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.

Arroyo gets contract guaranteed.

So Pat Riley managed to swing the Quinn trade in order to keep Arroyo on the team. It seems pretty likely that the Heat will pick up Rafer as soon as he clears waivers but the Heat have rewarded Arroyo financially for the hard work he has put in this season.

Let's allow Puerto Rica to celebrate but let's not fool ourselves; Arroyo is a bit part who could easily be wearing a suit for the rest of the season. Last night, after receiving his guarantee, Arroyo scored 2 points (again) on 1 of 5 shooting and was on court for 19 minutes. It was rightly 15 minutes less than Chalmers who had a good game and personally I think it's a sign that if Rafer comes in and proves himself the best PG on the team (which I'm pretty sure he will) Carlos becomes the third string PG.

Carlos won't complain. He'll earn as much this season as many of us can only dream of earning in 15 to 20 years and he'll have the possibility to impress another team enough to get another contract next season. If he's lucky he'll be involved in a trade before the deadline to a team which may give him a few extra minutes because of injuries. In the end Miami did what was right and it cost them money which they didn't have to spend, it's also the best move for Miami - at the moment.

Next up: Boston Celtics

Tonight it's a re-match with the 2008 NBA champion Boston Celtics. The Heat lost the first game 92:85 at the end on November when KG went off for 24pts on 1 of 12 shooting. Good news for the Heat is that KG isn't going to be playing tonight. On top of that Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce missed the Celtics last game but are unfortunately likely to be back tonight. However it's likely that Eddie House will miss the game and possibly Kendrick Perkins too.



For Miami, starting Center Jermaine O'Neal is likely to be out and starting PG Carlos Arroyo's future is uncertain, he may not even be on the roster at tip off time. So where does that all leave us? I really don't know. Pessimistic worked last time but I find it very hard to type a Heat loss.



So my prediction is: Celtics 82 Heat 86.



Beasley to come out on fire in the first again and Wade to lead the Heat to victory after that with Joel Anthony blocking the rim.

Goodbye Mighty Quinn, Welcome back Rafer

Our inside man at the Heat came up big time with a scoop on the arrival of Rafer Alston. We were told about it in the early stages as Pat was trying to trade for Rafer (particularly trying to trade James Jones). In the end the trade negotiations broke down. The Nets didn't want Jones and for some strange reason Pat didn't want to let Daequan go to the Nets. So the Nets have bought out Skip who, as long as he passes through Waivers, is excitedly waiting for a Heat reunion and they have traded with Miami for Chris Quinn (also cash and a 2012 2nd rounder) in exchange the Heat receive nothing.

Chris Quinn was much ridiculed by some Heat fans for both his elf-like features and his play but I liked him. he was a genuine guy who gave it his best all the time. In between seasons he worked hard to improve and this year he benefited with a $1.1m salary. His defense wasn't that great but his TOs were low and he succeeded in his main job which was to bring the ball up and give it to Dwayne - then get out of the way or shoot the odd three when asked to. This season he has spent every game on the bench dressed in a suit - but he's looked good doing it.

Thank you Chris and all the best at the Nets, hope you get some PT.

The deadline for releasing Arroyo is later today, he still hasn't received a contract for the rest of the season but with the release of Quinny it's possible, though still unlikely, he'll receive one today. More news on him later as well as a look at Rafer, if he passes through waivers.

What do I know? Hawks 75 Heat 92

I think I need to be more pessimistic in the future, reverse psychology/jinxing seems to work. The Heat murdered the Hawks in the first quarter last night and then held onto their lead for the rest of the game to record a very good and very large victory.

Michael Beasley shredded Josh Smith and the Hawks in the first half and his colleagues made sure of the victory in the second. Beasley's first half display will probably capture the headlines but his poor second half performance sums up Beasley at the present time in his career. Magnificence for short bursts without the consistency. Still he's not 21 until later this week, so we can accept that.

The Heat's superstar let the hot hand work the first half and steadily accumulated his usual team/game topping score. wade finished with 28 on 11 of 20 shooting including all 6FTs (thankfully he missed his 1st 3 pointer last night). He attacked the rim better than of late and also got 8 rebounds, 4 assists and a block and crucially only 1 TO (and that was a pass to starting center Joel Anthony who looked away at the wrong time). It was nice to see Wade hitting 55%FG and 100%FT again. Haslem also refound his steady shot with 6 of 10. Dorrell Wright got 18mins for 6 and 6 and the Magloirinator got 10 rebounds and 5 points in 21 minutes as a result of JO sitting about a little banged up. Arroyo (in possibly his last game for the Heat) played 19 minutes for just 2 points and no assists whilst Mario came off the bench for 28 minutes, 7 points and 6 assists. The other good news was cook only played 1 minute.

I don't know if it was all good defense or some bad Atlanta shooting but even at game end they had only shot 32% and more incredibly Miami had out-rebounded them 52 to 30. I like what JO gives us but he lets us down on rebounds, it'd be nice to have a rebounding Center on the Heat. No surprise in who was the top Atlanta scorer - off the bench Jamal Crawford more than doubled the second best scorer Joe Johnson who was the only other Atlanta player to score double figures (11).

One other note to make - can someone please shop (or shoot) the miami whistler. He is driving me crazy with his continual whistling.

Next up: Atlanta

Well I optimistically thought we could beat both San Antonio and Charlotte and look what happened there. I honestly think that we match up terribly with Atlanta, perhaps worse than any other team in the league and I expect a big defeat. Of the "big 4" in the East, Atlanta are the team that I least want to meet in the playoffs. Okay they only just beat us in 7 last year but they are so athletic that they have the ability to simply run us off the court.

Let's look at the starting 5's:

Miami

PG Carlos Arroyo

SG Dwyane Wade

SF Quentin Richardson

PF Michael Beasley

C Jermaine O'Neal

Atlanta

PG Mike Bibby
SG Joe Johnson
SF Marvin Williams
PF Josh Smith
C Al Horford

And then Atlanta have off-season acquisition, Heat killer, Jamal Crawford on the bench (the Heat have Mario Chalmers).

I think it's going to be a long night. For the Heat to have any hope then Beasley is going to have to step up both offensively and defensively and outplay Josh Smith; Wade needs to stop the turnovers, attack the rim and annihilate Johnson's performance and JO is going to have to play mind games with Horford unless spo lets the Magloirinator loose for a few early minutes.

Got to expect this game to mean we are still winless this decade come tomorrow morning. Still isn't that when the Heat surprise everyone and pull off a win?

My Prediction: Hawks 115 at Heat 93

Arroyo - Still not guaranteed

Poor Carlos!

He's taken over the starting spot from Mario, he's igniting the offense but with only a couple of days to go before the deadline he still has no guaranteed offer. The Heat have had him playing without a guaranteed contract so far this season. Riley is a crafty beggar and he doesn't want Arison to pay the extra luxury tax if it isn't necessary. Sure he'd prefer to get rid of Chris Quinn, but his contract is guaranteed for the season, Carlos's isn't so it could be "bye bye Carlos".

Our insider contact reckons that a trade for a veteran PG is in the works which'll mean Carlos is not signed before the deadline. I've been calling for a Vet PG for a while but is the return of Rafer Alston the answer? Can Skip play lock down defense? Could we trade James Jones' contract away in return or will it be the TPE? Is our insider speaking rubbish.

All will soon be revealed, but you heard it here first (maybe).