The ref made me flop

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Oct 022012
 


Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Shane Battier says one reason players go down is because referees tell them they have to.
On Heat Index, Tom Haberstroh digs into the NBA’s new, as-yet unclear anti-flopping policy.

Erik Spoelstra and LeBron James are all for it, hoping it will cut down on, essentially, players taking slight contact from James and then hurtling to the floor as if shot.

But Heat forward Shane Battier is not on board. Battier has done his fair share of flopping — he’s aggressive and at times inventive in taking the charge.

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James on Durant can’t solve everything

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Jun 142012
 

Some expect LeBron James to spend more time guarding Kevin Durant, who dropped a breezy 36 points in Game 1, many on Shane Battier’s watch. The reasoning is straightforward. As our Tom Haberstroh points out, James is the Heat’s best defender and he did good work on Durant during the regular season:
James barely even guarded Durant in Game 1 even though the OKC star was mostly neutralized this season against the Heat when James was his primary defender.

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Pushed to Brink of Elimination, LeBron James Finally Became Player We All Wanted

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Jun 082012
 

With his back against the wall and a legacy of failed elimination-game performances on the line, LeBron James came through with a game for the ages and denied the Boston Celtics the closeout win at home they so desperately needed.

And that’s no exaggeration. It’s been a long time since someone had a postseason game this complete according to ESPN.com Insider Tom Haberstroh:

LeBron James has the first 45-15-5 playoff game in over 15 years.

— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) June 7, 2012

James continued his rebounding rampage just two days after grabbing 13 boards in Game 5, but it was his unbelievably efficient and acrobatic shooting night that will be remembered first and foremost. He scored 45 points while making 73 percent of his field-goal attempts, an improbable accomplishment for even the most elite of competitors.

Needless to say, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

After having archrival Paul Pierce show him up on his home court in Game 5, James was more than ready to return the favor.

The only difference was that James made more than just one big shot. In fact, he made so many big shots that the game never got close in the second half.

He made fall-away jumpers look easier than uncontested layups, and he seemed completely oblivious to the presence of any defenders that might have been lurking about. He made the kinds of shots that instantly put the league on notice: Don’t fall asleep on the Miami Heat.

ESPN’s John Hollinger heard that message loud and clear:

With all due respect to Celtics and Thunder, if LeBron is going to make these kind of shots we can all pretty much go home.

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) June 7, 2012

With Dwyane Wade suffering through a subpar 6-of-17 shooting night and Chris Bosh remaining a non-factor, James did something that no player has done this postseason—he put his team on his back and single-handedly blew his opponent out.

Kevin Durant hasn’t come through like this, not in an hour of such colossal desperation. And Kobe Bryant clearly didn’t display this kind of singular resolve in his Lakers’ second-round ousting.

Whether his Heat win or lose Game 7, this Game 6 will arguably remain these playoffs’ most defining moment.

It wasn’t just that LeBron took one irrefutable step in proving his detractors wrong, it’s that he did so without leaving any room for doubt. There’s no question about who takes the last shot when there’s no last shot to take.

Yes, as Fox Sports’ Chris Tomasson notes, there’s still something left for James to prove:

At least LeBron won’t be eliminated IN Boston for 3rd time in 5 years. But must win Game 7 to not be eliminated BY Boston for 3rd in 5 years

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) June 7, 2012

 

But James will always have something to prove. There’s no number of titles that will definitively set him apart from predecessors like MJ and Kobe (not one, not two, not three…). James will forever be held to impossible standards.

It’s time we accept that James is a unique talent—a superstar we should respect in his singularity.

He plays like Magic on some nights and like Kobe on others. You can guess which kind Thursday’s 45-point expedition was.

And, he still does all the little things that aren’t quite as scintillating as the jaw-dropping point totals. His defense remains second to none, and it showed when Paul Pierce scored just nine points on 4-of-18 shooting.

There would be no last-minute opportunity for Pierce to redeem himself this time. James made sure of that, showing a killer instinct that typifies something even better than a closer: namely, a guy who never lets the big game get even close.

Games usually don’t get close when a guy hits 12 consecutive field goals in the first half. After such a decisive opening salvo, Doc Rivers’ club knew exactly what they were in store for—a good ol’ fashioned “I told you so.”

