6 Thoughts
1) Solid road win for Miami, got ahead of the Knicks early in New York, rode home for a pretty easy win. Knicks had won 7 of last 9, and 6 in a row at home. Miami now 15-12 overall. Joy to the World!
2) Someone had a little too much eggnog last night on Christmas Eve. Actually, everyone had a little too much eggnog last night. Miami was 2-12 from three point land, the Knicks were 5-28. That's a somewhat-less-than-solid 7-40 on threes for the game. A lot of iron. Knicks forward Al Harrington was 5-20 from the floor. ESPN color commentator, the droning Doris Burke, pointed out that while most teams are focusing on Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh in this summer's free agent bonanza, most teams are overlooking Al Harrington. Actually, I think teams may be intentionally overlooking him! One team not overlooking him, especially after the brutal 5-20? The 2-27 New Jersey Nets - he fits right in with how they do.
3) Doris Burke also pointed that one of the lures of New York as a free agent destination is Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni. "Players love to play with him," cooed Doris - that's what she said!
4) New York is often mentioned as a potential destination for Wade this summer, if he does not re-sign in Miami. Right now I'd place the odds at 80% Miami, 15% Chicago, 5% New York. The Knicks don't have any supporting piece as good as Beasley, who had 19 points today, including a big fourth quarter run that put Miami ahead for good. But Wade is tight with D'Antoni, loves a big stage, and NY can't be dismissed. Wade had 30 points, 9 boards, 5 assists, and 4 steals today in his "audition." Didn't look particularly explosive - but then he didn't need to be: they're the Knicks!
5) Midway through the third quarter, with the Knicks struggling to score, ESPN play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman pointed out that a brief and somewhat-less-than-hearty "We Want Nate" chant had broken out in Madison Square Garden, a call for benched Knick guard Nate Robinson. Robinson, a talented scorer, willful overdribbler, and a chronic sufferer from "Little Man's Syndrome," was chained to the pine a little over three weeks ago by Coach D'Antoni, and hasn't made an appearance in a game since. In a related story, the Knicks are 7-3 in that stretch. "It isn't everybody chanting," pointed out Shulman. No, it wasn't - man, that Spike Lee sure can make a lot of noise, though...
6) O. and P.Minutos tore through Christmas gifts this morning at a ferocious pace matched only by that of the Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers-led Loyola Marymount teams of the mid-1980s that regularly scored, and allowed, point totals in the high 150 range. In college - that's a lot of points. One team keeping an eye on O. and P.: the 2-27 New Jersey Nets, last in the league in offense. They could use the firepower.
Merry Christmas everybody - by the way, note for you for next year: both The Cottage and the bar at the Hotel Biba in West Palm Beach are closed on Christmas Eve. Trust me...
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