeter, then collapsing on him with length. Of course, this is nothing new for Wade, who usually can finish or get to the line, or find open shooters. However, he has done none of the three for the past three games. He is getting uncharacteristically frustrated, and has drawn technical fouls for arguing each of the past two games. Believe me, I just spent 3 hours on a Monday night at a Christmas party where I had to sing The Twelve Days of Christmas (in "round" style), and won an origami set - I can appreciate frustration. If the bartender had been a referee, I would have been ejected long before the fourth quarter...
3) If there is any bright spot over the last week, it is Emcee Mario Chalmers, who had 20 points on 8-13, to go with 8 assists and 7 rebounds. He is energetic, athletic, and competes with vigor. Most impressively, though, was a play that he made midway through the second half. Guarded by Australian behemoth Andrew Bogut on a switch, Chalmers demonstrated exactly what a point guard should do when he is picked up by a big guy. He patiently waited for his teammates to spread the floor, putting Bogut out in space against him. Probed with the dribble, then made an aggressive move in to the lane. As his Bucks teammates rushed to assist the outquicked Bogut, Chalmers found a cutting Shawn Marion for an easy dunk. It is this type of thought and organization which promises such good things for Chalmers. He already possesses the raw athleticism to compete at a high level - but there is a certain level of savvy that he flashes which may allow him to be a long term impact player at this level.
4) Speaking of Oz' Bogut, the undersized Miami frontline turned him in to Wilt Chamberlain for the evening: 20 points and 11 rebounds. He, quite impressively, made jump hooks with both hands. Along with Dos Minutos favorite Charlie Villanueva, they were able to dominate this game in the paint on both ends. With their success inside, it seemed like a game that Heat coach Eric Spoelstra might have done well to unleash the Big Cat, Jamal Magloire, in attempt to slow the tandem down a little, or if not slow them down, perhaps injure them beyond the point of being able to continue. However, perhaps fearing another headbutting incident, Spoelstra declined to play Magloire, save a brief couple minute first half cameo. In retrospect, probably a good decision.
5) His reluctance to play the Big Cat aside, Eric Spoelstra has done a fine job this season. He has limited options, and when Dwyane Wade does not play, at the minimum, a very good game, the Heat often have no real chance to win. Still, if one was to nitpick, I would like to see Spoelstra run more plays for Mike Beasley where the rookie gets a chance to catch the ball on the move with an advantage on the defender. He is, easily, Miami's second best offensive player. But while Dwyane Wade both makes plays for himself, and has plays run for him, virtually everything Beasley is asked to do comes from him receiving the ball in a neutral spot on the court. It is a testimony to him, especially as a 19 year old, that he is able to create so many good opportunities for himself. But, since he struggles defensively, while he is out there, I think the Heat needs to maximize his offensive skills to even greater advantage...In a related story, the very left-handed Beasley claims that he must have caught the flu that kept him out of this past Friday's game vs. Atlanta "from my dogs." Okay, look, I'm no veterinarian, I'll buy that. But it strikes me that if I were a 19 year old multimillionaire # 2 draft pick playing for the Heat a few steps from South Beach, the last thing I would be spending my time and money on would be dogs. I would play basketball, play video games, and go to clubs. That's it. Who needs the hassle of having to make sure the dog gets let out to do its business? Especially considering that he probably lives in a Miami high rise condo. I suppose, in his defense, it is better for him to be accumulating dogs rather than kids, although either way he is probably just going to end up paying somebody to take care of them...
6) Dos Minutos would like to take a moment to recognize a new subscriber, Jamie Granger. A few thoughts about Jamie. First, he is one-third renaissance man, one-third bon vivant, and one-third cagey. Second, he is an extremely talented writer, and has a classic intellectual's dry wit. Third, for the entire first year and a half that I knew him, I thought his name was Phil. Though we have now straightened that out, even at this late juncture it is unclear to me whether he knows anything about basketball. Even if he does not, it is never too late to begin to learn. Thus, in true Dos Minutos spirit, we not only welcome Jamie, but we celebrate him...
