Heat outwork the workers: Heat 115 Houston 106

Wow!

Without Yao and Tmac, Houston have no stars. You look at the lineup on paper and you think no problem. However this Rockets team were 22-17 and had only lost 4 at home before the Heat came to town and they play in the west. I expected a loss, but again, after a competitive first quarter the Heat pulled away and the game was never in doubt. Wade was supreme again, the defense hounded Houston relentlessly and the offense was very, very efficient. The Heat played like contenders, not a team who will only make the playoffs because they are in the East.

Early on the game looked like it could be difficult; the Heat were scoring well but so were Houston, Luis Scola was terrorising both JO and Beasley. Spo brought Anthony on and that was the end of Scola and the Rockets. Wade finished 37 and 8, JO again had good stats; 16 and 13 (actually fighting Beas for rebounds early on) and being the tallest player on the court dominated the boards. Beasley had a quiet game but Alston stepped up against his old team with 17 and nearly faultless shooting early on. Alston also defended Brooks very well whilst Chalmers replaced him to slow down Kyle 'the bulldog' Lowry. Q also found his shooting stroke with 15 mostly stretching the floor with his 3 point shooting.

The 9 man rotation is looking good again and James Jones has now bought a sports jacket in order to watch the games, oh how we'd love to get a trade that"ll move his contract from the books and bring in a minor piece (perhaps a big C - but really any expiring will do). Wade was perfect on his 7 FTs, that's important too. Wade's head seems to be back in the game and this road trip is turning into a success. 3:2 now with Oklahoma (a very difficult proposition) tonight.

After those two disasters these last two games have been a wonderful balm for Heat fans. When Wade is on, the Heat can beat ANYONE!

Eugh! Those were bad.

So too much work to update for the last two games, but they were bad. Very bad. I don't even want to think about them again.

JO looks like he needs a couple of week's rest. He has lost his little lift and is missing easy baskets. Wade probably needs a few games off - sort out the wrist and the head. Beasley needs to step up - he has the offensive skills but not the mental attitude to take over a game yet. He needs to sort out the ticky tacky fouls too. Cook just needs to sort himself out, full stop.

Two terrible games but when added to the great win over Phoenix probably sum up the Heat pretty well at the moment.

Too hot for the Suns 109:105

Great game, Great score.

They are nearly always great games against the Suns. Steve Nash is a miraculous PG and the team overflows with skill and fun. Last night the Heat matched them and beat them. A poor first quarter where the Heat gave up 33 was quickly overturned in the second half. Beasley again started hot and went cold in the second half but here Wade always started hot and even though he cooled in the second half, we fans always knew we had the game for our taking.

JO didn't look good, he missed a lot of easy baskets next to the basket and didn't have the rise needed to rebound at a high level; but when it mattered he came through with a crucial basket near the end, old heads in crunch time!! Rafer Alston arrived from the wire waiver and immediately started. He was good and should only get better. Carlos Arroyo disappeared to third string and didn't get on. I can understand and agree with that. Q was out of sorts again but that didn't matter because Dorrel was incredible. He played 28 minutes, went 7 of 13 for 15 points with 7 rebounds but even more impressively 4 steals. Defensively Dorrell was everywhere, his long arms caused problems and it was great to see. UD had a great game too and Joel Anthony was sterling in defense changing shots and hustling everywhere.

I've only one other question. Can we have less Jaylon House adverts on the screen please.

Heat go cold in OT

This is the type of game which shows the Heat how little they need to become an elite team as long as they keep Wade. Wade easily put up 44 points (along with 7 ass, 5 ORbs, 3 stls and a block). He still isn't on his top form but he nearly won the game backed up only by Udonis Haslem.

In fact if it wasn't for a pointless technical foul called on Richardson for being unable to shut his mouth (over a decidedly poor call - but that's irrelevant) Wade's performance could have been enough to beat the Beasts of the East (without KG). Beasley and Richardson were incredibly poor offensively and the other two starters JO and Carlos were not up to much either. Wade and the bench could probably have won the game but that's basketball. Rondo made a great basket from a sideline ball with .6s to go to take the game to OT and JO was too tired or too injured to win the game in OT.

Perkins, Rondo and Allen all scored in the 20s. Perkins 70%, Allen 60% and Rondo 75%.

The Heat drop to 17 and 16 as they head out on their 6 game road trip but the signs are that they can beat anyone on their night and just as easily lose to anyone on another night.

It was a good game until OT. The heat are a fun team to watch.