2012 Heat Media Day/Training Camp Thread

[Jace]

Shanghai Days w/ JJ

It was an extremely long night. After the victory against the Clippers, we made our way to Shanghai. We arrived at our hotel as the sun started to rise. As 8 a.m. rolled around, all of the players made their way up to their rooms.
It is said that Shanghai is comparable to New York. I would have to agree. The architecture and feel can easily be mistaken for a major U.S. city. We visited a local market and the salesman are the most aggressive I've ever seen . . . since Beijing.
It was good to see D-Wade back in action. Ray looks like he's been here for years. The Heat No. 34 in red looks great on him. LeBron is well . . . LeBron.
Norris continues to show that players really do improve in the summer. Shane and Chris have great chemistry on the court; it gets better every day. Mario, Joel, and U.D. are quicker and look extremely sharp. They are anxious to get back at it. Rashard is getting his rhythm back and adjusting to his role. Mike is shooting lights out and still Letting It Fly.
But we still have a lot of work to do.
Heat fans . . . we are working!

[Jace]

Dwyane Wade interview with solecollector about Making the Change.

Heard this from Joe Goodman, and its in this interview too, apparently PEAK is trying to sing a bunch of our guys. Would be funny if 4-5 guys come back with shoe deals.

[Wade2Bosh]

Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine
How did Li-Ning swipe D-Wade from Jordan Brand? Says one industry insider: New Chinese shoe deal pays annual base of $10 mil for 10 years

Wow

[Jace]

Whoa. I heard 8x8, and they framed it as if it was 8 over the 8 years, not each, which obviously wouldn't make sense. They also said it wasn't fully guaranteed.

So I guess somewhere between 8-10 per, for between 8-10 years?

[Jace]

BOOM!

@MiamiHeraldHeat

Source tells me that Peak Sporting Goods will soon announce deals with Haslem, Pittman and Terrel Harris. James Jones will sign in a month.

That's 4 more Nike boys PEAK poached (UD was with Nike-owned Converse). Nice haul for PEAK. They may all be small-namers, but getting PEAK even more associated with the highest-profile team in the world is a boon.

[Wade2Bosh]

You know Micky is loving this.

[Jace]

Gotta love their devotion to those shooting contests.



If Shard can hit that mid-range pull-up with any sort of consistency, that would really make him dangerous here. It can really be almost that simple for our supporting players.

[Jace]

Question for SD or anyone who can answer it: How often have we run triangle-type sets? I've heard Spo say he's adapted some triangle philosophy into the offense, but I've never quite noticed how much. I'm reading a Chuck Klosterman article about it, and it seems tailor-made for our personnel. Here's an excerpt:

When the Bulls ran this offense in the '90s, the key adaptation Jackson made was moving Scottie Pippen to the top of the key and playing Jordan as a forward (in Los Angeles, he made a similar tweak with Lamar Odom and Bryant). But those players would have succeeded in any offense. The real advantage of the Triangle is what it does for players with less ability. Most NBA sets are static; they require perimeter players to create their own shot, usually off the dribble. The Triangle's relentless off-the-ball movement allows standing jump shooters to contribute within their own preexisting skill set. This is why it worked so well for John Paxson and Steve Kerr, and even for guys like Sasha Vujacic and Luke Walton. You don't need four or five athletic scorers to make the Triangle work. Two is plenty, because it amplifies the value of role players.

Not suggesting it should be our predominant attack, but it seems if our guys could pick it up enough to run it a few times and keep D's on their toes, it could be a great fit.

[Jace]

Joe Goodman is becoming my favorite Heat beat writer, not because he has the most access or knowledge, but because he always gives us a fun angle. He has an interesting write-up on the team's one night out at a 3-story club party thrown for Wade. This is from a blog he wrote on his adventures in China:

LEBRON WINS AT EVERYTHING
So, LeBron had a few promotional appearances in China and I attended one of them in Shanghai. LeBron sells doughnuts and ice cream in China. OK, whatever. During the event, LeBron had a chopsticks contest against some kids. Put the doughnut nuggets (or whatever you call them) on the crown like jewels. LeBron won. He wins at everything. Even chopsticks contests against the Chinese!

Read more here: http://blogs.herald.com/miami_heat/2...#storylink=cpy

[Jace]

The Heat feature two players who have won the All-Star contest in Ray Allen, the 2001 winner with Milwaukee and a six-time participant, and James Jones, the 2011 champion with Miami and a two-time participant. They have three other guys who have competed in six combined contests in Rashard Lewis (three), Mike Miller (two) and Mario Chalmers (one).

Only 14 appearances in the 3-point shootout on this roster.

[Jace]

Marvel/ESPN collaborate on a LeBron comic. Good stuff.

[Wade2Bosh]

While the team was away in China, the Heat updated Championship alley with 2012 pics

Ira Winderman ‏@IraHeatBeat
Heat "Championship Alley" at arena now reflects the Heat's 2012 championship as well as the 2006 championship. Less Antoine, more LeBron.

Joseph Goodman ‏@MiamiHeraldHeat
Money pic here. Big 3 on the wall outside the hallway to the locker room. @MiamiHEAT pic.twitter.com/84A9y2AM

[Wade2Bosh]

From today's practice:

Tom Haberstroh ‏@tomhaberstroh
To finish up practice, Heat running 5-on-5 fastbreak drills. Corner 3 after corner 3.

Ethan J. Skolnick ‏@EthanJSkolnick
Just entered gym, to hear LeBron getting on Pittman for missing a defensive assignment.

Joseph Goodman ‏@MiamiHeraldHeat
Chalmers' shot is really on today after practice. Nailing everything from outside. Didn't go full speed today, though.

Joseph Goodman ‏@MiamiHeraldHeat
Haslem and Joel Anthony held out of practice today as well. @MiamiHEAT

Ethan J. Skolnick ‏@EthanJSkolnick
Still no practice for Chalmers. Taking it slow with him.

Lebron, the last one on the court, working on the sky hook

http://twitter.yfrog.com/gob9gktivfpgzmvygtzgecxiz

[Dee-Zy]

Looking forward to seeing that in game.

Doesn't look ready for in game situations yet.

[Wade2Bosh]

MIAMI -- Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade believes his surgically repaired left knee is progressing ahead of schedule and plans to play in his third consecutive preseason game Thursday against the Detroit Pistons.

Wade said Tuesday his knee responded well to his first game action and extended plane travel during the Heat's seven-day trip to China last week. Wade also participated in Tuesday's full practice and scrimmage sessions in the team's first workout since returning from the trip.

After sitting out of the Heat's Oct. 7 preseason opener against Atlanta, Wade started both exhibition games against the Los Angeles Clippers. He played more than 23 minutes in Wednesday's win against the Clippers and then played a little more than eight minutes in Sunday's loss.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Tuesday that Wade wasn't expected to play in both games in China amid the team's cautious approach with his rehabilitation, but was encouraged by the way the 10-year veteran responded.

"I feel ahead of schedule," Wade said. "If I continue to keep progressing, I'm going to try to play as much as possible, but try to be smart as well. I want to play Thursday, get back out there and continue to get my legs under me ... so I can be ready for opening night."

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