Miami
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
So far the Heat are not having much luck against the league's two most exciting teams. Their woes continued last night as Phoenix spanked them 122-107. Part of it may have had to do with a laceration in Shaq's right eye and a whole host of nagging injuries on the left side of Dwyane Wade's body. Not that these guys let such things stop them. They still managed to combine for 57 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 blocks, and a steal. So why did they lose?
Half of the margin of loss was due to excess points off of turnovers. Phoenix committed 9 turnovers which led to 7 Miami points. Miami committed twice as many, 18 turnovers, which led to 15 Phoenix points, also about double. So the conversion ratio from turnovers to points was the same but the difference in points off of turnovers was eight points, or half the 15 point deficit.
Another five points were due to a difference in free throw shooting. Phoenix hit 23 of 27 from the line while Miami only hit 12 of 20. If Miami shot the same percentage as Phoenix (85 percent), they would have hit 17 of their 20 free throws. Together, points off turnovers plus free throw marksmanship would have cut the deficit to a single field goal. Who could have hit these shots? Shaq was 2-for-6 from the line. Random chance could have had him at 4-for-6. Dwyane Wade was 5-for-8 and Shandon Anderson was 0-for-1.
Wade was also the main culprit in the turnover department, committing nearly as many himself (8) as the entire Phoenix team. He did tally eight assists as well but a one:one assists:turnover ratio is not typically considered very good.
Both Wade and O'Neal are looking forward to the five-day rest followed by an Atlanta home game after this road trip is over. In the meantime they still face Golden State and the Clippers.
Do not be surprised if either or both of these guys either sit out or play limited minutes in either or both of these games.
NEXT GAME
The Heat (27-10, first in the Southeast, first in the Eastern Conference) look to stop their two-game losing streak with a win TONIGHT against the Golden State Warriors (11-24, fifth in the Pacific). The game starts at 10:30pm Eastern 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.
INJURY UPDATE
Malik Allen(back),Dorell Wright(abdominal), andJerome Beasley(back) are parked on the injured list.
Israel Gutierrez ofThe Miami Heraldwrites: Dwyane Wade is healthy enough to play -- barely. The Heat guard considered not playing Tuesday night against the Suns because of nagging injuries to his ankle, knee and back, all on his left side.''I think after this last game [against Seattle] is the worst I felt, so I said if I didn't get any better, I would contemplate sitting [the Phoenix game] out,'' Wade said. ``But with a day off [Monday], I feel a little better than I did.'' Wade's ankle and knee injuries have lingered for the past month, but the back pain didn't begin until the Heat flew to Seattle last week.
Israel Gutierrez ofThe Miami Heraldwrites: The Heat never had a chance against the Phoenix Suns. Tortoises rarely do against cheetahs.By the time the Heat could adjust its eyes to the collective blur that is the Suns, the league's best-scoring team already had a 10-point lead. And not long after the Heat was able to catch its breath, the Suns had completed a thorough 122-107 beating of the best team in the Eastern Conference. ''I don't know that I've seen a quicker team in the 10 years that I've been in the league,'' Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. ``They've got great, great athletes at every position -- and they use it.''
Bruce Jenkins ofThe San Francisco Chroniclewrites: The final verdict lies well into the future. Only the NBA playoffs will determine the winner in the Shaquille O'Neal-Kobe Bryant feud. Just remember one thing as Shaq brings his Miami Heat to Oakland tonight: The street verdict is in. It's the big fellow by a mile.