James insisted he was looking forward to Thursday’s challenge, and maybe he was. Every time the Celtics looked like they would cut into the lead, James responded with another basket like a one-man run-stopper.

At the end of the day, this is the LeBron we wanted all along.

James did wind up with five assists on the night, but they were an afterthought. There was never any question that LeBron would put his stamp on this game and do what needed to be done. He played flawlessly when anything less would have meant imminent demise.

If that isn’t LeBron James truly arriving, it’s pretty darn close.

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Heat vs. Celtics: 5 Players Who Will Break out in Game 5

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Jun 052012
 

The Eastern Conference Finals has not disappointed so far as the series is tied 2-2 going into Game 5. The stars from both the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat have come up big under the bright lights of the playoffs. However, it is the role players that may decide the outcome in today’s pivotal game.

In this series the home team has won all the games. And with the Heat returning to Miami in Game 5 the odds seem to be in their favor to pull out the win. On the other hand, riding a two-game winning streak, the Celtics are in prime position to steal a game on the Heat’s home court.

According to  Tom Haberstroh of ESPN.com, All-Star forward Chris Bosh may be activated in today’s matchup which could affect both teams immensely.

Here is a list of players from both rosters who will break out in Game 5.

Begin Slideshow

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Dwyane Wade’s Big Boston Miss: Is Hero Ball the New Choking?

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Jun 042012
 

Dwyane Wade was a 27 percent 3-pointer shooter this season. He hunted for that shot out of pure theatrics.

— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) June 4, 2012

This was a bad, broken play, mostly thanks to Dwyane Wade. A pick was set for Mario Chalmers; Wade slowly dribbled back across his body, compromising the passing angle. But it didn’t appear like Wade was interested in passing.

While I can’t claim to read the man’s mind, this looked like a shot hunt at glory. Considering Wade’s bad three-point shooting, this wasn’t exactly the move of a blackjack card counter. 

In theory, though, we like athletes for doing this. It’s that fabled “willingness to take the big shot.” Overconfidence is admired, as it demonstrates an attempt to transcend the moment, to not succumb to fear. 

Or at least, we did. The consensus reaction to Wade’s shot was not positive in the slightest. As writers and fans get smarter, confidence alone may not carry the day anymore. “Heroball” has become the chic pejorative to describe what we used to love. In the recent past, we’d crush an athlete (LeBron) for passing under pressure. Today, we might rip our “closers” for playing like Kobe Bryant. 

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Celtics vs. Heat: Why LeBron James and Co. Will Bounce Back and Win Game 4

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Jun 022012
 

The Miami Heat need not worry. 

They have the Boston Celtics precisely where they want them. 

Sure, they were thoroughly dominated for the majority of Game 3, but if anything, losing by only 10 in what will be shown on highlight shows as a rout should remind us all that the Heat are in a fantastic position to once again take control of the series on Sunday, or better yet, advance to the NBA Finals.

Think about everything that has to go right for Boston to emerge victorious on their home court. 

In Game 3, Dwyane Wade didn’t make a trip to the charity stripe. ESPN.com’s NBA writer Tom Haberstroh shed some light on the rarity of that occurrence: 

Last time Dwyane Wade finished a playoff game with zero free throw attempts? He was a rookie, L vs. NOH Apr 24, 2004

— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) June 2, 2012

LeBron James shot only five free throws and surprisingly missed four of them. James making only one free throw? That doesn’t happen often. 

What’s more, James made 18-of-24 free throws in Game 2 and went 13-of-22 in Game 1. 

Think those points add up? 

One has to believe the entire Miami team, especially Wade and James, will be more aggressive attacking the hoop for the remainder of the series and shoot many more free throws.

Shane Battier went 0-for-6 from the field and went scoreless. The Heat are 5-0 the last five times he made the stat sheet. 

Joel Anthony didn’t record a rebound for the first time this postseason. 

Kevin Garnett shot 62.5 percent from the field. That’s the third-highest field-goal percentage he’s had in the last 22 games he’s played, dating back to April 11. 

That’s not to say he’s incapable of shooting a high percentage against the Heat’s smaller and rather inexperienced front line, but it’s not often he scores that efficiently. 

Lastly, can the Celtics rely on nine big points from Marquis Daniels after he’s shot only eight times this entire postseason? 

