Poe

Coldplay is popular with mainstream, but I wouldn't call them garbage.

Yea, I pretty much made a whole thread about that about a week ago (here). I agree, though, D-Wright certainly deserves more minutes. He's too good to be receiving only 20 minutes per game with the Heat struggling like this. His versatility to play 4 positions should at least earn him up to a good 30 minutes each night, plus he has great chemistry with Wade and Richardson.

The Heat. They've been keeping tabs on him for a while. If the Heat can't grab LeBron, Joe Johnson, or Chris Bosh, they could be very likely to sign T-Mac to a deal if they feel he's healthy enough to contribute at a high enough level.

@Flash - Jason Williams brought similar things in '05-'06 that Steve Blake would be able to bring in '10-'11. The Heat don't need a major talent at the point. Just someone who is solid in their role. Blake is already by far a better shooter, defender, and decision maker than anyone the Heat have on their team at the traditional point. Like I've said before, Blake is very underrated. I completely agree.

I guess it didn't mean anything for Monta after all

The solution would be to start Wright with Wade. Wright seems to prefer guarding PGs rather than any other position, so he can take pressure off of Wade defensively by guarding his man. Wright can take partial ball handling duties as well if they need to set up a play for Wade off the ball. Dorell can handle it. He averages about 20 mpg and only 0.5 TOpg or so, and there has only been about one or two times this year where Dorell has had 3 TOs despite his point-forward role, so he isn't turnover prone.

Neither team is as good without their star player. That goes for any team. I am saying, though, that the Cavs rely on LeBron even more so than the Lakers, because nearly everything in their offense goes through him, whereas the Lakers have other creators. LeBron doesn't absolutely need to have a monster performance each game in order to win. If that was the case, the Cavs wouldn't have been a 66 win team last year. Thing is, the Cavs have enough defense to hang with any team, much like the Charlotte Bobcats. Their defense will keep them in games, it's James offensive dominance that puts them over the top, plus a supporting cast that compliments his game so well offensive and makes everything easier for him to make plays, while he makes things easier for his teammates. It's like a two-way street. The team needs LeBron and LeBron needs the team.

Not to the extent that either would require a double team, even if LeBron would get an injury. Mo was never a 20ppg caliber scorer even before heading to Cleveland, and Shaq to is too old to be a consistent threat and is only averaging 12 ppg this year. Other than that, with LeBron James in mind, it turns out AV has become the Cavs fourth best scorer statistically this year. I'm not saying that these guys are bad players. The Cavs are a very good defensive team with shooters to spread the floor, athletic slashers, and bigs who can finish down low. All of which compliments LBJ's game and makes everything easier for him to succeed, and therefore bring Cavalier Ws. They just lack creators, which is why they look so bad offensively with LeBron on the bench. The Lakers, however, have three players who would potentially average 20ppg on bad teams (Artest, Gasol, Bynum), and also a guy off the bench who has proven to be able to make plays himself (Lamar Odom). It doesn't necessarily make them a better team than the Cavs, though I personally believe they will win the championship again this year. It's just that the Cavs rely more heavily on their star player, much like the Suns rely so heavily on Steve Nash, where the offense and support cast made Nash thrive therefore the Suns thrive.

I think anyone in his situation would.

+1 The Cavaliers and Lakers teams are both nearly equal as a whole team, but their approach to the supporting cast of their best player is different. LeBron is the centerpiece to the Cavs' offensive gameplan and is surrounded by players who are strictly meant to compliment his game, whereas Kobe is mixed with talented individual players capable of creating their own shots effectively and leads them by taking a load of pressure off his teammates by making plays when the rest of the team is struggling.

There aren't too many moves the Heat can make this year as far as trades go without changing their summer plans. The Heat have already made a lot of changes at point guard. First starting Chalmers, then signing Arroyo and moving Chalmers to come off the bench. Then trading Chris Quinn for Rafer Alston, and starting Rafer with Chalmers off the bench and moving Arroyo to third string. The only time for a real change at the point will be this summer. I've talked a bit about Steve Blake, who will be a free agent. He'll be looking to leave Portland since they already have Miller and Bayless. He's good friends with Haslem, and his style of play will be a perfect compliment to Wade's game. He's already proven to be a good fit with Brandon Roy. For now, though, with all the problems the Heat have at point, I think the best solution will be to move Wade to start there. At least for now until the necessary upgrade is made.

