Of course he is. Totally new team around him.

I don't know if it was really good D or just really bad offense. Miami looked horendous tonight, I don't think I have ever seen Dwayne Wade play so poorly. Also I saw some of that Lebron softness that Coach is always talking about. He needed to go to the hole like a man late in the game instead of a puss. He got blocked by Amare and cried about a phantom hack. I know it was far from the Heat's best game tonight, but I don't see them winning shiat with that team.

It definitely was a better defensive effort from them but the Heat just sucked once again. They probably aren't as bad as they looked against Cleveland or as good as they looked tonight but if I think they are closer to the Cleveland effort.

I agree that Stoudamire appears to be lost. For stretches, I forgot he was even on the court. For a guy that was unhappy in Phoenix with not being the star, I wonder how content he's going to be being secondary yet again.

The Heat sucked , but you have to credit the Knicks for some of that. Billups finally made a shot at the end of the game. At this point, I'd rather have Melo on my team than "King James"

Miami's offense has no flow when they aren't in the transition game. They beat the weaker teams simply because they are winning the James, Wade, Bosh matchups by such a large margin. Against better teams and when forced to play half court, they become stagnant and can't just depend on superior talent.

What it eventually boils down to is players 4-8 on both NY and Miami are so weak that they can't really be depended on to contribute consistently because they just arent good players.

Miami needs a strong voice (new coach) and a facilitator. The coach is probably coming unless they get to the Finals. The facilitator will be tougher to find.

The thing is, Wade and Lebron both need the ball to be effective. Lebron has never played in an offense that didn't run through him. Wade is going to have to play off of Lebron in order for this thing to work. Those two guys aren't going to allow for a facilitator in the classic sense. They are going to need someone that can guard the quicker point guards and stand there and hit a three off the catch. Lebron and Wade aren't exceptional three point shooters so having a guy that can consistently knock down an open three would be important so that their spacing is right.

The league needs to think about contraction and they really need to work on player development. The league has regressed at a rapid pace over the last few years.

I thought that is how it would work before the season but if you watch them play against quality teams you see that it is not going to work very well. LeBron has always had the offense run through him but that has been through necessity as opposed to choice. I understand that it is a little different situation and I also know that very few watched the games in the middle of the night except die hards but Wade and LeBron were very effective not only playing with facilitators in the Olympics but meshed with Kobe as well.

What most people miss is that Wade and Lebron and the starters only play 75% of the game. That leaves a lot of time that they aren't playing together. Miami gave that game away in the last 4 minutes of the 1st half. But the truth is it is a game in February and doesn't really mean much. Hell Miami lost by 5 to the old Knick team a month ago. The problem with Miami is that they aren't progressing offensively. They are wasting their matchup advantage by playing LeBron at point so much of the game. When Boston countered with Rondo guarding him the other day I thought that they would see that. Maybe they do and just dont trust Chalmers or Arroyo. I wouldn't. But asking LeBron to play point for 40 minutes a game is a mistake. Finding an established facilitator to play 30 minutes a game will exploit the matchup advantage that Miami will have on the wings. LeBron and Wade can man the point as a change up for short periods of time.

Finding guys that can hit 3 pointers consistently AND guard quicker PG's isnt an easy thing to do

The league could contract a few teams simply because there are markets that arent supporting their teams. But there are more good-great players in the league now than there was 10 years ago. And don't forget that almost every potential impact player is coming into the league as a teenager now, not as a 21 year old with 3 years of college experience.

I would agree with both points but there are guys in the league now that wouldn't be in the league 10 years ago. There are some really bad players and stiffs that make it because the overall talent level has declined and the league is watered down with the extra teams.

Ladies and gentlemen,do not be disturbed.



It's not rocket science.

was arroyo the facilitator when they won 22 in a row?

They didn't win 22 in a row although they were close. They won 22-23 with only a loss to Dallas in the middle between the end of nov into the beginning of january. Arroyo started but chalmers would get the end of the game minutes. Arroyo plays no defense.

