Dwayne Wade is on the cover of NBA Live 2006 . Also Wade has signed a record shoe contract with Converse. He has alot going for him right now and he excited about his new look team. He was recently on the Jim Rome show saying ,”Anything less than a ring this year would be a disappointment.”

A great Miami shooter has called it quits. He played with the Miami heat from 1991-1994 before moving onto 5 other teams. He had a great 14 seasons and he left everythign he had on the court. Steve Smith was not just an athlete, he was an incredible man off the court. He donated 2.5 million to his alma maters education center in Detroit. Michigan State is where this man started his collegiate career and blossomed into a good NBA shooter and well educated person off the court. Good Luck Steve with whatever you decide to do.

Everyone is talking about the amount of talent the Miami Heat are going to have to control. Miami Heat now are solid favorites to win the east with a bucket of ego to go with it.

Tony Mejia mentions in this article:

Credit Payton for saying all the right things, and prioritizing a ring over anything else. Slap him on the back for signing for the veteran’s minimum, $1.1 million dollars, when he could have asked to chew up some of the Heat’s still-available mid-level exception. But don’t be naive and think it’s not going to eat him up to be playing reduced minutes.

What seems to be obvious I think will turn into pleasantly surprising with Payton this year. He wants a ring to go with his glove before he hangs up his tanktop. Payton will do what he has to do and if that means eating chair, he’ll do it. Payton is mature. Lets not get overboard here.

Antoine Walker, James Posey and Udonis Haslem will somehow have to share time at forward, and while three-man forward rotations are common in the NBA, losing a starting role to Walker would have to irk Haslem, who was the ultimate soldier in last year’s breakout season.

Don’t be surprised if you see a two man rotation with Zo and Walker rotating with Haslem and Shaq. I’ve always been a fan of Antoine’s game and I think he will do very well for the Heat if he keeps his head in check. With this rotation, Walker will get more touches due to Zo’s “over the hill” offensive skills (I still love ya Zo) and his all star “I’ll block your ass everytime you come at me” defense.

Another thing we have to see is if Haslem is going to perform like he did last year. He was stellar for the Heat in all areas, but he was particularly excellent when we did the run and gun. You will probably see Jason Williams in with him. While Payton and Shaq run the half court. Of course DWade will be in when he can breathe.

Sixteen players are already under contract, and there is talk that another, potentially Rodney White, Casey Jacobsen or Jason Kapono, could be added to help address the team’s glaring lack of perimeter shooting.

Out of those 3 I’d lean towards Kapono, but would be happy with Jacobsen too.

Prime 112 Restaurant
My rating: 5 out of 5

This place is a great post Heat game dinner spot. One of the best. Its often frequented by Heat players themselves. Prime 112 is one of the hottest restaurants in SOBE. The food is fantastic. Shaq has been spotted here several times.

Prime 112 specializes in steaks and although thats what I always get, I have tasted the Kobe hamburger and that gives the steaks a run for their money. Maybe Shaq eats the Kobe?

Prime 112 side dishes are not the typical stuffy ala carte fare you get at say Morton’s or Capital Grille. Some popular sides are truffle mac and cheese and vanilla bean sweet potato mash.

The ambience at Prime 112 is typical South Beach, but turned up a notch.

Not for kids.

Dress is sheek casual to dressy.

Pros: Food, Ambience, Service
Cons: Price

Versailles
My rating: 4 out of 5

If you’re not cuban, but you like cuban food this place is worth making a trip for.

Great food and good prices. This restaurant has some real character.

Definitely worth a trip for lunch or early dinner before a Heat game or Hurricanes game.

Pros: Food, Food (twice on purpose)
Cons: Location, Parking

The HEAT are set up this year with more talent than they have EVER had before. This is a great day for HEAT fans everywhere. Can you tell I’m excited?

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed nine-time NBA All-Star guard Gary Payton. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are very fortunate to have been able to acquire a player of Gary Payton’s stature,??? said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He is a proven veteran and will be a big addition to this team.???

Payton appeared in 77 games (77 starts) for the Boston Celtics last season, averaging 11.3 points, 6.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.14 steals in 33.0 minutes per game, while shooting 46.8 percent from the field. He ranked 12th in the league in assists per turnover (3.17), 13th in assists per game, 14th in assists per 48 minutes (8.9) and 16th in total assists (469). During the course of the season, he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, along with Tom Gugliotta, Michael Stewart and a 2007 first round draft choice, in exchange for Antoine Walker and cash considerations. Payton was then re-signed by the Celtics after being released from the Hawks.

During his 15-year NBA career, Payton has appeared in 1,186 games (1,180 starts), averaging 17.6 points, 7.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.97 steals in 36.5 minutes per game, while shooting 46.9 percent from the field. Payton was elected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team eight consecutive seasons (1994-2001) and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1996, becoming the first guard to win the award since Michael Jordan in 1987-88. He currently ranks tied for 3rd (Maurice Cheeks) on the NBA’s all-time list in steals (2,331), 6th in assists (8,508) and 25th in points (20,829). During the 2004-05 season, Payton became just the 29th player in NBA history to accumulate 20,000 career points. He also became the first player in NBA history to achieve 20,000 points, 8,000 assists and 1,000 steals during the course of a career.

Payton has appeared in 129 playoff games during the course of his career, averaging 15.7 points, 6.0 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.50 steals in 37.9 minutes per game.

Payton has twice won Olympic Gold as a member of the 1996 and 2000 U.S. Men’s Olympic Teams. In addition, he was named to the All-NBA First-Team in 1998 and 2000, the All-NBA Second Team in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999, and All-NBA Third Team in 2001.

Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round (second overall) of the 1990 NBA Draft, Payton’s 13-year career with Seattle was highlighted by selections to the NBA All-Star Team seven straight seasons.

Source

–The point guard position is shored up. Gary I hope this is your year!

The fact that the Heat made some offseason moves to bolster the point guard position, has excited me as a fan already.

Adding to the deal making, the Heat organization, is trying to sign Gary Payton. This is enormous! To have a veteran with his experience, is in my mind the missing link to a RING.

His guard play will be much better than Jones ever was on defense. His penetration dribble will allow Wade more open looks. Shaq obviously will get easier baskets. If the Heat are gonna win a championship, they will need Gary Payton to stay healthy with Jayson Williams providing some minutes to offset.