To the untrained eye of a casual basketball fan, the momentum has shifted in the Eastern Conference finals. 

But actually, Game 3 was more of an aberration than anything, and the Heat shouldn’t be worried. 

 

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Chris Bosh Injury: Heat Must Alter Game Plan to Compensate for Injured Star

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May 142012
 

The Miami Heat were already at a huge disadvantage on the glass against the Indiana Pacers. Unfortunately, that gap just widened considerably.

Chris Bosh missed the final two quarters of the Heat’s Game 1 win, and it is worse than they feared. According to Tom Haberstroh of ESPN:

Heat announce MRI on Chris Bosh revealed a strained abdominal muscle. Out indefinitely. More later.

— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) May 14, 2012

Indefinitely is a dangerous word, one that will force the Heat to alter their game plan against a bigger Indiana team.

The Heat just happen to be the one team that can handle the loss of a genuine star—say what you want, but on any other team he is a legitimate superstar.

With LeBron James‘ versatility, the Heat will lean on him to bang the boards while likely playing at the 4.

He grabbed 15 rebounds in yesterday’s game, and the Heat actually out-rebounded the Pacers by seven boards.

The Pacers boast a frontcourt of 7’2″ Roy Hibbert and David West, with Tyler Hansbrough coming off the bench.

All three can dominate on the boards and are likely to do so with Bosh on the sideline. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will have to make adjustments to combat their edge, and it needs to include more than just giving Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony and Ronny Turiaf more time on the court.

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Chris Bosh Injury: Updates on Heat Star’s Abdominal Injury

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May 132012
 

If the Miami Heat are going to take a 1-0 series lead over the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, they’ll have to do so without the services of Chris Bosh.

According to ESPN NBA insider Tom Haberstroh, Bosh will not return to Game 1 at AmericanAirlines Arena on account of a lower abdominal strain.

Heat announce Chris Bosh will not return, lower abdominal strain.

— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) May 13, 2012

 

The All-Star forward suffered the injury late in the first half, when Indiana’s Roy Hibbert fouled him on a drive through the lane that ended in a dunk.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra started Ronny Turiaf in Bosh’s place in the second half.

Bosh had enjoyed an efficient half on the offensive end, scoring 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting and pulling down five rebounds. However, he struggled to subdue the Pacers frontcourt on defense as the Heat went into the locker room with a six-point deficit.

Bosh had averaged 15.0 points and 7.2 rebounds during Miami’s five-game series win over the New York Knicks. Without him, the Heat will have to lean heavily on Turiaf, Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem to absorb minutes in the middle and LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to replace his production offensively.

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Iman Shumpert Injury: ACL Tear for Knicks Guard Ruins Team’s Playoff Hopes

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Apr 292012
 

Iman Shumpert’s season-ending ACL tear suffered against the Miami Heat on Saturday ended all hopes of the New York Knicks making a surprise run in the NBA playoffs this season.

Knicks announce Iman Shumpert has suffered a torn left ACL and lateral meniscus. Out 6-8 months.

— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) April 29, 2012

The rookie guard provided scoring off the bench, was able to start at shooting guard, and could even play point guard well if injuries forced him to play that role.

His versatility and offensive talents are a huge loss to the Knicks, and without them, they have no shot to upset a determined Heat team with star forward LeBron James motivated to dominate.

Shumpert was also needed for his ability to defend Heat star Dwyane Wade, who will probably be guarded by the less-athletic Landry Fields for the remainder of the series.

Shumpert is not an elite one-on-one defender, but his quickness and high basketball intelligence allows him to defend top-tier offensive players well enough on a consistent basis.

If the Knicks lost by 33 to the Heat with Shumpert playing 19 minutes in Game 1, then they have no shot if he can’t factor at all throughout the rest of the series.

In a series where the Knicks are not shooting well and are having trouble scoring, losing Shumpert, who is one of their most dynamic scorers, is a loss that can’t be overcome.

His knee injury is a terrible way to end what was a strong rookie season for the guard out of Georgia Tech. 

Not many Knicks fans were thinking their team would select Shumpert in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft, but the young guard did very well for New York this year.

If he can work hard to rehabilitate and get his knee back to full strength again, Shumpert will be a big part of the Knicks’ success next season and well into the future.

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