Fans who took part in All-Star balloting, take a bow. You got nine out of 10 right. Yes, you again chose with your heart instead of your head, as you have done on an annual basis for as long as we can remember. But unlike past years – when your infinite wisdom voted undeserving players such as A.C. Green, Dan Majerle, Steve Francis, Ben Wallace and an injured Yao Ming as starters – at least this time your choices won’t cost anyone
Perkins: Rose weeps, James smiles after both choke
MIAMI – In one locker room, Chicago’s Derrick Rose almost wept. The NBA’s reigning MVP had tears in his eyes. In the other, fancier home locker room, Miami’s LeBron James smiled and joked about making the 40-minute bike ride home on a rainy night in South Florida. It turns out James rode his bicycle to AmericanAirlines Arena before the game. “I do it all the time,” James said. Life in the NBA can be cruel and funny
Friday’s best game: New York at Miami
The three-star approach seems to be working for the Miami Heat. For the New York Knicks, not so much. The rivals meet Friday night in Miami, the best game on a schedule of 13. While the Heat may be getting back one of their stars, the Knicks will be without one of theirs. Miami’s lineup could include Dwyane Wade, who averaged 28 points vs. New York last season but has missed the last six games with a sprained left ankle. The Heat
Perkins: Heat’s halfcourt offense developing into a threat
MIAMI – Yes, they like to run more than they did a year ago. But when you watch the Miami Heat closely it becomes apparent that one of their biggest improvements from a year ago has been in halfcourt offense. There’s much less confusion and malaise, and much more of a crisply-run, definitive, attacking game. “We’ve put a great emphasis on getting out running and being a fast-break team and getting easy points,” forward LeBron James said. “But we know there are
Fantasy Spin: Tuesday, Jan. 17
Highlight Performances: Chris Bosh, MIA– With Dwayne Wade out with an ankle injury, Chris Bosh figures to be the the primary beneficiary. He and James are the main options from this point, and it showed Tuesday Night. Bosh produced 30 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. Although having nights like this on a regular basis seems unlikely, he figures to see a spike in production for the time being. Performances to Forget: Richard Jefferson, SA– Jefferson has been having a solid
Perkins: Dwyane Wade needs an extended rest
MIAMI – Dwyane Wade, sprained ankle and all, had his fun. Now it’s time to rest. Over the weekend, Wade, the Miami Heat’s superstar guard, celebrated his 30th birthday with a party at the Setai Hotel on South Beach. Several teammates were there – LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem among them – and hip-hop artists TI, Common and Rick Ross performed. Wade, whose actual birthday is today, also received a 2012 McLaren MP4-12C automobile, which is valued at about $230,000.
Tonight’s best game: Miami at LA Clippers
ESPN has a solid opener to its doubleheader as the Boston Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks. But the nightcap should be an alley-oop fest and Wednesday’s best game as the Miami Heat, fresh off their loss to Golden State Warriors in which LeBron James disappeared in the fourth quarter (sound familiar?) visit the Los Angeles Clippers. The game features no less than six players from Team USA’s preliminary roster as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and
Perkins: Heat 2.0, featuring more depth and youth
MIAMI – That photo to the left shows one of the key new pieces of the Miami Heat. If you don’t recognize him, that’s understandable. Norris Cole is not a household name or face. But he is one of the key reasons why the Miami Heat have the NBA’s best record. At certain points in Miami’s improbable 116-109 triple-overtime victory at Atlanta last week, the