[hobojoe]

Hughes+Jamison+Arenas: 5-25 FG

[Shanghai Kid]

Words can't describe how much ball hogging Hughes did in the first half. I swear that was one of the most selfish, ballhogging 2 quarters I have ever seen from a player. Every time Hughes got the ball at the top of the arc, he would force himself to the hoop and force up a horrible shot. I've never seen one guy force so much.

Adding onto that, Jamison and Arenas have both been horrible. I wouldn't even know Jamison has played in the game unless the box score said so.

Defense actually has been pretty solid, but offensive we've been horrible and as I predicted we have a much better shot at winning on Wedensday.

[MJG]

I've lost my high on Hughes. I think that little hot streak from him a couple weeks back was just that, a hot streak. Outside of the quiet but effective NY game, he's been playing just like the Hughes of old the past 3-4 games. He's just been completely stalling the offense tonight dribbling and shooting contested perimeter jumpers.

Jamison is playing okay I guess, he's just not making his shots. I don't doubt that he'll come around fine by the end of the game. Same for Arenas, although to a slightly lesser extent -- he needs to realize that Shaq isn't going to let you throw up flimsy little layups against him. Good job driving, bad job at the attempted finishes.

The Heat aren't playing all that well themselves, outside of Shaq dominating. Not sure why that is exactly, as I can't imagine it's our suffocating defense. We certainly have played worse defense, but it still isn't all that great.

No use complaining about reffing, because that's always the case when Shaq is being featured. Heh I will say that the non-call on Doleac's three seconds was really, really awful though. It's one thing not to notice a guy when he's standing on the opposite end of the lane with a foot on the line; it's completely different when he's smack dab in the middle of the lane with the ball in his hands for six full seconds.

Hopes are low for us pulling this one out, not so long as we believe shooting twenty footers with a man in our face is the way to win. Why not give the ball to Haywood or Kwame in the post? At least try it out.

[MJG]

Originally posted by <b>Shanghai Kid</b>!
Words can't describe how much ball hogging Hughes did in the first half. I swear that was one of the most selfish, ballhogging 2 quarters I have ever seen from a player. Every time Hughes got the ball at the top of the arc, he would force himself to the hoop and force up a horrible shot. I've never seen one guy force so much.

For those that can't watch, this is no exaggeration. If you like to dump on Hughes, there is no more deserving game for you to do so. It went beyond just hurting us, it flat out killed us. Everyone else could be playing fantastic and we'd still be down based on Hughes' offense alone.

We open up the half with Haywood getting his 4th foul

[HEATLUNATIC]

Wade sprained his left ankle and might not play in the 2nd half...

[MJG]

Originally posted by <b>HEATLUNATIC</b>!
Wade sprained his left ankle and might not play in the 2nd half...

With the way we've played, he could've skipped the first half as well and it would've made no difference.

That said, if we suddenly do a complete 180 and start playing like something other than garbage, this could be quite beneficial.

[MJG]

This game is just gross. That New Orleans contest is looking pretty attractive right about now.

At least Kwame is getting a chance to actually play some as opposed to getting a couple of minutes where he does nothing but get a rebound. 11 points on 4-7 shooting with 3 rebounds and a block in 13 minutes.

Maybe it's just me, but I find one of the most annoying plays in all of the NBA to be when Shaq gets the ball inside, he goes up for a monster dunk, and the defender fouls him by putting their hand on his shoulder. Seriously, what are those guys thinking. Either let it go or get on him piggy back style.