6 Thoughts
1) Good grief...tough loss. Miami played poorly all night, looked like they stole one at home with a late fourth quarter surge, then got tied at the buzzer on a bad-look three by former Heat forward Rasual Butler. Immediately got down six in overtime before a Wade three point play, and three pointer tied it under a minute to go, only to see David West make a 20 foot fallaway at the shot clock buzzer with a hand in his face, and Wade get stripped of the ball by Chris Paul with 5 seconds to go. No call. Tough no call. Wade got ejected arguing - the game was over anyways. Philly lost, Miami still a half game up with 4 to play - if they end up playing Boston in the first round instead of Atlanta, they can look back to this one right here as one that got away.
2) However, it wasn't all bad news. There was the matter one particular rookie, El Rookie, Mr. Mike Beasley, who had his most complete game of the season. 25 points, 9 rebounds for the kid - he kept the Heat in it for three and a half quarters, and almost won it for them down the stretch. Played 48 minutes - Scotland's Faither should be happy - including the entire second half and overtime. Has a nice goatee going on the chin. Got to the rim at will against David West, and anyone else. Switched hands en route, finished with elan. I, personally, thought he almost got enthused at one point. Let's see if he can keep the momentum going.
3) Chris Paul was a killer - he shot the ball poorly (11-26), but had 26 points, 9 assists, 9 rebounds, and 6 huge steals. Plus one uncalled foul at the biggest moment of the game. Yes, he has an absolute passion for whacking dudes in the nuts - has done it several times over the course of his college and NBA career - but the kid can really, really play. The quickest and best ballhandler in the league.
4) On the other hand, sometimes stats are deceiving. On the surface, Wade was the equal of Paul tonight: 32 points, 7 boards, 6 assists, 2 blocks. But he was off. Also shot poorly, just 11-27. His costly turnovers, and bad shot selection - plus a missed free throw with 10 seconds to go - helped sink Miami. He almost stole the game at the end - after all, he's Dwyane Wade - but it wasn't his best night.
5) Former Heat backup, backup power forward Sean Marks played 22 minutes for New Orleans. He was here from 2001-2003. He's big, he's dorky, he's white - he's New Zealish, for pete's sake. This is his eleventh year in the league. He has never played in more than 25 games in a season, until this year. He makes nearly $800,000 a season. He has probably made around 4-5 million over the course of his career, and he has scored 561 points. Total! That's about a month for LeBron or Dwyane Wade. What a life...
6) Got a call today from a friend asking if I wanted to get Miami Dolphins season tickets with him this fall. No, I did not. Here are my top two reasons that I do not want to get Miami Dolphins season tickets: 1) I live in Florida - half the home games, the ones in September and October, are played in 90 degree weather, and you would just be sitting there roasting in the sun; 2) Everything about the Miami Dolphins makes me want to puke. That is all. Good day.
-------------------------
