When your team has 2 of the best NBA players...

[grishnak boss]

AND THEY DEPEND ON THE LEGS OF A 6'8 PF WHO MAKES HALF THE SALARY OF THE OTHER "STAR" PF, YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN DEEP SHIT,

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!°!


Haslem Injury Potentially Devastating for Heat
By ROB MAHONEY

There are few angles of the Miami Heat from which Udonis Haslem lies at the focus. After all, on a team that’s glowing with star power and expected to be dazzling, it makes little sense to concentrate on a player who is, in many ways, unspectacular. There’s nothing sexy about below-the-rim rebounds or jumpers from the elbow, but that doesn’t make Haslem anything less than invaluable for Miami.

It is why the injury to Haslem — he tore ligaments in his left foot Saturday and is out indefinitely — is so worrisome for the Heat.

Haslem is far from the most talented or most productive Heat player, but he is the piece that allows the others to come as they are. He is the player that complements and contextualizes. Odd though it may sound, Haslem makes the Heat whole, and if he is lost for most of the regular season, it will have a big impact.

Miami can win right now without Haslem. He’s not essential for regular-season success. To succeed beyond that, Haslem’s presence is an absolute necessity.

The Heat forward kept his talents in South Beach despite being a free agent last summer, and had been carrying out business as usual until Saturday. Haslem scores when he can, but his greatest value to the Heat is as a defender and rebounder; it’s Haslem’s presence that has helped Miami overcome the lack of a competent center. He leads the Heat in rebounding rate, and despite being relatively short by big-man standards (he is 6-8), is an effective interior defender. Haslem can’t provide the help-side shot blocking that Miami needs, but he’s more than capable of defending the low post.

The same cannot be said of Chris Bosh, who provides a less impressive interior front. Haslem understands how to use his speed when defending opposing big men, a facet of the game which looks to be lost on Bosh. Also, Haslem doesn’t go block-chasing like Joel Anthony, nor is he as limited defensively as Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Haslem has enough savvy to defend the pick-and-roll, the foot speed to keep up with face-up forwards, and the know-how to rotate on time. All of those things make him a quality defender, but more important, they make him a versatile one.

Haslem’s skill set gives him unending utility as a defender. He’s able to fit seamlessly with any other combination of players because of his ability to cover for his teammates’ specific weaknesses. When paired with Ilgauskas, Haslem is well suited to counter quicker opponents. When paired with Anthony, Haslem can play on-ball post defense while Anthony waits to attack from the weak side. When paired with Bosh, Haslem can defend the opponent’s primary pick-and-roll option and cut off penetration to the lane.

Haslem doesn’t do a little of everything. He just does everything that his teammates cannot. Without having Haslem available to fill in the gaps on defense, one or more of Miami’s centers could be put in an uncomfortable defensive position on a nightly basis.

Offensively, similar principles apply. Haslem is a quality spot-up shooter from midrange, which not only gives a kick-out option for a driving LeBron James or Dwyane Wade, but also provides balance for a pair of teammates running the pick-and-roll on the opposite side of the floor. He’s a top-20 offensive rebounder, creating possessions out of thin air for his teammates’ use. Haslem moves without the ball as well as any forward, and while that usually results in an open jumper rather than a rim-rocking dunk, he’s still facilitating offensive flow for both his and his team’s benefit.

Haslem has been relentless. He drove to the basket, hunted loose balls and fought for rebounds, all in an offense that had yet to reach a level of operation that could fully reward him for his efforts.

The Heat will be without those skills until Haslem’s return, and will miss Haslem’s accommodating game. Part of Miami’s great performance – and even greater potential – is its flexibility on both offense and defense, and Haslem is a huge part of that. The Heat has lost an instrumental player at a formative stage in its development, and though Haslem should return in time to hobble into the playoffs, losing him for such an extended period should limit Miami from reaching its full potency.

[SkyDog112046]

Fatally flawed team. A great 2, and a great 3, but who almost have the same type of game. An unbelievably overrated 4, they suck at 1 & 5, and they have no bench.

