6 Thoughts
1) LeBron James dominated this basketball game in just about as many ways as you can possibly dominate a basketball game. First of all, no one ever really talks about it, but he is one of the best handful of defensive players in the league. Tonight he took the Pacers best player, Danny Granger, and destroyed him: 2 of 13 for 6 points for Granger. That's normal for LeBron. But new? With Dwyane Wade out nursing a bad foot, he went to the post possession after possession (the post!), and completely controlled that end of the floor as well. When the Pacers left him single covered, he wheeled to the basket and scored: 12-21 and 11-13 free throws for 33 points. When the Pacers doubled, he found open cutters (Bosh 7-11 for 22), or shooters (James Jones 4-8 triples for 14), and accumulated 13 assists. He rebounded in traffic - 8 total. The second quarter, which Miami won 33-12, was essentially a LeBron James postup clinic, as he created offense from the block time and again, culminating in a spinning baseline power move and finish over a helping 7'2" Roy Hibbert, which resulted in an "and 1," and topped off by LeBron getting to his seat on the bench for the ensuing timeout before the referee had even finished blowing his whistle. Even after LeBron rolled his ankle on a late third quarter runout, he stayed in the game to end the quarter with a pullup 20 footer at the buzzer. His game was really impressive to watch -- from a pure basketball standpoint, it doesn't get much better than that. Only problem? Ankle sprain looked pretty bad -- Norris Cole actually beat him to the bench to sit down for a timeout, which never happens, and Heat play in Atlanta tomorrow night -- could be without Wade and LeBron. Don't think we have played a game yet with only Bosh in the Big Three era. Should be interesting. And by "interesting," I mean it will probably be the most excruciating basketball game any Heat fan has ever had to endure.
2) Dwyane Wade, out: sore foot. In: three piece gray suit, dark tie, and paisley pocket square. Mickell Gladness and Mike Miller, flanking DWade in gray suits of their own, couldn't compete. That's the best Heat sideline outfit of the year, so far.
3) This is how you become a really good team: Miami led by 23 at halftime, thanks to a 1-15 second quarter shooting "performance" by Indiana. On the first possession of the second half, Indiana threw the ball into their center, Roy Hibbert, on the right block. Hibbert is a pretty skilled offensive player -- on this occasion, Miami decided to double team him on the catch. Mario Chalmers ran down off his man, and Hibbert pitched it right back out over him to an open shooter. However, a hustling LeBron James got into the shooter's airspace quickly, and the ball was passed to the area LeBron had just vacated, to his man, Danny Granger. This is perfect offensive basketball, this is why you throw the ball to the post, to try to score, or, if the other team elects to double, to crisply move the ball for an open shot. Granger should have had an open three - but a hustling and correctly positioned Chris Bosh closed out rapidly on Granger, forcing him to put the ball on the floor. Bosh, though, had closed out under control, so he was able to track Granger on his drive. Two other Heat players collapsed on Granger, the ball was swatted away, and Miami hustled down on early offense. LeBron backed his man down, and kicked it to Bosh,who drilled an open 12 footer. Up 23, you don't need to play a defensive possession that hard and that perfectly -- but good teams develop good habits.
4) The Pacers have a good team -- they caught a full-on MVP performance from LeBron tonight, but they are going to win a lot of games, make the playoffs, and be a tough out for somebody. Also, they will probably lead the league in lying. Heat play-by-player, the ageless and indefatigable Eric Reid, and his partner, the immaculately groomed Tony Fiorentino, revealed during the the first quarter that Pacers head coach Frank Vogel had vowed to them that the Pacers would not play any zone in the game, a defensive look which can give the Heat problems at times. Vogel told Reid that he doesn't think you have enough time to practice a zone this season, and that any time you spent on it would only detract from your efforts to perfect your man-to-man look. Lo and behold, that lasted all of about 8 minutes, when the Pacers, having trouble with LeBron and the Heat early, shifted to a zone that they clearly had practiced, and were prepared to play. Miami handled it fine -- their troubles against the zone are mostly hype. A good man-to-man defense employs many zone principles anyways. But you know who didn't handle it fine? Eric and Tony, who sounded extremely aggravated that Frank Vogel had lied to them! Eric and Tony are nothing if not principled! They got their revenge late in the game, with Miami up 35, when Tony snarked gleefully to Eric, "This game seems like it is taking a long time to us -- can you imagine how long it feels to Frank Vogel?" Eric and Tony, 1 - Frank Vogel, 0.
5) I am pretty sure that James Jones can not bend his knees. When you add Shane Battier to the wing rotation with him, that is over thirteen feet of non-bending-knee wings. I've yet to see the NBA team that can match up with that.
6) Spent most of today in Orlando, at a national conference of history scholars -- I presented my research for a history thesis I am writing for a Master's Degree, and then had lunch across the street in Downtown Disney. Yes, it is a hobby -- yes, I am a total nerd. You know who aren't nerds, though? All those superhot babes at the national conference of history scholars! I'm up in here, I'm on fiya! High point of day: my thesis research went over well. People felt it was well done, important, and that I clearly have a future as a scholar of history if I choose to go that route. Low point of day: when the chairman of my panel, a highly respected historian in my field of research, asked a simple question about my conclusion, I took it the wrong way, and told him to go to hell...Lowest point of day: did you read what I just wrote? I was in Orlando - what could possibly be worse than that?!!! Not only that, but I was in Downtown Disney! "Hey, this city isn't dumb enough already; let's build an even dumber fake city inside of it!"
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Next game: tomorrow vs Atlanta. Let's hope that at least either Dwyane or LeBron can play -- otherwise, we suddenly become the Toronto Raptors. If you need me before then, I'll be telling my kids we are going to have ice cream for dessert, then serving them cut up chunks of peaches in cottage cheese. Bon appetit!
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