Throwback Posterization: Shaq Throws Down Oop on Hakeem

For this week's Throwback Posterization, I'm going with a classic alley oop by Shaq over Hakeem from the 1995 NBA Finals. I chose this particular posterization by Shaq because recently a typed letter has surfaced on the internet that Shaq left with Olajuwon after the Rockets swept the Magic in the Finals. In the letter, Shaq challenges Hakeem to one-on-one, which many are speculating was the launching pad for their classic Taco Bell Ads. I really hope that that's true, but regardless, it's a pretty amusing letter.

As I'm sure most of you have heard, this letter isn't the only reason that Shaq has been in the news. After courting team after team (San Antonio, Miami, Atlanta) to try to come to terms on a contract, the Boston Celtics have signed Shaq to a one-year deal for the veteran's minimum. This proves yet again that Danny Ainge isn't afraid to take risks with potential locker room cancers, as he signed Stephon Marbury and Rasheed Wallace in the past two seasons respectively. Shaq will join fellow washed-up-center-with-an-Irish-sounding-name Jermaine O'Neal, as the two provide an insurance policy for the injured Kendrick Perkins. We'll see how that works out.

Now, finally, onto the dunk. Shaq gets good position on Hakeem under the rim, and does his patent "black tornado" to free himself from Olajuwon. The ball handler on the perimeter (I can't figure out who it is) takes notice of Shaq getting open and tosses a perfect lob to O'Neal. Shaq finishes the oop strong, throwing it down right in Hakeem's face. Olajuwon tries to contest the dunk, but it's just too late by the time he goes up. It was a small victory for Shaq in a series that saw Olajuwon score over 30 points in all four games.

Appreciate This Moment, Folks

Tonight's the night, Dank Gamers! Since October, everything has been building towards this moment. Appreciate it, because it's not often that the Finals come down to a game 7 with two evenly matched opponents. Who knows what's going to happen.

The outcome of this game is huge for so many reasons. If the Lakers win, it will vault Kobe Bryant into a realm that few others have. He will, without a doubt, be one of the greatest ever to step on the hardwood. Also, if the Lakers win, Pau Gasol will shed the label that he is "soft" once and for all. And if Derek Fisher hits a big shot at some point down the stretch, he will come to be regarded as the new Robert Horry. For Phil Jackson, it will just be another year, another ring.

If the Celtics win, the big four will cement their legacies as true Celtic greats. Paul Pierce has probably already left his mark as a Boston legend, so this game weighs more on the legacies of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. If they lose, Allen and Garnett could be remembered somewhat less favorably assuming this is their last shot at a title with Boston. Don't get me wrong, both are future Hall of Famers who will be remembered as champions, but a win tonight will greatly impact their legacies for the better. As for Rondo, he's got plenty of time to shape his own legacy, but a second championship in his fourth year in the league certainly wouldn't hurt.

Anyhow, there's nothing I can tell you that hasn't already been said, so just sit back and enjoy the biggest game in basketball to happen in years. I would make a prediction, but I truly have absolutely no idea what to expect.

Do The Celtics or Lakers Have The Secret?

I've got to admit, I've had trouble pulling together inspiration to write about these NBA Finals. It's not that they've been bad, in fact they've been pretty damn good. I just haven't figured out an angle on them yet that hasn't been run into the ground elsewhere on the internet.

To find inspiration, I've turned to one of the most enigmatic sportswriters: Bill Simmons. I honestly haven't read much of his writing in the past, but he recently released a 700-page book titled The Book of Basketball and I just started reading it. I usually have trouble finishing 200-page books, so that probably gives you an idea of how dorky my fascination with basketball has become.

The second chapter of Simmons' book is all about The Secret to creating championship teams, which was revealed to him by none other than Isiah Thomas during a topless pool party in Vegas. If you're not picking up on the irony of Isiah Thomas telling him The Secret to basketball, look into Isiah's tenure as President of Basketball Operations for the Knicks. But Isiah really did know The Secret, and it goes something like this:

SPOILER ALERT!

