Heat 99 Nets 89
Guest blogger: M. Minutos
Dos is on a mandate with Thor at a Wilco concert, so I’m taking over the keyboard. This was a dull game (I blame the Nets), but we never let that stop us here at D. M. Headquarters:
Fun Facts
As usual, Eric Reid was full of stats to start the game. This is one of his favorites lately: Q Rich: 35 triples in March – most in the league. Thanks, jinx – the Pres missed his first 5 triples and didn’t hit one until late in the second quarter and made just 2 of 7 for the game.
In other news:
·Nets have lost 14 straight at home.
·Nets haven’t won on their home court since January.
·Nets are 3-31 at home for the year.
Okay, great.
·Joel Anthony is 3rd in the NBA in blocking shots off the bench, says Tony (Chris Anderson and Tyrus Thomas are ahead of him). And, more importantly, Tony noted, he’s the best shot blocker off the bench, in minutes played, in the league. A lot of qualifiers there, not to mention the tortured syntax that makes it sound like Joel is literally blocking shots from the bench. Having said that, I’m happy for Joel. Keep up the good work, Natural Butterfingers. Keep up the good work.
·Chris Quinn entered the game for the Nets with 2 minutes left in the first quarter. He was traded from the Heat to the Nets in January – notably, the first (and hopefully last) trade between the Heat and Nets. As I wondered if he hates what we did to him, Tony claimed that Quinn “was a very popular player when he played in Miami” and “everybody” in Miami misses Quinny. Hmm. Eric went on to claim that Quinn has kept in close contact with several Heat players, particularly D. Wade. “They fostered quite a friendship during Quinny’s first three and a half seasons in the league.”
Say what? It would be tough to think of a more unlikely friendship. What do they talk about? Do they hang out together, and if so, doing what? Where is Heat sideline reporter extraordinaire, Jason “Jax” Jackson?? He’s just the man to get to the bottom of this.
Terrence Williams vs. Jermaino – Battle of the Ankles
In the first half, Jermaino couldn’t be stopped: 7/8, 14 points 1:30 into the second. Uh oh – Jermaino called for a blocking foul on a Chris Humphries drive. Jermaino grabbed his ankle after the collision – he may need another IV treatment while he sits with his second foul.
With 6:09 left in the third, JO got his revenge. Jermaino took a dubious charge and during the collision, Terrence Williams lands right on JO’s foot. Sprained ankle, goodbye Terrence. Maybe Jermaino will share some of his IV fluids with him.
Bad news for TW: Near the end of the third quarter, Jax reported that x-rays were being taken and the diagnosis of the ankle injury had been extended to a foot injury. Not sure what that mean, but it sounds bad. He might actually need IV fluids.
Battle of the Ankles score: Jermaino 1, Terrence Williams 0.
Old School
Tonight’s Old School Kia Card: Buck Williams, affectionately known as Funk Williams at Dos Headquarters, though no one can quite remember why. Funk was the 3rd pick in the 1981 draft and played 8 glorious season with the Nets. His given name: Charles Linwood Williams, which is not nearly as catchy as Funk Williams.
Eric, waxing nostalgic about the Buck Williams era of the Nets, called him a “Udonis Haslem-type of guy, only with more size.” I think I saw Udonis, out for the game with a bad ankle, wince at the comparison. By the way, Funk just turned 50 this month- Happy Birthday, Funk.
Nothing But Nets (I’m auctioning this off as the title for Funk William’s memoirs. Call me, Funk.)
·Heat got off to a bad start – halfway through the first quarter the Nets couldn’t miss from 3, Wade hadn’t scored and the Nets were up 17-14.
·Nets up 32-25 after the first. Mildly annoying but I’m fairly confident things will turn around, not because we are that good, but because the Nets are that bad.
·Just after the D. Wade hit his stride and the Heat mustered up the energy to take a 3-point lead at halftime, Terrence Williams made a half-court shot at the buzzer. Nets 53-52 at the half. Now I’m annoyed.
·Eric Reid, after the Heat went on a 14-2 run to go up 66-59 with 7 minutes to go in the third quarter: “The Nets’ biggest problem this year, other than losing-” Hold it right there, Eric. Losing is their biggest problem. No need to go on.
·After the game, Coach Spoelstra said: "By the second quarter we tightened it up defensively. "That was the difference in the game. You look at a team like the Nets and their record, and you're very deceived by it."
I think I can speak for the gang here at Headquarters when I say the we weren’t deceived by the record. We knew exactly what the Nets had in store for us.
Dos will be back Thursday, and not a moment too soon. I don’t know how he does this more than 80 times per year. Someone should check him for PEDs.
M. Minutos
