1) Seven wins in a row for Miami. 42 wins with 6 games to go, and a 1.5 game lead over 7th place Charlotte, which is the real battle right now. Fifth or sixth place doesn't matter - only staying out of seventh, and avoiding Orlando in the first round of the playoffs, matters. Let's do this, 2 through 6 style:
2) Dwyane Wade was mostly spectacular with 43 points on only 22 shots, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. 18 third quarter points to bring Miami back from a 10 point deficit. Had one brief stretch late in regulation where he dribbled the shot clock down too low about 4 possessions in a row, and allowed Indiana to come back and tie the game. But he made back-to-back threes with 90 seconds to go in overtime to effectively end the game. The jumper has often been missing for Dwyane this year, but tonight it was there. Also was named Eastern Conference player of the month for March today. We could be entering the last days of the Dwyane Wade era in Miami. Enjoy it, just in case...
3) Mike Beasley was brutal. They are winning games in spite of him right now. Shot 6-17 from the floor and missed both his free throws. Gave up a 20-10 night to Indiana's Troy Murphy. In the first half. Every night now, Heat announcers Eric Reid and Tony Fiorentino shill for the Heat organization, pleading for people to buy season tickets now, so that "we" don't miss out on the opportunity to see "all" the great players Miami is going to sign with their salary cap space this summer. Thanks - you know what, though? You sign the guys first, and then I'll figure out a way to get tickets, I promise you. As Meth said on The Wire - this mess is a little unseemly. Tonight Eric said it was important to get our tickets now so that we get the opportunity to see all these great players we will have next year. And, also, Mike Beasley, too..Damn, Mike, try to play with some force...
4) Best moment of the game: When Heat backup center, and natural butterfingers, Joel Anthony, starting again for the Jermaine O'Neal (out with hyperextended knee-like symptoms), caught a ball on the right block, faked his his little natural left handed jump hook, then stepped back through right for the up-and-under and finished with his right hand. Now I have seen everything. Love that Joel Anthony, just keeps working!
5) Second best moment of the game: When usually by-the-book, law-and-order color commentator Tony Fiorentino advocated a bit of civil disobedience when he admonished a front row fan who caught an errant pass for not immediately shooting the ball at the basket. "Tough to shoot the ball when you are sitting with your legs crossed," cracked Eric Reid, trying to lighten the moment. An unamused Tony: "He'll never have that chance again."
6) Two things in the six hole tonight. First, a reader question: can't remember the dude's name, but he wrote in a couple of weeks ago after our "Troubled White Man Beard" montage to ask which white guy has the best beard of all-time. Sir, I am sorry I don't remember your name and didn't save your email, because it was the best question this blog has ever been asked. I am going to give you two answers. I think the best white guy beard of all-time is probably, obviously, Jesus. But, my favorite white guy beard is a tie between two guys who influenced my positive feelings towards beards as a young white kid growing up in The CT: Pete Townshend and Paul McCartney. Townshend, in the late 70s, had that whole full-beard, open-shirt, Let-My-Love-Open-The-Door thing going, which was irresistible to little white Dos in 1979, and he was the guy I always wanted to grow up to be. You know, this look:
And, anyone who knows me, knows that I am not a big fan of The Beatles, mostly because they are lame as piss. But that's how powerful the white man's beard is: When it can even make Paul McCartney cool, you know you are really on to something:
Thanks again for your question, Sir, whomever you are...
Finally, The Captain had a suggestion regarding how to deal with a scenario in which your sibling is trying to take your recently-deceased parent's stuff, a recently covered topic in the blog:
Re #6. When your parents are visiting, make a list of their properly functioning organs. If the grim reaper comes a calling and you can do some prompt pre autopsy organ removal before the ambulance gets there, you can cash in on some serious black market profit. Call me for a price list.
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We are coming back tomorrow night in Minnesota. Oh my God, if we had only drafted Kevin Love instead of Beasley last year. Oh. My. God. I need to grow a beard...
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