Miami
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
According to the Shaq Daddy, Ray Allen is the best guard in the West. Kobe Bryant? Tracy McGrady? Don't know what you're talking about. Corvettes don't play basketball and T-Mac is a small forward. In any event, Allen had earned Shaq's post-game hype with a 35-point outing over the Heat, ending Miami's league season-high winning streak at 14 with a 98-96decision.
The game came down to four chances in a row that should have won or tied the game for the Heat. The second to last possession saw Damon Jones shoot a wide-open three pointer off a kickout by Dwyane Wade. It was a shot he has hit so many times over the Heat's winning streak. Head coach Stan Van Gundy said he was sure they had won the game right there. At the time, the Heat were only down one. But the miss was followed by an immediate, necessary foul, and Seattle hit two to make it a three point game.
On the last possession, Eddie Jones got fouled on a three-pointer and nearly hit the shot anyway. The third and final chance to tie came at the line for Eddie as he walked up to take his three shots in a row. He needed to make all three to tie.
He missed the first.
He hit the second and was facing a two-point deficit with about half a second on the clock and only one free throw. He aimed for an intentional miss, hoping one of his teammates would be able to muscle in for an offensive tip-in, but his intentional miss was far too short as he airballed it. Game over.
Eh, what are you gonna do. This one got away from them. They get another crack, as Wade put it, in another week or so.
NEXT GAME
The Heat (25-8, first in the Southeast) play their last home game of the next two weeks TOMORROW night, January 5th, 2005, as they host the New York Knicks (16-14, first in the Atlantic). The game starts at 7:30pm and will be broadcast on the Sunshine Network and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Heat Fans, pleasemark your calendars: On Sunday, January 23, the Heat will play the New Orleans Hornets at the AmericanAirlines Arena at 6:00 pm. The Heat will be on the road on Monday, January 24, taking on the 76ers at 7:00 pm in Philadelphia.
Israel Gutierrez ofThe Miami Herald notes: MORE PROTECTION Already wearing a flak jacket to guard his sore ribs, Shaquille O'Neal played Monday's game against the Sonics with a black-and-white mouthpiece, which he seemed to be uncomfortable with early in the game. STAR POWER Apparently everybody wanted to find out, in person, whether the Sonics are for real. Among those in attendance Monday were Magic Johnson, as a guest of Pat Riley, Andy Roddick, Derek Jeter and Gary Sheffield.
INJURY UPDATE
Malik Allen(back),Dorell Wright(abdominal), andJerome Beasley(back) are parked on the injured list.
Israel Gutierrez ofThe Miami Heraldwrites: Eddie Jones must have walked to the foul line four times before taking that first shot, each time being delayed, each second adding to the drama.The chance to extend a 14-game win streak was in Jones' hands, 15 feet away from the basket, nothing but tension to distract him. Needing to make three free throws to tie the score, Jones missed the first. It was a painful ending to a 98-96 loss to the Sonics, and an even more agonizing end to the win streak. No, you can't win them all. But this one was oh so winnable.
Dan Le Batard ofThe Miami Heraldwrites: Eddie Jones choked.It hurts to write those three words. It feels a little mean. But a lot of accurate. A player accused of mental frailty throughout this league, by reporters and peers and even former and current teammates, gave critics yet more ammunition at the end of this breathtaking 98-96 Miami loss to an exceptional Seattle team.
Israel Gutierrez ofThe Miami Heraldwrites: Wright's best chance to crack the active roster would be if the Heat somehow trades Person, who is no longer part of the playing rotation.Person could still be an intriguing prospect for teams that need a shooter, but the best chance for him to be moved might have passed when the Nuggets allowed their trade exception to expire without picking up a player to replace the injured Voshon Lenard. So while Wright continues to wait for his chance, he has made practice time his own time.