Farewell 2009-10 Miami Heat

First off, I just wanna say you guys look real tough in your little suits. Real classy, but like I said, tough too. It's been quite a ride this season. There's been times when I thought you guys were on the verge of a real break-thru (Coach Spoelstra buzz word) and times when I thought you guys might wind up under .500 and out of the playoffs. Turns out you were somewhere between the two. I guess you just weren't quite fluid (another Coach Spoelstra buzz word) enough. Now, I'd like to have some parting words with each one of you guys.

Dwyane Wade: Simply put, you are phenomenal at playing basketball. Sure, your fashion sense is iffy at best, but so is Jordan's. Although you didn't have a season that was as transcendent as last year's, the Heat finished with a better record, so who cares. It seems like you'd like to stick around in Miami, but I know that you have to see the front office make some big moves before you sign on the dotted line. I just hope Pat Riley knows what he's doing this summer, because it'd be a damn shame if you left.

Michael Beasley: I just can't figure you out, bro. I know you're young and have room to grow, but I'm just not convinced you're the guy everyone was gushing about before the Heat drafted you. You've got all the talent in the world, but you just can't seem to get your head in the game. I'd love to see you turn into a 20-10 guy and win multiple championships with D-Wade in Miami, but it's starting to seem less and less likely.

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.

What a Show

As mediocre as the Heat has been the past two seasons, they always manage to show up against the Lakers. Maybe Dwyane Wade is determined to always put on a show when Miami is on primetime or maybe the Heat somehow match up well against the Lakers. Whatever it is, these two teams have had some classic games and last night was no exception. There were 31 lead changes and 19 ties, making it the most back and forth game of the season.

Luckily this one didn't end like their last meeting, although it did come frighteningly close. After Quentin Richardson hit a three pointer to put the Heat up 99-97 with 11.1 seconds left, everyone was expecting Kobe to drain a three for about his 18th game winner of the season. Instead, Kobe drove on Wade and pulled up for a short jumper to knot the game at 99 with 3.3 seconds remaining. On the ensuing play, Wade couldn't get a good look with Lamar Odom all over him and into overtime it went.

Kobe tried to singlehandedly take over the game in overtime, which ultimately led to the Lakers coming up short. Kobe knocked down several ridiculous jumpers in isolation plays, but the Heat kept answering with big shots by Haslem and Arroyo. The key play for Miami came with 18.7 seconds left, when Jermaine O'Neal drew a charge on Kobe driving the lane. Two free throws by Carlos Arroyo would seal the game for Miami. During overtime, J.O. told his teammates that he would be waiting to draw the charge on the next player to drive the lane, and he came through on that promise.

Damn, it feels good to see the Heat finally beat a contender rather than wilting under pressure. They're now back at .500 with the 8th seed, just a game and a half in front of Charlotte but also a game and a half behind Toronto and the 5th seed. The East is still inferior to the West, but at least the playoff race is interesting.

Heat split back-to-back

The Miami Heat are now 4-1, which is an encouraging start for a team many observers had missing the playoffs. They should be 5-0 if it weren't for an awful 4th quarter in which they only scored 15 points. Michael Beasley was largely absent in the past two games during the final quarter, as coach Erik Spoelstra seems to still lack confidence in Beasley when the games matter most. While it is understandable with Haslem playing strong down the stretch in the previous game against the Bulls, you can't help but wonder if Michael's offense could've helped them win the game.

Speaking of Spoelstra, sometimes his rotations are truly mystifying. At the beginning of the fourth quarter against the Suns, Spoelstra had a lineup of Carlos Arroyo, Dorell Wright, James Jones, Joel Anthony, and I think Quentin Richardson. That just isn't going to work. Maybe if J.O. were on the floor, Spoelstra might explain that he is spacing the floor with shooters, but Joel Anthony was playing center, who doesn't even come close to demanding a double team. Hell, Anthony can more or less be left open on offense. That's not how you close games as a coach.

The Heat started out strong against the Wizards last night, ending the first quarter up 31-17. While the Heat's defense has looked strong, this good start can also be credited to turnovers by the Wizards. Dwyane Wade carried most of the offensive load early in the game and the Heat also had to rely on Wade to close out the game, which is a growing concern. Wade finished with 40 points, going 14 of 26 from the floor.

Michael Beasley and Jermaine O'Neal have got to step up their offense and rebounding if the team wants to be considered even marginal contenders. O'Neal finished with 4 points and 7 boards, while Beasley had just 10 points and 4 boards. The Heat forced the Wizards to 37% shooting, but they also gave up 13 offensive rebounds.

Quentin Richardson continues to be a big addition for the Heat, especially in these last two games. His defense has been great throughout the season, but he's finally starting to find his outside shot going 5-7 from deep against the Wiz. He's also provided great hustle on both ends of the court.