At Least There Really Are Irish People in Boston

Here's the thing; I hate both the BostonCeltics and the Lakers. I actually can't think of any two NBA teams I dislike more. I hate them both like I hate the New York Yankees. The only championship match-up in all of sports that I could detest more would be the Dallas Cowboys vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.

BUT - If I'm going to keep this interesting, I'd better disagree with SlipperyMcFaggot (I'm totally out of clever ones, so these will probably just get increasingly vulgar).

That's right - teenage_mustache is officially picking the Boston Celtics as 2010 NBA champions. In five.

Here's another contributing factor: How many rings do I need to see Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson win? Well, I've seen more than enough already. And I don't give a damn about the fact that the first three-peat was with Shack and now this is really Kobe's team. If I remember correctly Kobe was still a starting player back then.

Now for Artest. I'll be damned if he gets a ring before Chad Ochocinco! I rooted for Barkley as a kid. How many rings did he get? Patrick Ewing? You get the idea.

OK, so there was really no point to post this. But now you know where I stand. Go team that's not the Lakers!

Butt Buddies For The Win

It's no secret that Ron Artest has a bizarre relationship with Kobe Bryant. For instance, in 2008 when Kobe and the Lakers fell short to the Boston Celtics in the Finals, Ron Ron walked in on Kobe while he was showering by himself. Artest told him that he was going to come to LA and help him win a title. I can only assume he pat Kobe on the butt on his way out.

Artest idolizes Kobe. Just watch this clip of Ron interviewing Kobe before they were teammates.

You don't even have to watch more than a minute of the interview to figure out that Ron is completely enthralled by Kobe. He seems to hang onto his every word and stroke his ego with nearly every question. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if Ron proposed that he stroke something more than Kobe's ego after the cameras stopped rolling.

Kobe enjoys the interview almost as much as Ron, if not more, as he seems to bask in every moment of Artest's idolization. Although the two have had some fierce battles between one another, such as last year's Western Conference Semi-Finals, I think it's safe to say that Ron Ron and Kobe are butt buddies. And because of this, I am cheering for the Lakers to beat the Boston Celtics in the Finals.

Fascinating Failure

Another year, another early playoff exit for LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. This was supposed to be their year, but they came up short against a wily Boston Celtics team that put it all together after waffling through the second half of the regular season. While the Celtics deserve praise for how they handled the Cavs, much of this epic collapse falls on the Cavaliers organization.

Despite being the best regular season team two seasons in a row with the league's back-to-back MVP, the Cavs' personnel moves have reeked of desperation ever since they pulled the trigger on the Shaq trade this past summer. With the clock ticking down on LeBron's impending free agency, Cleveland's management made decisions that were supposedly meant to put the Cavs over the hump, when in reality they were making decisions in an attempt to appease LeBron James. Of course this is easier said in hindsight, but the Cavs made moves simply because they could, not necessarily because they should. These trades culminated in another heartbreaking season for Cavs fans that was wrought in irony.

What Role Will LeBron Play Tonight?

Tonight LeBron James and his Cavaliers will hit the road, putting their season on the line in Boston. What role will LeBron play tonight against the Celtics? Can he channel his inner Mel Gibson and come out of the visitor's locker room of TD Banknorth Garden as a road warrior? Or...

Thursday Throwback Posterization: LeBron Over KG

Normally, for Throwback Posterizations, I like to find videos of dunks from at least ten years ago. Hence the name Throwback Posterization. But this week I'm making an exception and using a dunk from just two years ago.

With the internet going nuts over LeBron's miserable outing two nights ago, I figured it'd be appropriate to show a video of what LeBron should have been doing in game 5 at the Q. This is from game 4 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals, which the Cavs would win to even the series at two games a piece. The Celtics would go on to win the series en route to their 17th championship in franchise history.

LeBron has Pierce guarding him at the top of the key and loses him by dribbling around a pick by Joe Smith. James Posey comes out to help Pierce, so LeBron does a quick fake as if he's going to crossover into the paint. Posey bites on LeBron's fake forcing Garnett to come off of Varejao to help, but LeBron is just too quick in elevating to the rack.

