1) As per usual in this series, Miami got down huge early, charged back, took control down the stretch, and...coughed it away at the end? Dwyane Wade let two Sixers get open threes on the biggest two defensive possessions of the game, and took a bad fallaway jumper with the game hanging in the balance. That's not how it's supposed to go. Give the Sixers credit - for ruining my week off. First game of Round 2 would have been Saturday; now there will another game against the Sixers Wednesday night. This is the time of the season I start praying for it to end, one way or another. Let's go, I guess...
2) You could blame this loss on a number of things, including just the law of averages, but one thing I know is: at some point, someone other than Dwyane and LeBron, and sometimes Bosh, is going to have to make a few shots. Mike Bibby was 0-6, all wide open and uncontested: he's been atrocious in this series. Zydrunas Ilgauskas: 0-3, including 2 layups. James Jones was 2-5, which is okay, but he passed up a late look to swing the ball to Mario Chalmers, who was 3-9, all of his makes coming in a second quarter flurry. Throw in an 0-2 for Joel, and that's 5-25 from the supporting group. That's horrific. And one of the frustrating things is to hear the chatter after the games of, "See, I told you they can't win with just three guys - you have to have role players." Hey, Dopey Media People: guess what? They thought of that! That's why they signed Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller. I'm sure if they had a crystal ball and knew neither of those guys would available most of the year, yes, maybe they would have tried someone else. It's tough to complain when you have Dwyane and LeBron - but today was one of those days when they could have used UD and Miller, because the other guys left are a step down. A big one...(side note: how would this team look if UD and Miller were healthy - that's 2 of the 5 guys they would have on the court at the ends of games - they would be the overwhelming favorite to win the title...Riley's off-season was perfect, except for the injuries...)
3) Yes, LeBron held the ball too long on a couple of possessions coming down the stretch. Yes, on the Heat's last possession, he drove, absorbed contact, and did not finish. Both those items are disappointing. At some point, on a final play, he is going to need to try to dunk the ball and make the defenders foul him so hard that he might - might - fall down, and get a call. But, for the most part, he was fabulous again today: 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, with just 1 turnover. Just as important, he gives Miami so many quality minutes - it was the third time in four games he's played 43+ minutes, and the other game he played only 39 because it was a blowout. He does not come out in the second half of playoff games. He plays a ton of minutes at backup power forward since UD and Miller are both unavailable. His value to a team in a playoff series is ridiculous - if you have a guy who is always the best player on the floor, and he can play multiple positions, and dominate at both ends of the floor, and he never comes out of the game - you've really got something. I think this guy is going to work out okay.
4) I've sooooo had enough of Zydrunas Ilguaskas starting. It is not a coincidence that 3 of out 4 games in this series Miami has instantly been down double digits, and upon inserting Joel Anthony, is instantly back in the game. Then the second half starts with Z on the court, and Miami instantly gets behind again, and then Joel comes back in and Miami instantly recovers. Coach Spo - how many times does this have to happen before we switch it up? The Heat have switched starting centers like 35 times in 82 games - why is this the one time when we can't switch it up? I mean, these are the games that actually matter...I'm cool with Bibby starting and missing shots because I believe that eventually they will go in. But I don't believe that Z is suddenly going to morph into Hakeem Olajuwon and start blocking shots in the paint, and rebounding in volume, and moving his feet to get into proper defensive position. Especially when you are pairing him with Chris Bosh, it's like inviting the other team to go the rim early. I don't see any evidence that Screen du Damp didn't outplay Z over the course of the season - I know they are trying to keep him healthy for the Celtics series - at least I think that's the plan - but Z is really, really, really not playing well right now.
5) Before the game, hyper-jittery Sixers coach Doug Collins - an NBA lifer - went up to young Coach Spo, shook his hand, and told him, "Happy Easter - you're doing a great job - I admire you." Ok - your grace and dignity had me until the "I admire you" part. What kind of creepy thing is that for a 65 year old grandfather to tell a young man moments before a basketball game? How about just leaving it at the "Happy Easter - you're doing a great job" part. I think we were all good with that. Coach Spo looked suitably uncomfortable - what did Collins want him to say, "Oh, no - I admire you more - you're terrific?" Instead, Spo just kept his gaze on the floor, and saying "okay, okay, okay" over and over until Collins vacated his personal space.
6) Last year we talked about "African Head," now this: "Dumb Mouth." Not what they say (although that is also usually dumb) - just the shape of their mouths. It's something about the way their mouths turn down at the corners that makes them look like mouth-breathers. Dumb Mouth:
Well, we were looking at a well-deserved week's vacation - and, of course, my rest is what is most important - but instead we'll be playing Wednesday, trying to close out the Sixers again. If you need me before then, I'll be down at the immigration office in Miami, trying to see if there is any law which requires Zydrunas Ilgauskas to be deported, but just for the first quarter of playoff games. C U!
