Miami
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
It won't be televised and it's not open to the general public but today's meeting between Shaquille O'Neal and Emeka Okafor could be a significant development in the legacy of the NBA. For one thing, Miami guard Dwyane Wade claims this will be "the earliest game in basketball history." For another thing, it is the first meeting between these two big guys. And finally, of the 14,000 high school students whose academic achievements got them tickets to this event, perhaps one will be inspired to follow a career in basketball.
Wade has an academic plan of attack for the game already developed, and here it is: at the start of the game, he is going to feed Shaq every time and ride his big shoulders to an insurmountable lead. Then, towards the end of the game, Wade will be ready to step back and hit the jumper when Charlotte's defense starts to gamble away from him and onto the big fella. This two-pronged attack relies on Wade being able to hit his jumper, something he has been working on after practices.
Wade likes to shoot after practice so he can simulate what it would be like to shoot late in games when his legs are tired. Head coach Stan Van Gundy thinks it will be a mistake for other teams to leave Wade open. But one has to wonder why a head coach would go out of his way to tell his opponents what they should and shouldn't worry about unless it is a deceptive tactic. If Wade's jumper is not as far along as Van Gundy claims, then it certainly makes sense for him to try to convince people to play him tighter... since that way Wade will have an easier time going around them and to the basket!
NEXT GAME
The Heat wrap up their preseason with back-to-back road games. TODAY at 11am Eastern in the bright-and-early morn, the Heat travel to Charlotte so that Shaq can get dunked on by Emeka Okafor in front of school children... no, wait, that's just the Charlotte fantasy! There will be dunkage but it won't be on Shaq. The game will be broadcast in audio-only so you can use your imagination as you tune your dial to WIOD 610-AM (English) or WQBA 1140-AM (Spanish).
TEAM NOTES
The Heat waived forward Tang Hamilton. Its roster now stands at the maximum allowable of 15 players.
The Miami Herald notes: On Nov. 14, Temple Samu-El Or Olom presents the Miami Heat Basketball Team. A chartered bus leaves the Temple at 5:15 p.m. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. Cost: $40 per person. Optional roundtrip chartered bus transportation is $7.50 per person. Tickets and bus seats are limited. Contact the synagogue to make reservations. Daily Minyan is at 7:30 p.m. Mondays. For further information call 305-271-5756. E-mail: tsoo spanish@earthlink.net. Website: www.tsoomiami.org.
INJURY UPDATE
Udonis Haslem(bruised left foot) started practice yesterday but did not finish and is listed as day-to-day. He is questionable for today's game. Christian Laettner(back) should be healthy in another week or so.
Michael Cunningham ofThe South Florida Sun-Sentinelwrites: The Heat plays Charlotte at 11 a.m. in Charlotte Arena. More than 14,000 students and teachers will be at the game as part of a school program. Tickets were not made available to the general public. "I think that is the earliest game in basketball history right there," Wade said."I told Shaq to be ready because I was just going to keep throwing it to him, and I'll be ready later in the game. "
Rick Bonnell ofThe Charlotte Observerwrites: More than 14,000 middle school students from all over the Piedmont will arrive at the Charlotte Coliseum as guests of the team, to watch the Bobcats play the Miami Heat.The Bobcats hope to make this 11 a.m. exhibition an annual event -- a reward for high achievement in school. For many of these kids, it will be the first time they've been around a superstar -- Heat center Shaquille O'Neal -- or even the kind of stars-in-waiting on Charlotte's roster.
Richard Walker ofFreedom News Servicewrites: Charlotte Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff joked after Monday’s practice that he hopes his team is awake today at 11 a.m. when it plays a preseason game against Shaquille O’Neal and the Miami Heat.“Obviously, it’s much different to play at that time,” Bickerstaff said. “I just hope we’re awake. But like I’ve said before, let’s just give the kids a show.”
John Denton ofFlorida Todaywrites: Shaquille O'Neal didn't suit up when the Magic faced the Miami Heat two weeks ago, drawing boos from the announced crowd of 20,454. O'Neal didn't play that night because of a strained hamstring and there's a chance he won't play again Wednesday when the Magic close the preseason with a home game against the Heat.Miami plays a night earlier in Charlotte, and the team might rest O'Neal to ensure that he hits the regular season at full strength.
Barry Jackson ofThe Miami Heraldwrites: He is the class clown, the consummate comedian whose wardrobe includes a "Single and Ready to Mingle" T-shirt.But Damon Jones is serious when he says, "After this season, I will be looked at as one of the elite guards in this league. I won't be underrated [any longer]."