Despite this being a memorable dunk in and of itself, Marv Albert proclaiming that LeBron has "no regard for human life" makes it that much more of a classic.

Season In Balance

Last night, in a game that should have been approached as a must-win game 7, the Cavaliers came out on their home court and played like it was a scrimmage. Hell, I'd expect a team to show more intensity in an off-season charity game. The Cavs were outperformed in nearly every aspect of the game as Boston dismantled Cleveland in a 120-88 blowout, good for the Cavs' worst home playoff loss ever.

If you're a Cavs fan, you'd like to credit Paul Pierce and the Boston defense for holding James to 15 points on 3-14 shooting, but the fact of the matter is that LeBron's poor performance falls largely on his own shoulders. He started the game getting his teammates involved with 4 assists in the first quarter, which is all well and good, but he should have started attacking the rim sooner than he did. James just couldn't hit a shot in the first half, and when he did start to take it to the hoop in the second quarter, Boston smartly made him earn it at the line to prevent him from getting in rhythm.

The second quarter was possibly some of the ugliest basketball I've seen during these playoffs outside of the Hawks pitiful performance against the Magic. The Cavs were stuck at 29 points for nearly 6 minutes, turning the ball over and missing shot after shot as they basically invited the Celtics to take the lead into the half. Garnett was having his way with Jamison, Pierce got into a rhythm for the first time this series, and Mo couldn't keep up with Ray Allen as he moved without the ball and knocked down jumpers. Keep in mind that a lot of this was going down without Rondo on the floor.

Big Baby Wants To Be Called The "Ticket Stub"

Glen "Big Baby" Davis is once again trying to shed his long-time nickname of Big Baby after his first attempt to adopt the nickname "Uno Uno" failed. I'd like to think that myself and Teenage Mustache played a role in putting "Uno Uno" to bed early.

Kevin Garnett has been known as the "Big Ticket" ever since he was drafted out of high school by the Timberwolves in 1995. Apparently someone started calling Big Baby the "Ticket Stub" when he had to fill in for Garnett during last year's playoffs. I think it's safe to assume that Big Baby coined the nickname for himself, especially considering how he's embraced it. He's gone as far as referring to himself as the "Ticket Stub" in first person... twice in a row!

"The ‘Ticket Stub,’ he’ll be ready,” said Big Baby. “I just can’t wait to help them. The ‘Ticket Stub’ loves to fill big shoes.”

In addition to being a shameless rip-off of Chad Ochocinco, I think one of the main reasons "Uno Uno" didn't catch on is because it failed to emphasize Davis' stocky build. If a Glen Davis nickname is going to have any staying power, this physical attribute must be incorporated. Why do you think the nickname Big Baby has stuck with him for so long?

Unlike "Uno Uno," the "Ticket Stub" actually does make reference to Big Baby's build, as he's basically a walking stub. This makes it slightly better than "Uno Uno," but I still question the nickname's potential for longevity. Big Baby is just so perfect. I can't imagine any other nickname taking it's place.

Sorry, Big Baby. Nobody's going to call you the "Ticket Stub" except for maybe your teammates, who will probably do it either to make you feel better about yourself or to make fun of you behind your back for constantly referring to yourself as the "Ticket Stub" in first person.

Your nickname is Big Baby. Deal with it.

Quotes from Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports

NBA suspends Garnett for "acting like a little bitch"

Kevin Garnett has been suspended one game by the NBA for what the league has described as "punk ass behavior." Towards the end of the Celtics victory over the Heat in game one, Paul Pierce was on the ground nursing a presumably fake injury and Garnett came over to check on him. Miami's Quentin Richardson started talking trash because he believed Pierce was dramatizing his injury (he would later call both Pierce and Garnett "actresses") and wanted to get on with the game. Garnett turned on his trademark intensity and shoved Richardson aside with his elbow. Some jawing ensued and before long an altercation broke out with Udonis Haslem, Big Baby, and others getting involved. In the midst of this skirmish, Garnett threw an elbow which caught Richardson in the face. Garnett immediately ran away after he threw the elbow.