They would have been better off without Bosh and using the money to get a solid serviceable defensive center, a power forward who is a banger, and a good defensive point guard and then letting LeBron run the offense almost the way that Bird used to run the Celtics before DJ arrived.

Looking who was out there at the time, they could have gotten Boozer for $11M and Milicic for $5M and then a PG like Foye. That's a hell of a lot better and more balanced than what they run out there now.

I am going to laugh my balls off if they finish something like 45-37.

[Rainbow Bright]

I think they'll go 50... and get knocked out of the first round

[johnk5150]

I think they'll go 50... and get knocked out of the first round

Riley needs to call the Mexican Eric into his office, hand him 3 plays and tell him if the Heat aren't running them by the next game he's picking lettuce in Ensenada. The Heat don't run an offense. It's give the ball to Wade, stand and watch him create. Next play give the ball to LeBro, stand and watch him create. I can't tell you how happy I am the no matter how many rings they win, LeBro will always have one less than Wade.

[MurrayFiend]

Are you an NBA follower, grishnak? Which team do you support?

[Subhuman Yeti]

The LAKE SHOW is the only team -- all the rest are just misplaced groups of overpaid losers and fucking shams who have no fucking business being called PROS by missing so many fucking shots from the field, and especially the free throw line.


I shot a better FT % this afternoon for FREE while stuffed full of Prime Rib & Turkey and STONED on Humboldt Gold HASH with NO PRACTICE than fucking LeBronze did last night for a fucking shitload of cash as a PRO.

Fuck him and fuck his STUPID fans.

[Skate4RnR]

I know what you mean Grish, the Thunder has Durantula AND Westbrook. Oh, the Heat?

Nevermind.

[grishnak boss]

Are you an NBA follower, grishnak? Which team do you support?

[grishnak boss]

I know what you mean Grish, the Thunder has Durantula AND Westbrook. Oh, the Heat?

Nevermind.

MEGA-ZING!!!

BAZZZZINGGAAAAA!!!

[grishnak boss]

.

[SkyDog112046]

Are you an NBA follower, grishnak? Which team do you support?

Hey, that's the same shirt Delonte West wore to LeBron's going away party.

[SkyDog112046]

Let's play a game called "Eastern Conference Teams that Miami can beat in the playoffs"

Eastern Conference
Team GB
1. * Boston --
2. * Orlando
3. * Chicago
4. Atlanta
5. Indiana
6. Miami
7. New York
8. Cleveland
9. Toronto
10. Milwaukee
11. Washington
12. Detroit
13. Charlotte
14. New Jersey
15. Philadelphia

I'm thinking LeBron & co will be in great shape if they get matched up against seeds 11-15. Oh wait, those teams don't qualify for the playoffs. Those top 4 seeds would crush them right now, so it's looking like one-and-done.

LeBron and Wade want to know if there is a flag football style version of basketball where there is no contact allowed.

[Skate4RnR]

Are you an NBA follower, grishnak? Which team do you support?

Hey, that's the same shirt Delonte West wore to LeBron's going away party.

No shit!

[grishnak boss]

"Eastern Conference Teams that Miami can beat in the playoffs"

Eastern Conference
Team GB
1. * Boston -- No.
2. * Orlando Not in the playoffs
3. * Chicago No. (B)Loozer's back, Heat are fucked.
4. Atlanta Yes.
5. Indiana 2 weeks ago, I would have said no doubt, but now....
6. Miami No.
7. New York Probably, we're talking about idiots who blew 100 mill on a goggly eyed, made of glass fucker
8. Cleveland Given how things have turned lately, it could go both ways
9. Toronto Yes.
10. Milwaukee Same case as Pacers.
11. Washington Yes, but Wade would get owned by John Wall.
12. Detroit Probably, this team is fuckin ancient now.
13. Charlotte No.
14. New Jersey Yes.
15. Philadelphia Yes.

I'm thinking LeBron & co will be in great shape if they get matched up against seeds 11-15. Oh wait, those teams don't qualify for the playoffs. Those top 4 seeds would crush them right now, so it's looking like one-and-done.

LeBron and Wade want to know if there is a flag football style version of basketball where there is no contact allowed.