Ray Allen begins the play in the left corner.
At the top of the key, LeBron James dribbles, refuses to use a Chris Bosh screen, and backs out with 30.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter. LBJ is set to begin a crucial drive into the paint.
Perkins: Only TNT is entitled to be mad at Popovich
Leave a comment
MIAMI – Those weren’t the San Antonio Spurs that visited AmericanAirlines Arena and lost 
to the Miami Heat, 105-100, on Thursday. But that doesn’t give you reason to hate.
We all know those weren’t the real Spurs, not the team that’s won four titles with its Big Three of forward Tim Duncan and guards Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. They were all in San Antonio, chillin’, relaxin’.
Gibson: LeBron Is “Cursed” and Clutch All At Once in Atlanta
Leave a comment
ATLANTA — Sometimes you can be close and still smoke your cigar. Take LeBron James’ Friday night against the Hawks, for example.
Tonight marked the twentieth time in James’ career that he finished either an assist or a rebound shy of a triple-double. But with 13.7 second left, nine assists to his credit and his Miami Heat up 91-89, LeBron rose up for a jumper that hit nothing but white nylon on its way down.
Another triple-double would have to wait. That’s fine with James, who gave the You know guys, it’s all about the wins answer in the locker room when asked about his string of narrow statistical misses.
“I am cursed,” James said. ”I said thank you to my teammates when I walked in here and seen the box score.”
Everyone laughed. Everyone wished they were so cursed.
Perkins: Heat becoming an offensive force
Leave a comment
MIAMI – Here’s how you know it’s a new day for the Miami Heat: They lead the league in points per 
game and rank second-to-last in points allowed.
“We make our mark defensively,” MVP LeBron James said.
He’s right. But maybe that’s about to change a little bit. Maybe.
For years and years, the Heat have prided themselves on defense. That’s the culture. This is the team that gets its defensive philosophy from Pat “Contest Every Possession” Riley. It is defensive-minded right down the line.
James might be the best defensive player in the NBA. Dwyane Wade is the best shot-blocking guard in the NBA and has made the All-Defensive Team. And you will never confuse Heat coach Erik Spoelstra with Doug Moe.
But Miami is allowing 106.5 points per game, while scoring in bunches. This ain’t right.
So what in the name of Paul Westhead is going on here?
“We’re not last year’s team,” Wade said after Monday’s 124-99 victory over Phoenix. “We’re trying to find our own identity. We have work to do. We did a better job tonight.”
Here’s what could be going on: We might be looking at the wrong thing. We might be seeing the evolution of a higher-scoring Heat team, an improved team offensively, a more dangerous team.
Set aside the defense. It will come around.
Offensively, this could become a Heat team that, right from the start of the season and throughout the playoffs, puts an unreal amount of pressure on its opponents.
No, the Heat are not last year’s team. They might be even better.
Defense and effort are the reasons Miami spanked Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals. Spoelstra’s brand of position-less basketball made center Kendrick Perkins and power forward Serge Ibaka powerless to use their size. And the Heat’s defense took care of guard James Harden. The defense will be fine.
Plus, the Heat are doing well overall. They’re 3-1.
Granted, there are defensive issues. The fact that the Heat are tied for 23rd in rebounds (39.5 per game) isn’t a big deal. They finished tied for 21st in the league (41.6) last year and won the title.
Here’s what’s out of whack. Denver had 18 offensive rebounds and outscored Miami, 30-6, in second-chance points.
Lopez Leads Nets; Bosh Drops 40; Warriors Win
Leave a comment
The Nets are undefeated in their new home thanks to Brook Lopez, who scored 27 points. He used his size to get Jonas Valanciunas in early foul trouble, then his speed to beat Aaron Gray, after Toronto coach Dwane Casey showed his prize rookie some tough love at the end of the bench. Deron Williams (19 PTS, 9 AST) did a nice job of facilitating, and C.J. Watson got 28 minutes; he’s the backup PG but played off the ball with D-Will quite a bit and could be a nice pickup.
For the Raptors, it was mostly Kyle Lowry — 28 PTS, 8 AST, 8 REB, 3 STL, 1 BLK — with DeMar DeRozan adding 25 points but as usual, not much else. Andrea Bargnani was quiet (13) and Landry Fields continues to be a huge disappointment, with 2 points in 22 minutes. Nice guy, though, and set for life with that $20 million.
Other November 3 Games
BOS @ WAS: Thanks to Paul Pierce (27 PTS) and Rajon Rondo (12 PTS, 12 AST, 5 REB, 2 STL) the Celtics were able to hold off the Wizards. Rookie Jared Sullinger got the start at PF ; Brandon Bass came off the bench and both were quiet. Jason Terry played only 17:26 and Jeff Green, who fooled me into drafting him with some huge preseason games, got just 16 minutes.
After starting 1-14 from the field with just 12 points in the first quarter, the Wiz made a game of it. Their starting five combined for 24 points. Kevin Seraphin was a welcome addition; in 28:34 off the bench, he hit 8 of 9 shots for 19 points, adding a block and 7 rebounds. The young Frenchman is better than Emeka Okafor and worth an add in many leagues. Jordan Crawford (21 PTS in 25 minutes) helped key the comeback.
DEN @ MIA: Finally, the Nuggets broke 90, but they remain winless. Kenneth Faried (22 PTS, 12 REB) got to play 36 minutes, Andre Iguodala (22) knocked down a few shots and the only three bench players George Karl used all scored in double digits. JaVale McGee (18 PTS, 9 REB) and Andre Miller (17) are beginning to click. If not for Danilo Gallinari being off-target (just 3-17 including 1-9 from deep) Denver might have won.
For Miami, Chris Bosh was superb. Way too quick for Kosta Koufos to guard and too clever for McGee, Bosh scored 40 points on 15-22 shooting. Teammate LeBron James just missed a trip-dub with 20 PTS, 11 AST and 9 REB, and sixth man Ray Allen nailed six 3-pointers for 23 points.
POR @ HOU: It turns out that James Harden is only human after all. On a tender ankle, in the Rockets’ third game in four nights, he scored a mere 24 points. Houston got 13 PTS and 7 AST from Jeremy Lin and another 15 rebounds from Omer Asik before running out of gas in OT.
I’m still concerned about the Portland bench, which scored a total of six points, but as long as they stay healthy, the starting five is great to own. LaMarcus Aldridge (27 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST, 2 BLK) and rookie PG Damian Lillard (20 PTS, 6 REB, 9 AST, only 3 TO) had excellent nights and Nicolas Batum produced a line full of fantasy goodness: 4 3PTM, 2 BLK, 9 REB, 4 AST and 6 STL to complement 17 points.