Here's video of the altercation:



The NBA has released the following statement about the incident:

"The league has reviewed the incident that occurred during the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics game on Saturday, and has decided to suspend Kevin Garnett for acting like a little bitch. Although his elbow that connected with Quentin Richardson was enough to warrant a suspension, the NBA would like to stress that Garnett's punk ass behavior is equally punishable. The league empathizes with Quentin Richardson for reacting to Pierce's lame attempt to fake another injury, but as a matter of policy, the NBA is obligated to fine him $25,000 for playing a role in inciting the altercation."

In an unprecedented move by the NBA, the league has cited the following fan-made YouTube video to emphasize similarly punishable "bitch moves" made by Garnett in the past.

Can The Heat Light Up The Green?

The time has arrived, Dank Gamers. Playoff time. Kicking off tomorrow.

While the majority of the matchups in the East will probably be over before they start, the Heat look to be the only team capable of pulling off an upset.

Boston has lost seven of their last ten and have been playing .500 ball since Christmas. The Heat, on the other hand, have been playing their best basketball since March, with the best defense in the league since the All-Star break. They've had an incredibly easy schedule to close out the season, but hopefully they can carry their momentum into the playoffs and capitalize on the rudderless Celtics.

I can't stress enough how thrilled I would be if the Heat manage to bounce Boston. First off, it would likely increase the chances of Wade staying in Miami and it could help convince another top tier free agent to join him in South Beach. Secondly, the Heat advancing past Boston would likely be the end of an era for this Celtics team. I've been eagerly anticipating the demise of this Celtics squad since they won the championship, and how sweet it would be if the Heat turned this short-lived Celtics era to ash.

Dank Game Announcement: You've probably noticed there hasn't been much NBA Playoff talk here on Dank Game prior to this post. But don't worry, I'm not giving up right as things are just starting to get interesting. Keep your heads up for something to drop tomorrow that will break new ground for Dank Game... unless something goes horribly wrong, which is entirely likely.

Cavs Clinch the Central (Big Surprise)

The last couple of weeks for the Cavs have been a bit boring, despite the clinching of the Central division title. One thing that did work out really well for the Cavs has been the rest for Lebron James. They only had 2 games in 9 days so Lebron had another little all star break to rest his tweaked ankle.

They went 1-1 in the games, losing to a hot Milwaukee Bucks team, big ups to Brandon Jennings. That one loss could make a difference in the race for home court with the Lakers, but it was worth it to rest Lebron for 9 days. They still have a 3 1/2 game lead on the Lakers for the best record in the league and home court advantage throughout the Playoffs.

The rest was really about being healthy for the Playoffs and I think he is definitely healthy now. Lebron has looked really strong in the 4 games since his return. He carved up the 76ers with 10 assists on only 1 turnover even though his shot had a little rust (3-10 on 3 pointers, 6-12 at the line). He played really well down the stretch against Boston, scoring 30 points. Then he had a triple double against Detroit and a near triple double against the Pacers the following night. I think its fair to say he's running away with the MVP despite missing those two games.

Playoff Picture: Top of the East

Cleveland became the first team to clinch a playoff berth, and it looks like they'll be able to maintain their #1 spot in the East. With 5 games separating them from the Magic and a relatively light schedule, the Cavs are in good position. Nine of their remaining sixteen games are at home, and their toughest competition will be a game against the Magic and two against the Hawks in April. They do have two more against Boston (one of which is on ABC tomorrow at 3:30) but the Celtics have been so out of sorts lately that it's hard to consider them a threat to the Cavs right now. I can't completely write off Boston though, especially with Cleveland missing Shaq. They also play the Spurs at the end of March, but San Antonio seems to be fading away similarly to Boston. I'll go ahead and assume the Cavs can handle them.

Although the Cavs will likely finish the season strong, there are concerns heading into the playoffs. The primary concern is how Mike Brown will utilize Cleveland's frontline. Antawn Jamison (who has missed some time with knee stiffness) has had minimal time to play alongside Shaq since his thumb injury and the return of Big Z could complicate matters even further. Power forward Leon Powe recently returned from knee surgery three weeks ago, so that's another piece to work in. Powe has started in Jamison's absence but might not see much playoff action. Cleveland will have a very deep frontline, but only so many minutes to go around. A lot of these players haven't even been on the court together, so chemistry is a concern.