The Heat will be in the playoffs. I'm not worried at all about that. The Heat are in their lowest point of the season I think. Things will turn around soon enough. That said, I doubt the Heat will be getting a top 10 pick. But whoever they do get, though, I would personally look for a back up center, unless they can get a real stud at point guard. I don't know too much about the rookies, though. I don't watch college basketball. Talking FA, I don't want to see JO back whatsoever. He's going to demand touches and will continue to play soft as hell until he gets those touches. If the Heat manage to grab an all star talent to join Wade and Beasley, there won't be enough shots to go around for JO. Instead, the Heat will need a guy who's willing to do the dirty work no matter if he ever touches the ball on offense or not. Someone like Marcus Camby or Ben Wallace. Another solid role player to grab will be Steve Blake. The Heat need a solid guy at point guard to allow Wade to play his best position full time, and I think Blake will be the perfect fit. With three 20 ppg caliber players in the starting line up, the point guard can't be ball dominant. Steve Blake is used to playing with Brandon Roy, who he allows to take the ball up the floor during the right moments in the game. Blake is also a great three point shooter, a perfect compliment to Wade's slashing game, and he doesn't turn over the ball with a high assist/TO ratio, which is perfect for Heat style offense. He plays great defense, and will fit in well with this team chemistry-wise due to his friendship with Haslem. With the veteran role players out of the way, the first thing on the Heat's mind with their amount of money to spend will be to grab a big time free agent, to not only ensure Wade's stay, but to also put this team in a position to look at a championship. I think the best guy to look at is Joe Johnson. Of course, LeBron would be a dream, but I personally believe he's going to stay in Cleveland for the rest of his career, and JJ has moved from team to team before. Plus, JJ would probably be a better fit anyway. With JJ, Wade still takes the leading role of the team, whereas LeBron there may be a clash of egos. Also, JJ would compliment Wade's game much like Pippen did for Jordan. Johnson is a great all around player who will be able to adjust to any style of play. His ability to create and take pressure off of Wade and Beasley will push this team over the top. If the additions of Joe Johnson, Steve Blake, and Marcus Camby are in place, the Heat should look to keep Rafer Alston, Dorell Wright, and Udonis Haslem as their top priority players to keep. Keeping Quentin Richardson and Joel Anthony should also be kept in mind as third string back ups in case of injury. - Alston can provide a veteran presence off the bench, and with his age, a bench role will probably suit him best heading forward in his career. - Dorell Wright is turning into a great all around player who would do very well with such talent surrounding him, and would most likely take on the sixth man role. With the attention Wade, JJ, and Bease will get, Wright will have freedom to move without the ball and find himself with wide open shots and finishes at the basket. He can also provide defensive energy as well. - Udonis Haslem is a Heat 4 life, so he'll probably be willing to take a pay cut and even a reduced role to stay. If the Heat manage to grab close friend Steve Blake, that should also ensure Haslem's stay. His veteran presence will also be needed off the bench. - Richardson can be a shooter and a solid defender off the bench. He'll be nothing more after the talent comes in, though he'll still be a useful player if the Heat can manage to keep him for a pay cut. - Anthony is a cheap center who will get those blocks and bring energy off the bench. He'll be reduced to third string, though, so in all likelyhood, he will probably be leaving the team this summer. In conclusion, my vision for the team after Draft and FA: Starting line up - PG - Steve Blake SG - Dwyane Wade SF - Joe Johnson PF - Michael Beasley C - Marcus Camby Bench - Rafer Alston Dorell Wright Quentin Richardson Udonis Haslem -Rookie Center (Alabi?) That looks very much like a championship caliber squad to me

Source It doesn't seem like there has been any final decision on it, but Spoelstra and Wade seem to at least be putting it under some consideration. The Heat have lost 7 out of their last 8 games. Sticking with the same line up most likely will not result in a change in the record. I think the best adjustment will be to start Wade at the point.

Keep him.

I'd say: 1. Chris Paul/Steve Nash/Deron Williams 4. Chauncey Billups 5. Rajon Rondo

I think the Heat's problem has been the age differences on the team. They have a bad mix of old players (O'Neal, Richardson, Alston) and young players (Beasley, Wright, Chalmers, Cook), all of which have gotten a large role in the rotation. Wade and Haslem are the only players on the Heat that are in their prime, and it wouldn't be hard to guess that they have been the most consistent players on the team and really the only players you can count on to give a good performance each and every night, while the young players are still learning and the old players whose energy levels won't always be there. If the old guys were 3 years younger and the young guys were all 3 years older, then the Heat would easily be an elite team in the league. Instead, we have to deal with inconsistencies due to the age differences. One night the Heat are the best team in the league, and the next they are the worst.

Rondo has slowly turned into the center piece to the Celtics team. Unfortunately, that hasn't always been the best formula for playoff success in NBA history. The rest of the team is going to have play like they are at least 2 years younger if they hope to win it all again.

He got voted in. He's just injured and can't physically play in it.

I'm not at all saying that it's impressive by any means. I would actually expect this team to win a game like this despite no Kobe. I wouldn't be able to say the same thing about the Cleveland LeBrons.....err.....Cavaliers, though.

That's a pretty risky move, though. Their current record may take a hit, and there's no telling whether or not they'll actually land a big time free agent, or wind up with nothing worth making the original move for. And wouldn't it be better to get rid of someone else a bit less valuable to the team? John Salmons, Tyrus Thomas?

I think it proves that Kobe shouldn't need to take 20 more shots than his second and third options combined.

After watching the Bulls play the Heat.. I don't see why the Bulls would have any intentions of getting rid of Hinrich. He's easily their best perimeter defender, and he did a great job on Dwyane Wade.

I didn't watch it but... I think this game proves this team has plenty of depth to work with.

Isn't B Roy in the all star game?

So... does this mean anything for Monta?