Tired of talking Heat in other threads.

Beasley had his best game of the year tonight. Guy just oozes talent. He will be a 21 and 9 guy within a couple years. When he starts hitting 3s, it will be on.

Wade goes over 40 again. Same old, same old. Huge stepback three in OT to tie the game. Then he completely tricks Salmons on the game winning play lulling him to sleep and then exploding at the perfect moment to get to the rim.

19 wins already. Should be able to get to 42 which will be more than enough to be the 6 or 7 seed. Wade, Beasley, Chalmers is a great young combo. They should be set at the 1,2,3/4 (Beasley is a hybrid) for a long time. Already wondering what a lineup of Chalmers, Wade, Beasley, Boozer and Haslem would look like. Looks versatile and the SG and SF in that lineup (Wade and Beas) are good enough rebounders to help out Udonis and Boozer on the boards. Thats a team that could contend if they can keep a few good players for the bench (need to keep Daequan Cook, Joel Anthony, James Jones, and Diawara). Add a backup PG in the draft of FA.

Thanks again Phoenix.

Beasley 12 straight in the 4th quarter, 23 points on the game.

This guy is going to be huge. Just a matter of time.

MVP

It's him or Bron.

Kobe wont win because he has finally learned to be a great teammate. That was really on display last night. He is completely aware that the Lakers dont need him to score 30+ anymore. So, he contented himself with being a distributor and going full out in playing D on Wade (he did a good job too, although Wade racked up the assists in the 4th quarter when Kobe was guarding him.

Beasley would make a late push for ROY (his jumper is deadly from 13-20 feet) but he wont get the minutes since the Heat like him (for this year) as a 6th man.

The Heat are shopping Marion with the trade deadline approaching. What kind of player do you guys think they are looking for?

Most likely trade will be with The Raptors for Jermaine O'Neal

Riley has lost his mind if he makes that trade.

Why would you take J Oneals contract on? You know he'll be hurt five minutes after he gets there.

O'Neal when he's been healthy has played pretty well this season for the Raptors and is exactly what Miami needs.

His contract comes off the books in 2010 which is what they really care about. The free agents in 2009 are pretty weak and they may not want to tie themselves up to somebody this off season since that takes them out of 2010. There is a lot of concern out that about Boozer's knee problems and how that will work out longterm and he's the guy people think they will target if they have the free agent money in 2009.

Of course he may only play half the games.

No

Jermaine ONeal doesn't give you anything Marion won't except more money on your cap.

I'm interested in the JO'neal trade for Miami. I don't think he's going to add much offensively instead of Marion, especially with Haslem on the floor at the same time, but I think he could be a very handy defensive presence, bringing some real length and shotblocking presence.

As for Toronto, I think to really move to the next level they do need another wing player, I'm just not sure that Marion is the right type. I thought they should target more of a slashing, hard working defensive wing player to complement Bosh and the three-point shooters.

For both teams it's really a trade for players who aren't in the long term plans of either team but are a better match with the other team.

The Raptors have Bosh and Bargaini and are weak on the wing so for this season Marion is a better fit. After this season it gives the Raptors a lot of cap room for this off season to fill in the holes in the roster which are considerable. I think they would rather remake the roster this off season than wait for 2010.

For the Heat it appears that Riley cares more about cap room in 2010 than he does in 2009 and they are really really weak and small inside so having O'Neal gives them that inside presence defensively especially but he can still score inside as well and it doesn't tie their hands for 2010 when they will hope to hit a home run in the free agent market.

this.

They are definitely eyeing one of the numerous talented players coming out in 2010.

Bosh makes the most sense. his game would go great with Wade's. I would be fine with Boozer though. I think you could make nice lineup with boozer.

Big win against Orlando. Nice to see Chalmers have a big game against a division leader.

Yea, Chalmers was probably the best value pick in the draft to this point.

That steal, pass to Beasley, catching the return off balance and tossing the oop was just sick.

nightmare two game stretch. Mavs just shot them off the court. I think they are still mad about 2006.

I'd just like to point out today on ATH Jackie McMullen used her face time to promote Wade for MVP.