The only team they beat during this run was LA during a period of time LA was playing awful.

As you can see...Arroyo was,in fact, the facilitator.

True enough though no one seems to mind watching NCAA basketball which is dramatically worse because those same players who should be developing in college are riding the pine in the NBA

No he was Carlos Arroyo, cheap help because they need to bodies to fill the roster. He is averaging 3 assists in 22 minutes a game this year. (that is not good btw)

Arroyo versus Chalmers....

another situation where there is no winner, only a loser.

Word is that Miami could be adding Mike Bibby (almost a done deal) and Troy Murphy this week.

Wasn't the trade deadline last week?

Pretty sure they can pick players up off waivers through tomorrow?

They are being bought out by the teams they were traded for. In simple terms they pay them to go way so they can use their salary number which gives them greater cap space moving forward. Once they clear waivers they are free to sign with any team for I believe a pro-rated amount of the league min.

That being said the 2011 versions of Bibby and Murphy are't huge upgrades though they are capable NBA vets who may be able to contribute something in limited minutes.

The wizard got an awesome deal. Their cap number is down to like 38 million.

Maybe they will lower ticket prices:rolleyes:

LuhBrawn "three!" Jaymuh

Bibby would start for Miami. No?

Chuck I disagree. Bibby is exactly what you said they need. He can hit a 3 and run the offense. Bibby, even at this stage of his career is a huge pick up. Troy Murphy cant hurt either. His game reminds me a lot of my game. Limited minutes?? Bibby would play 30 plus minutes a game.

Bibby is better than what they have but he isn't exactly the type of creator that I was thinking of. His defense is below average at this point. Murphy is interesting but he has hardly played this season.

I would think so

Having 3 guys that need the ball in there hand isnt the answer either. The Heat made their bed with Labron and Wade until they learn to handle the last 3 minutes of a tight game they are doomed. Have they won any close games this season, mind you the regular season is a complete waste of time in the NBA.

Nice call on the Celts resigning Perkins.

No players "need the ball in their hands". They need the ball in position to exploit matchups and to be able to attack the defense effectively. Playing James at the point the majority of the time makes defending Miami much easier.

The idea that they dont know how to "handle" the last 3 minutes of tight game is stupid. The problem is neither James or Wade is a great off the dribble shooter. But the offense that they are currently playing forces that very thing. Ideally you would want James and/or Wade attacking the basket from the wing with Bosh a pop out option and Miller a bailout. What is happening now is James has the ball, Wade is overplayed/or has the 5th wheel's defender helping out on him and Bosh/miller are merely decoys.

that's too much detail over a guy who is a proven choker. Any adjustments not including someone having the guts to tell him his outside jumper is pathetic in pressure situations is a complete waste of time. He has to decrease the hubris and realize he needs to take the god-damned ball to the basket and force them to foul. He is a power forward. Needs to play like one when the money is on the line.

I am shocked Perkins signed a with them.. Good for the Thunder now they will be able to compete for a while in the west. I more high quality player and they maybe the very real future out west

Unbelieveable, down one with 30 seconds to go and who takes the shot?

Shawn Williams, are you f'n kidding me?

Going to lose to the Cavs again...............

Give up 119 points to a team that had lost their last 26 road games. :zz:

Silly me............for thinking that giving up 115 and losing to Cleveland in Cleveland was as bad as it could get.

For good measure, with each successive game, Miami is making NY's good win look like nothing.

Yeah but they are relevant again and that's all that matters. :rolleyes:

Fine work.

The Nuggets got too much for Melo apparently. THe answer would be yes.

I have 12 games and four losses to the Pacers and Cavs (plus years of watching Amare "The Matador" Stoudamire and Carmelo "Ole" Anthony get torched. You don't give up 115 and 119 to Cleveland and 119 to Indiana if you want to call yourself a real contender. They look worse to me now than before the trade.

It is getting worse

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=310320015

It's reached the incredibly embarrassing stage.