Projected Record: 64 - 18

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Toronto Raptors

The Magic are the hottest team in the East right now with seven straight wins. They'll likely maintain the 2nd seed in the East, as Boston and Atlanta are both four games behind. Their toughest competition in March includes games against the Spurs and Nuggets, although they do play Miami, who has beaten them twice this season. I expect Orlando to put them in their place this time around, though. In April, they'll face Dallas (the hottest team in the league), San Antonio again, and Cleveland. I think they can beat Cleveland if Shaq is still out, while the game against the Mavericks will be one to watch. Mark your calendars for April Fool's Day.

Orlando seems to be hitting their stride at the right time. Vince Carter is bringing it together after a questionable start to the season and Matt Barnes is providing a nastiness they sorely missed in the playoffs last season. I am personally hoping to see more of Brandon Bass, who was signed from Dallas in the offseason. He has been seeing more playing time lately after having been out of the rotation through much of the year. He's a monstrous power forward with the ability to hit the mid-range jumper. Unlike Cleveland, Orlando will be able to evaluate their rotations down the stretch of the season, as everyone seems to be pretty healthy right now.

Project Record: 59 - 23

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Miami Heat

As mentioned earlier, Boston has been pretty awful lately. They recently lost to possibly the worst team ever in the Nets, got destroyed by the Grizzlies, and were two Ray Allen three-pointers away from losing to the Wizards. If they keep this up, there's a good chance Atlanta could slip past for the third seed. They are coming off a blow out win against the Pacers, but that's to be expected. They have some tough competition in March with the Cavs, Mavericks, Jazz, Nuggets, Spurs, and Thunder. Despite another game against Cleveland, April looks pretty manageable for them. They play the Bucks twice though, who have been hot and beat them just the other night.

It seems everyone is beginning to completely write off Boston, but I'm hesitant to do so just yet. I am close to joining that camp though, as the trade for Nate Robinson seems to be a stupid move. Eddie House fit in nicely and often hit big threes in the playoffs. It surprised me to see on Basketball-Refence that they have the best defensive rating in the league, because I was under the impression that they had been slipping on that end. The Celtics success in the playoffs will hinge on their aging superstars' health and ability to get back on the same page. Rondo will have to take it to another level like he did in last year's playoffs, too.

Projected Record: 51 - 31

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Charlotte Bobcats

The Hawks have been very inconsistent lately, with no "statement wins" and plenty of losses to teams they should beat. They recently lost to Miami (second time in two months! Go Heat!) and New York. They also lost to the Warriors back in February, which just shouldn't happen. The rest of March looks pretty light for them other than games against the Spurs, Magic, and Lakers. April also doesn't look too bad besides playing Cleveland twice. With that said, they have the Bucks and Raptors twice more this season, which are hardly guaranteed wins for this relatively shaky Hawks squad.

Atlanta is one of the more interesting teams in the NBA, because they are one of few teams that have improved mainly from internal growth. The addition of Jamal Crawford certainly has bolstered their roster, but they have improved season after season largely with the same team. This year's playoffs come with very high stakes for Atlanta, because anything short of reaching the Conference Finals will be considered a failure. Playoff success is especially crucial with Joe Johnson's impending free agency. If the Hawks are bounced in the first or second round, it could very well be the end of this core's run.

Projected Record: 52 - 30

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Milwaukee Bucks

Icy Heat: Can Miami heat up on the road?

The pattern for the Miami Heat this season has been something like this: blow out the shitty teams, get blown out by the mediocre teams, and either squeeze out wins or come heartbreakingly close against the elite teams. And where does this find the Heat as we near the All-Star break? Playing .500 ball, tied with the Bulls for the 7th seed in the East, with the Bucks just two and a half games behind.

