Something is gonna have to be done about these free throw differentials. You cant outrebound a team by 11, hold them to 40% shooting, and still lose the game. Learn to play defense without fouling damnit.
I'm hoping we either tank the season to get a nice draft pick, maybe 11-12th, or fall into the 8th seed to play the Cavs and have an entertaining series.
I don't know why everyone wants to play Cleveland. They own us and getting repeatedly smashed in the 4th quarter of an otherwise close game is the most frustrating (and memorable) way to lose. They are the one team that knows exactly how to shut down Wade and highlight the failures of his teammates. Do you really want that to be the lasting impression of the season as he enters free agency?
I don't know why everyone wants to play Cleveland. They own us and getting repeatedly smashed in the 4th quarter of an otherwise close game is the most frustrating (and memorable) way to lose. They are the one team that knows exactly how to shut down Wade and highlight the failures of his teammates. Do you really want that to be the lasting impression of the season as he enters free agency?
Well first, it might help lure Lebron, even though it's a huge long-shot, it can't hurt.
Second, it WILL be entertaining, you know Wade will go off in at least one of those games, so I can see the series going 5-6 games.
Third, I say we have a 35% chance of beating Atlanta, 35% chance of beating Orlando, 30% chance of beating Boston and 25% chance of beating Cleveland, so it's not like were giving up huge odds to get to try and beat the best.
Finally, I think Wade and the rest of the guys are getting fed up with Spoelstra. Some choice quotes:
Quote:
In the wake of Saturday's 95-91 loss in Chicago, a loss that extended the Heat's losing streak to five, the longest in Spoelstra's two seasons as coach, Wade said predictability has contributed to the team's series of late-game struggles.
"We've got to find a way also to mix it up, stop being a team that everybody knows exactly what we're going to do and they just play us the same way," the seventh-year guard said.
Quote:
With opponents relentlessly double-teaming and trapping Wade, a more up-tempo approach could free him for higher-percentage scoring opportunities, an approach he embraces.
"I don't know if coach wants us to do that," he said. "I don't know if he's gonna have the confidence that guys are going to make the change on the go."
Quote:
An ongoing trend remains limited late minutes for second-year forward Michael Beasley. Yet it is not only Spoelstra and Beasley who appear to be on different pages. At one point Saturday, reserve point guard Carlos Arroyo pointedly glared at Beasley and asked if he knew the play. Yet despite that broken play, Beasley still scored on the possession.
"We need to be on the same page for 48 minutes, not just four minutes for each quarter," Beasley said.
Quote:
To Spoelstra it's about effort, commitment, consistency.
To his players, it's about something more tangible.
"I think the reason why we're losing is purely basketball stuff," Haslem said.
Game 51: Heat @ Bulls (2/6/10 8:00PM)
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