MIAMI — Re-introduce yourself to the Miami Heat, still the NBA’s most hated team, but now they’re hated for a new reason – because it appears they don’t always play hard, because it seems as though they get bored, they coast. Somehow, this group, despite having the NBA’s third-best record at 37-14, is re-defining Heat Hate. Who knew there was an extra flavor of Haterade? “We’re a tale of two teams sometimes,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. And that’s exactly what makes people dislike
When both the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks got off to sputtering starts to their seasons, the Philadelphia 76ers gladly assumed the void at the top of the Atlantic Division, which simultaneously is the worst and most valuable division in the NBA. Despite opening with a five-game road trip, the 76ers grabbed first place before arriving home and held onto it like it was a winning lottery ticket. Since Dec. 28, Philadelphia has not been out of the top spot
NOTES: Two of the league’s best offenses are in action tonight on TNT. The first game, a rematch of last year’s Finals, features the Dallas Mavericks visiting the Miami Heat (8 p.m. ET). Miami’s vaunted defense deservingly has gotten a lot of pub. The Heat, however, also ranks fourth in scoring, averaging 100.9 ppg, allowing for a robust +7.3 point-differential (second to Chicago’s . The second contest features the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder (10:30 p.m.
MIAMI – Let’s put it out there. The last two nights, the Miami Heat has played like ass. “The last two games,” coach Erik Spoelstra allowed, using more intelligent language, “it’s been a struggle for us.” Miami lost at Oklahoma City, 103-87, on Sunday, and it lost at Indiana, 105-90, on Monday. Two losses in two nights by a total of 31 points. A big reason for the struggles has been the halfcourt offense, and that reflects poorly on the point guard play.
// csprtContainer(); // ]]> The Denver Nuggets have played 27 home games and just 22 away games (entering Monday night’s game at Chicago), they are not a particularly good defensive team, and their final nine games will be against teams fighting for playoff positioning and/or playoff spots. They just downgraded Nene for JaVale McGee, they have been in a constant state of flux because of injuries, and they are 0-2 thus far on a seven-game road trip. So when asked who I think
Kobe Bryant watched from the bench for a key stretch of the fourth quarter as his Los Angeles Lakers suffered a rare home loss. Dwyane Wade watched LeBron James dominate the ball and didn’t attempt a single shot in the final 12 minutes as the Miami Heat got soundly defeated in Oklahoma City. Do we have a pair of controversies on two of the NBA’s marquee teams? On a Sunday that included a possible NBA finals preview, the first quadruple-overtime game in 15
Arguably the NBA’s best two players go head-to-head for the first time this season on Sunday when LeBron James and the Miami Heat visit Kevin Durant and the Thunder in Oklahoma City. The outcome of this game could impact the finals if these two clubs are to meet there. At 35-11 the Heat, second to the East-leading Chicago Bulls (40-10), are percentage points ahead of the West-leading Thunder (36-12). Home-court advantage during the finals is given to the owner of the better regular-season
Steve Nash — the league leader in assists per game with 11.3 at the ripe age of 38 — never asked or expressed any desire to leave the place that has turned him into a Hall of Fame level icon. Instead of asking out of Phoenix when the going was tough earlier this season, he believed in working together with the team at hand. His faith is paying off as Phoenix (23-22) is just 1/2 game behind the eighth-seeded Houston Rockets