Ok, so I could be in a worse position. I could be a Wizards fan who bought into their preseason championship hype, and then watched them disappoint even prior to the whole guns-in-the-locker-room thing. Or I could be a Pistons fan who stood by as Joe Dumars transformed the team from a perennial playoff threat to a disjointed bottom feeder. And I could be a Nets fan, just hoping that my team doesn't post the worst record of all time.

It could be worse, I know. But it isn't good. And more often than not, it isn't pretty to watch. Of course, Dwyane Wade will provide at least a couple highlight reel plays every game, but is that really worth watching the excruciatingly painful lack of ball movement that has come to be expected this season? Further, is it worth watching Dwyane's awful T-Mobile ads with Charles Barkley every fucking commercial break?

It's even become difficult to appreciate the games that they blow their opponents out because it's often flat out boring and I can already sense that they'll be blown out in their following game. A little consistency would be nice as their next 8 of 9 games will be on the road. The first two are back to back in Boston and Cleveland, with both nationally televised on ESPN and TNT, respectively. They've played these two teams well throughout the season, but have come up short twice against both teams.

Here's to hoping the Heat can start playing some inspired basketball and give the free agent class of 2010 a reason to consider South Florida. Chris Bosh, I'm looking at you.

Glen Uno Uno Davis? Really?

Let's admit it:  Ocho Cinco is a stupid nickname.  But Chad has so much charisma that he makes his D+ Spanish 101 endearing.  I can hardly imagine Glen "Big Baby" Davis can do the same.

But after hearing our own Dank Game post about his supposed new nickname becoming "Uno Uno" in homage to Ochocinco, I began to imagine the horrors if this homage goes any further.  For Example, will Chad's infamous Mohawk from 2006 be sitting atop Davis' big baby head anytime soon?  If it does, it will look the image to the right.

Here's a question - given that most pro teams are located in big cities, and most big cities have Hispanic populations anymore, why is it Cincinnati and Boston where we've got players doing Spanish-related nonsense?  Why not in a city like LA, Chicago, New York, or Miami?

Big Baby doesn't want to be called Big Baby anymore

Celtics coach Doc Rivers has said that Glen 'Big Baby' Davis needs to grow up after he was fined for telling a Pistons fan to "suck [his] dick" who had been heckling him, by calling him "fat boy" and "chubs." So how does he respond to Doc Rivers plea for growth? He wants to lose his life-long nickname, Big Baby. Yeah, you heard me, Big Baby doesn't want to be called Big Baby anymore.

"I've been called 'Big Baby' all through my life," said Big Baby before Monday's game against the Clippers. "But I'm going through changes. I'm in a cocoon and I'm coming out a different player, a different person. Basically, the new person is growth. I'm shedding that 'Big Baby' and you can see something else, not the past."

That's some heavy stuff, Big Baby.

Big Baby has requested that fans come up with a new nickname via his Twitter page (@GlenDavisNBA) to help him finally break out of his cocoon, a new man. I was thinking something along the lines of "The All Grown-up Big Boy" or Glen "100% Man" Davis.

Turns out his fans' suggestions were all for naught, as The Boston Metro's Jeff Howe suggested that Big Baby go with the nickname "Uno Uno," to reference his #11 jersey and pay homage to (read: blatantly rip-off) Dank Game hero, Chad Ochocinco.

"I like that," said Big Baby. "I'll be 'Uno Uno.' That's my new name. Don't Call me 'Big Baby' any more. 'Uno Uno.' I'm serious. If somebody calls me ('Big Baby'), I'll be really mad."

So, Uno Uno it is. What an original nickname. Rolls off the tongue perfectly, too. Uno Uno. Yeah, I like that. It's definitely gonna catch on, Big Baby... errr, I mean Uno Uno.

Shoot, I hope he doesn't get steamin' mad that I accidentally called him Big Baby. I wouldn't want Big Baby to have to unleash one of his notorious temper tantrums on me.

via Ball Don't Lie

Heartbreak Heat

This season's Miami Heat team has been a huge flirt. They start the season out strong at 6-1, and before you know it they fall back into a middling team struggling to remain above .500. Then they have those games when they look poised to turn a corner, only to be put in their place by a buzzer beating freak shot by the best finisher in the game. Then they come out and get embarrassed by the Grizzlies on their home court. Less than a week after that, they blow out Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic at home.