Another glaring problem for the Heat that has come to light in the past two games is the point guard position. Chalmers has provided some quality offensive play, but he just couldn't handle guarding Steve Nash and Gilbert Arenas who both had big games. Carlos Arroyo couldn't even stay on the floor against the Wizards as Arenas quickly forced him into foul trouble.

Despite all of the Heat's problems, they've shot well as a team, played overall good team defense, and they're off to a 4-1 start. I'm hoping that Daequan Cook can come back soon from his shoulder injury, as he was a key factor to the Heat's success in the first half of last season. I'm also wondering what the status is on Jamaal Magloire who's yet to play after serving a two game suspension due to an altercation in the preseason with Pistons rookie Jonas Jerebko. Magloire has proved to be a serviceable center in limited minutes.

What are the implications of the Heat acquiring Quentin Richardson?

Quentin Richardson has been traded a lot this summer. From New York to Memphis for Darko Milicic and cash, to the Clippers for Zach Randolph, to Minnesota for Sebastian Telflair, Mark Madsen, and Craig Smith, and finally to the Miami Heat for 7-foot softie, Mark Blount. Although I'm pretty unfamiliar with Richardson's game, I feel a little apprehensive that the Heat are acquiring someone that's been tossed around so much during the offseason. I do think it was a good trade to make though, as Mark Blount's career in Miami has mostly been on the bench. At least Richardson might have some impact, but whether it will be positive or negative remains to be seen.

When considering what role Richardson will have in Miami, many of the questions surrounding the Heat's roster become magnified. If Richardson will play primarily at the two, will he be a back-up to Dwyane Wade, or will he play alongside him when Wade takes over duties at the point? Although Richardson seems pretty inconsistent, he could be capable of providing some scoring when Wade is on the bench, which was one of the Heat's main weaknesses last season. If he plays alongside Wade, what will become of Daequan Cook? Cook remains a big question mark for the Heat. Sometimes he is the three-point threat that the Heat covet to have beside Wade, and sometimes he disappears (i.e. the second half of last season after winning the three point contest). Cook's potential remains a mystery, and Richardson might be an impediment to his development. I think gauging Cook and the other young players like Chalmers and Beasley ought to be a priority for this season.

If Richardson spends more time at the three, what becomes of the other Heat small forwards? James Jones was never at full health last season, so his ability to mesh with the team remains unknown. If his hand has completely healed, will he be able to return as the three-point specialist he's been in the past? I like Jones but I have concerns about his athleticism, which is an important attribute for a small forward. Jamario Moon had the athleticism I wish Jones possessed, which was why it was tough to see him leave for the Cavs. And what about Yakhouba Diawara and Dorrell Wright? Diawara is a solid perimeter defender and a decent three-point shooter, but when all is said and done, he doesn't seem to be much of a difference maker. Dorrell Wright remains to be a project that has yet to show what he is capable of. When Riley coached, he mostly rode the pine because of Riley's lack of trust in young players. Since then, nagging injuries and inconsistent play have hampered his career. This season could be the final straw for Dorrell, as it is essentially his last chance to prove his worth. I still have a delusional hope that he can become a solid contributor at small forward, but more than likely he will end up falling short due to unreliability or a lack of playing time because of the Heat's glut at small forward. When he had the chance to play during that painful 2007-08 season, he showed some flashes of promise on both ends of the floor. As if those aren't enough questions at the small forward position, will Michael Beasley end up putting minutes at the three? I'm in the line of thinking that he should be the Heat's starting power forward next season. I think the only time he should be at the three is when the opposing team is playing a small forward with offensive deficiencies. Most starting small forwards in the league will take advantage of Beasley's poor defensive footwork, blowing by him over and over. It also might make sense to slide him to the three when Udonis Haslem's defense and rebounding is needed at the power forward position. This way, the Heat would still have Beasley's scoring on the offensive end and Haslem's defense on the other end.

Despite all of these question marks, I think this is ultimately a good trade to have made. Richardson has proven to be a legit three-point threat in the past with Phoenix, setting the Suns single-season record for three-point field goals in 2004-05 by surpassing Dan Majerle's record of 199. He also has a career 35% three-point field goal percentage. The Heat highly value three-point shooters to surround Wade, and this trade gives them plenty of options with Richardson, Cook, Jones, as well as Beasley, who shot just over %40 from three last season. Another positive aspect is that Wade and Richardson are both Chicago natives and friends. Regardless of how this trade works out on the court, it seems as though it will at least improve morale. But there are still plenty of concerns, one of which is Richardson's conditioning. He appeared somewhat out of shape during his stint with the Knicks. Fortunately, he is busy working out in Chicago this summer alongside Wade, Jermaine O'Neal and Dorrell Wright with Tim Grover, who aided Wade in returning to superstar form last summer. Because his contract expires after next season, Richardson will likely only be in Miami for a year, so it's not like this is a high risk move. Let's just hope that this trade actually pays dividends rather than serve as simply a move to lose Mark Blount's contract. And most of all, let's hope this isn't a move that stunts the growth of any of the Heat's young talent.