People are starting to take notice.

its about time. He has been fantastic this year and is dragging a young and constantly injured team to the playoffs.

Exactly.

Also LOL at how ESPN is trying to promote Lebron as a great defensive player, it's hilarious how biased they are based on "highlight" type plays.

If Kobe can't win the MVP in '06, Wade can't win this year.

I was Indianapolis last week and got to see the Heat play and that had to be one of the worst defensive performances I've ever seen by a team. Not sure if they are normally that bad on defense, but it was somewhat appalling to see.

I don't think he will win it, but when he is beating Lebron is 4 out of 5 major stats and leading a much younger and less experience and talent then he shoudl be in the discussion. That he largely gets ignored is ridiculous.

I also like Kobe's chances of winning it now that Bynum is hurt if he carries the Lakers through the tough stretch they have ahead and keep the lead in the west.

they always lay an egg at Conseco. It is like clockwork.

The Heat are very up and down defensively. Typical of a young team. Like tonight I went to the Heat Bobcats game. Miami played terribly. Just a pitiful performance especially guarding DJ Augustin. But they pulled it out because Charlotte is so bad it is scary. They need to get back on track. Marion looks terrible....they should trade him asap.

A snippet of an article I read recently I liked.

Heat just traded Marion /Banks to the Raptors for O'Neal/Moon. Marion gets what he wants, out of Miami.

Miami gets an oft-injured center who sometimes is really good. They get rid of Marcus Banks' contract. They get rid of Marion who wanted out. They clear space to get Beasley more minutes finally. Moon seems like an intriguing throw in. O'Neal's contract ends in 2010 so this deal is fine. Miami is clearly looking to re-sign Wade in 2010 AND also sign another big name (Bosh's name gets thrown out there a lot).

Anyone know much about Moon's game.

Can jump through the roof.

Will jump through the roof at every pump fake thrown his way. At Raptor games in my section we started chanting pump fake whenever he was guarding his man.

He's afraid to go to the rim and use his hops, very soft player.

Low basketball IQ and will take some really really dumb jump shots.

Will make some great shot blocks because of his hops.

A very nice guy and good story that he finally made it to the NBA after all those years in the minor pro leagues.

very funny, it seems after all the pub he got last year that he has just disapeared off the face of the earth this season

Moon has a tendency to take ill advised shots. I want to see where Amare ends up.

O'Neal for Marion
Marion for O'Neal

This could go on for ever - eventually they'll trade Ryan O'Neal for Marion Mrs C Cunningham

Well, now they are renting Jermaine for a season.

Almost feels like a blocker bet in poker to me: they get what could be a solid center (Udonis Haslem is doing backflips of joy), and they stop themself from doing anything to f*ck up their 2010 cap space.

Almost feels like they did it to keep Wade happy enough (and the team competive enough) next year before the big resign.

Big day yesterday for the Heat.

They beat the Knicks with Wade going for 55 (19 of 30 from the field....efficiency!). The sixers lost so the Heat locked up the 5 spot which is huge. They will have a tough time with Atlanta....but they avoided Orlando who was a matchup nightmare. I would put the Heat's odds of beating the Hawks at exactly 50/50.

Going to start trying to find tickets for game 3.....

It should be one of the more entertaining first round series.

don't forget to bump the other thread to gloat about winning 42 games and making the playoffs.


God Orlando has to be on cloud 9 right now.. Not only did they avoid the Pistons in Round One, they duck the Heat and end up with a Philly club on a 5 game losing streak backing their way into the playoffs.

Orlando is gonna get the Bulls at this rate. So maybe its not all good news. They can handle Chicago though.

I think I have made the point in the other thread enough. It was fun....but we all have said something silly before so I can let that Chicagoan off the hook. I thought Ryan Leaf was going to be great. Happens.

Chris Quinn is just dominating the 4th quarter/OT of an NBA game.

I am going to go tape some paper wings to a piece of bacon and see what happens.

I'm watching the Heat first playoff game ever at home against the Bulls, those fans were absolutely insane that day.