Heat look good here with and without LCD on the court. The Heat haven’t had big men making quality jumpers since Zo (and I’m talking about early Zo). Ilgauskas and Bosh definitely add a major element in what plays can be run.

Source

Link to rumor

Phoenix Suns have the size advantage, but they have Shaq, who is slow and doesn’t posess the same offensive power that he had at a minimum 5 years ago, which is no match for our speed. The way Spoelstra has this team rebounding is really impressive as well.

Joel Anthony again, just doing what he has to do and its enough.

Chalmers, man this guy is trouble for a lot of players every single game.

This faster team is really allowing Wade to get to the basket more, but without the kind of damage he took when we had Zo and Shaq because our new scheme takes the beef out of the paint.

All compliments and no complaints.

Riley has Jason Williams, Cook, Shaq, Ricky Davis, and Bang Bang Blount. This lineup can at least run with the Nugs. Not saying they can stop them, but at least there are two or three back on D. Its 7:38 in the 2nd now and they are getting their asses handed to them.

BBL Miami Heat….oye vay.

Heat guard Dwyane Wade signed a three-year contract extension with a player option for a fourth year on Wednesday, the first day veterans could officially sign contracts.

Wade opted for the deal, worth about $60 million for the three years, instead of a maximum extension of five years and about $80 million. Wade and agent Henry Thomas said the decision on a three-year contract was made independently of Wade’s 2003 draft classmates, Cleveland’s LeBron James and Denver’s Carmelo Anthony, who reportedly also agreed to similar deals.

“I am very excited,” Wade said on a conference call. “When everyone looks at it and breaks it down, it was a great business move.”

Wade, who will make $3.8 million next season under the contract he signed as a rookie, now is signed with the Heat through at least the 2009-10 season. The exact value of the extension won’t be known until the salary cap for the 2007-08 season is calculated next summer.

–Now we see if Zo is coming back.

Source: Sun Sentinel

I feel so good for everyone on the team. All the vets, all the unsung heroes, and for our young star who clearly deserves everything he got.

Dwayne Wade is the MVP for the 2006 finals and the decision was not even close. The absolute clear and obvious winner.

Tonight may have been The Heat’s best team basketball, not seen since the Detroit series and regular season.

Udonis had his best game of the series. Since game 3 Haslem’s defense has been great on Dirk. Tonight it was steady as well, except he was able to knock down his famous jumper and collect a double double by being tenacious on the glass. He was really great in that department for us.

Another spark was Alonzo Mourning’s play. This guy, and I’ve been saying it all season, has given us, the fans, everything he has. Zo may have had his best season this year. His limited minutes have almost always been chock full of stats and have helped this team over many a hump.

The Heat were down as much as 14 when Zo, The Minister of Defense, as Eric Reid likes to often put it, stepped onto the court. Miami could do nothing right. No defense, no ball control, and Dallas was dropping points in the paint like it was going out of style. I immediately call my brother saying Zo has to come in. I don’t care if Shaq deserves his minutes, I don’t want to lose this game because of policy. We need defense, rebounds, and paint protection and Alonzo Mourning delivered big time.

Zo comes in and immediately blocks shots, rebounds, and makes two dunks. The guy got 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Zo brought us back from being down 11 points to being up 1 at the half. The Mavericks never really took it to the hoop and settled for jump shots for the rest of the game.

I can’t say how happy I am for Zo. Not just for what he went through with his transplant, but I’ve been watching Zo play for The Heat since he got here from Charlotte. Heck, I’ve been watching him since Charlotte. Don’t forget Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson were teammates in NBA Jam. They were always my team in that game.

I’m happy for the players who have chased rings and have gotten close like, Gary Payton, Shanden Andersen, Derek Andersen, and Antoine Walker.

So congratulations Heat. I watched every regular game this season and you guys made it worth it.

I don’t know if Dr. Jack really thinks the Mavs will win in 6. Is the quickness of the Mavs a bigger problem than Rip Hamilton’s, Reggie Milleresque manuevering and excellent mid range jumpers? Or are the egregious mismatches of Rasheed Wallace and Chauncy Billups more of an issue when you replace those players with Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard? I don’t think so. Not by a long shot.

Ok Dirk is going to be tough real tough to match with. Hes a much better shooter than Sheed is and more talented as well taking it to the rim. However, I agree that Haslem will be key, but possibly Wayne Simien will be as well. I think the Heat are working Simien now. The guy is strong and an inch taller than Udonis.

If the Mavs go small and pull Shaq out of the paint we can always bring in Zo who can block a shot from across the key. Not worried about the Mavs going small at all.

Ok, so two of my friends I play ball with think the Mavs are going to sweep the Heat. They think the matchup problems will be too big of a problem for us and that the transition game will kill the Heat. “If the Heat can slow the game down they will have a chance,” so says my wise friend.

BTW they despise Antoine Walker, mostly because of his antics while in Dallas, but they never liked his 3 point shot either. However, I hope Antoine brings a thundering rain storm of 3′s and takes Dirk to the rack night after night. That would make a win a little sweeter.

The only item they see as an advantage for the Miami Heat, and they give this some weight, is Pat Riley.

I can’t wait for Thursday. This will be different than the regular season, just like nobody thought we would beat Detroit. Just like everyone thought Miami would have tough matchups against the Pistons. Just like everyone thinks Dallas has all these advantages, we’ll see how we look Thursday. Good luck to us Heat Fans.

Zo hopefully will get the job done tonight. Detroit is so tough in many ways and will fully take advantage of our laziness. If we go down 20pts early in the first half I can’t imagine us coming back in the second.

Just hoping for the role players to have big games because you know Dwayne Wade will get his.

Then last night we played the Bobcats and went down 15 pts. The fans were going nuts in Charlotte because they expected to lose to a hot Heat team, but instead the Bobcats were having their way with us. They hit 3s with Heat players in their face and were making steals and turning them into big dunks and 3s.

However, very late in the 4th, Jason Williams got hot. Knocking down 2 big 3s and a couple of tosses to Shaq and we were tied taking us into overtime.

In OT it remained close, with Shaq knocking down a big one inside and the Heat getting a crucial rebound to end the game. (My Tivo cut out in OT, but saw the highlights on Sportscenter.