And then there's games like last night, when they trade runs with the KG-less Celtics and let a sizable lead in the 4th quarter disappear, putting the game up for grabs in the waning moments. And then, when Wade seemingly has the game sealed after a an improbable steal and dunk putting them up by 2 with .6 seconds remaining, Paul Pierce executes a perfect mid-court inbounds alley oop to Rajon Rondo for a tip-in that would tie the game and send it to overtime. And of course, the Heat collapse in overtime. What makes this even more heartbreaking is that the game should have ended after Wade's dunk. The time keepers mistakenly stopped and restarted the clock after a Celtics turnover with about 8 seconds left, as they anticipated the Heat to call timeout. I don't know how much more of this I can take, and when you factor in the Bengals' gut wrenching season, I'll probably be going grey by the time the NBA Playoffs roll around... but I digress.

Dwyane Wade seemed livid after this loss, and you can't blame him. Dude posted a season high 44 points and basically had the game won only to see it go to waste because Mario Chalmers couldn't keep up with Rajon Rondo on that final play in regulation. In a season that's been all about assessing the Heat's youth, you have to wonder if this single play has made Chalmers' future with the Heat all the more questionable. While Chalmers did have a few big plays (mostly steals), he shot poorly from the field and crumbled on defense when it mattered most. Is this really the type of running mate Wade is hoping to spend the rest of his career with? Can Chalmers really contribute to a championship team? The answer to those questions is seeming more and more like a resounding "no."

As for the rest of the Heat's youth movement, Dayton's Daequan Cook has basically been banished from the rotation as he still struggles to find his shooting stroke, which he lost all the way back at last year's All Star break. Dorell Wright has been pretty solid this year, but it's doubtful Heat management will resign him unless he's willing to settle for a meager contract. Michael Beasley still looks to be an All Star in the making, but you have to wonder if he can maintain consistency in the playoffs if the Heat do retain Wade and become contenders with a big free agent signing this summer. I even have my doubts that Beasley has what it takes to contribute throughout a single playoff series, although I'd like to think otherwise. If only coach Spoelstra would give Beasley minutes when the games matter most so we could have a better idea. Lord knows his offense could've been used last night in overtime. With that said, you can't blame Spo for sticking with Haslem last night as Udonis had the hot hand in the second half, nailing baseline jumper after baseline jumper to finish with 19 points.

And so Dank Gamers, I'll end this long overdue Miami Heat rant with more or less no conclusion, because it's hard to make any sense of this team thus far. Maybe the inevitable return of Rafer Alston (who's contract was bought out by the lowly Nets) to South Beach can bring some perspective to this motley cast of characters, or maybe he'll make the roster all the more confounding. I just hope Pat Riley has a better idea of where this team is headed than the rest of us Heat fans.

Tony Allen throws it down on Corey Brewer

It wasn't but a week and a half ago when Corey Brewer threw it down hard on Derek Fisher, but this time around it was Brewer on the receiving end. Although I can't stand him, Eddie House makes a great steal and then saves the ball from going out of bounds with a beautiful behind the back pass. Tony Allen catches the pass and throws it down hard on Brewer.

Just in case you missed it...

LeBron had two amazing blocks last night chasing down Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen on fastbreaks that would typically result in a foul or an uncontested dunk/layup. I think it's safe to say Rondo is getting sick of these blocks. LeBron's timing coming down the floor is simply astounding and the fact that he manages to avoid fouling on both of these plays is something to appreciate as well. The extra effort to get the posession back on both plays is incredible, too. This is most notable on the Rondo block, as LeBron hits the ball twice against the glass in mid-air in an attempt to knock the ball back to himself or a teammate. I can't remember if the Cavs actually did get it back, but the effort is clearly there. Players have to take notice of these blocks and use the rim to shield themselves with a reverse dunk or layup when they're playing the Cavs. Even if they don't feel him breathing down their neck on the fastbreak, it's probably still a good idea just to be safe.