6 Thoughts
1) This game wasn't even remotely as close as the score indicated. The Heat led by 12 after one quarter, by 22 at halftime, by 27 after 3, and by 30 with 6 minutes to go. I'd like to take some pleasure in it, but I can't. You know why? No Al Horford. Al Horford!
2) This was the first game of the back-to-back-to-back, and finally the Heat got a big lead and Coach Spo felt comfortable enough to let KJ James and Dwyane get some extra rest: 30 minutes for KJ (a more-than-solid 23, 13, 6), and only 24 (great!) for Dwyane (an aggressive 21, 5, and 3, with 2 steals and a block). Both guys came out with energy - KJ, in particular, pushed the ball as hard as he could early, getting to the line, and creating opportunities for others. For one night, anyways, he figured out if he went hard early, and blew a team out, he could rest late.
3) What the bejeezus got into Chris Bosh tonight? Side note: I'm still long "o-ing" Bosh. I'd make the obligatory "he also only played 32 minutes tonight, although any amount is fine since he doesn't play hard enough to get tired" joke, except, tonight: hard playing! His shot wasn't there, only 4-14, for 14 points, but that was the only weak part of his game. He had a four possession sequence late in the second quarter which went like this: first, he introduced a modification of the "statue defense," in which he gets to the right spot to defend the rim, then stands with arms straight up, motionless like a statue, and hopes the offensive player doesn't step around him and make an easy layup. On a Joe Johnson drive, Bosh got to the right spot in front of the rim, got into the statue position, and then jumped ("The Jumping Statue!"), causing Johnson to miss a wild shot, which led to a Heat runout for a hoop at the other end, which Bosh leisurely watched from the backcourt as if to say, "My work here is done." Except it wasn't done. On the ensuing Atlanta possession, he snatched a defensive rebound, and then swung an aggressive elbow at Hawks center Zaza Pachulia, backing him off his usual "wait-until-the-other-team-gets-a-rebound-and-then-try-to-smash-it-loose-with-a-karate-chop-to-the-forearm" strategy. Then, on the next Hawks possession, he leaped...okay, he jumped...okay, he hopped...into the air, and smacked a Marvin Williams layup away from the rim, leading to another runout hoop. Finally, on the next Heat possession, he rolled sharply down the lane, reached out behind him to catch a poorly aimed KJ James pass, one-handed it, sliced between Zaza and Josh Smith, and dun- okay, power-layup'd - the ball into the hoop, giving the Heat a 24 point lead, and essentially ending the game. A first half double-double for Chris (10 and 10), and 16 rebounds on the night. I haven't witnessed a big man performance this aggressive and effective in a Heat-Hawks game since...you guessed it: Al Horford!
4) Every once in while, someone will write to us and say: "Oh, you never point out when the refereeing is bad and it favors the Heat!" That's a great point, it's almost as if this is a blog about the Miami Heat...If you want to hear someone consistently providing the Hawks perspective, I recommend, "Two Minutes, Y'all." Still, it is a fair point, so here goes: The Heat shot 31 free throws, the Hawks 7. This is an outrage! I berate you, referees! I BERATE YOU!!!
5) Okay, let's address a very, very serious halftime show matter. We are skipping the part where UD read about Alex Haley ("You my family!") for Black History Month, and UD still had braids, almost as if Sunsports had recycled last year's Black History Month readings. Let's get to the part when, after assistant coach David Fizdale read about black basketball pioneer Earl Lloyd (on tape, from an undetermined date and location), he was interviewed just before the start of the second half by Sunsports host Jason Jackson. Now, Coach Loc, as we like to call him (he doesn't look like Tone Loc, not exactly, but he's a Tone Loc type), seems bright and affable, and gives good information during these interviews. He's certainly more likable during these segments than Heat assistant Ron Rothstein, who as we have noted in this space before, once intentionally lost a game while serving as interim head coach, a transgression for which I have never forgiven him. However, he's not nearly as popular as assistant Keith Askins. You know why? No catch phrase! Coach 'Skines ends every interview with Jax with a soulful, "Right on!" What does Coach Loc end with? Usually, "Thank you," or sometimes, "thanks," or maybe, "okay." Coach Loc needs a catch phrase! Something to generate a little buzz around his halftime interviews - you know, create a little brand for himself. Here are some suggestions that M.Minutos and I came up with quickly - feel free to take any of these, Coach Loc: "True Dat!" "Over and out, Jax!" "Mmmm-hmmmm!" "You damn skippy!" "Stay black!" "I'm electric, and if you touch me, you might get shocked!" "Hey Ya!" "Roger that, Captain!" "Fo' shizzle!" "How u?"
6) With Ruffles and Pringles so readily available, who would ever eat Lays? Blecchhhh.
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Back tomorrow night for a road game against the very best team in the NBA, at least against us, the Milwaukee Bucks. If you need me before then, I'll be working on my own brand, with my new catch phrase: "Who wants to bleep Dos Minutos?!!!"
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