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MIAMI – I’m through doubting Dwyane Wade.
I’ve done it a few times over the years for various reasons – knee surgery, shoulder surgery, ankle injury, etc… — and Wade, the Miami Heat’s superstar guard, always comes back strong. We saw it after his injury-shortened 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, we saw it in last year’s playoffs, we saw it in the second half of this season.
We saw it again Wednesday in the Heat’s 94-91 Game 5 second round series-clinching victory over Chicago.
MIAMI – There’s no worry among the Miami Heat over their 93-86 Game 1 loss to Chicago on Monday.
But on the Day After, there did seem to be some steely resolve from the defending champions to do better in the “effort” areas. Blend that with a healthy mix of “we’ve been here before,” and you have the tone of the chatter that followed the Heat’s practice Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena.
MIAMI – The 12-0 run.
That was all it took to separate the men from the boys in the Miami Heat’s 98-86 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Tuesday’s Game 2 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at AmericanAirlines Arena.
And two bench players – forward Chris Andersen, a.k.a. the Birdman, and guard Norris Cole – led the way. Not LeBron James, not Dwyane Wade and not Chris Bosh.
“It’s not surprising,” James said. “That’s what they bring, that’s what our bench brings, they bring that energy and effort.”
The Bucks are going to sweep the Heat.
OK, I’ve gotten your attention.
I am only joking.
This series should be a joke in and of itself, with the best team in the entire NBA taking on the team that finished with the 18th-best record in the league.
MIAMI – There’s nothing more we need to see from the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.
We’ve seen everything we need to see until the playoffs. James and Wade have earned their rest; the Heat have answered the questions.
The New York Knicks (47-26), on the other hand, despite being the NBA’s hottest team with their nine-game winning streak, still have many unanswered questions. But solutions seem to be emerging, and they could be leading us to a Heat-Knicks matchup in the Eastern Conference finals.
Forward Carmelo Anthony is doing his part to make that happen.
