Why the NBA Lockout SHOULD benefit the Miami Heat

The tricks and treats of the NBA season was put on hold last week, as the NBA started its second labor lockout, the first since the 1998-1999 season.

With no imminent negotiation (except for the shoot em' up 51-50 deal offered) between Commissioner David Stern and the players union, many analysts say there won't be an NBA game until Christmas.

Here's why it should benefit the Miami Heat:

1. Less down time - Miami faced immense scrutiny last season during the 82-game stretch and the playoffs, but with the possibly of a reduced season, yesterday becomes literally yesterday. I do not expect a full 82-game season, so games would have a greater intensity factor.

2. Less fatigue- This means more LeBron, D-Wade and Chris Bosh. Wade started slow last season because of a preseason injury, so the big three really only started to shape up around mid-season.

3. Free agency frenzy- When the NBA season does finally start, so will the free agency period. Miami Heat president Pat Riley has a clear advantage in this area, as he will have to rapidly address the team's needs. Expect anything with Riley.

4. Forgetfulness- Miami lost a winnable NBA Finals last season. Their win-now built team will have to forget any losses and move on quickly with a shortened season.

Why the Heat will win the NBA Championship

Kendrick Perkins is part of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls ride or die on the success of Derek Rose; plain and simple.

We are not even three days in the NBA playoffs and these two topics of discussion have already come into play (well the Perkins trade since the deadline, but same point).

Chicago has needed last-ditch Jordan-like rallies from Derek Rose to close out the Indiana Pacers. If Indiana had a closer, like Derek Rose, they would be up 2-0 in the series; easily.

The Pacers have played seven quarters of excellent basketball, but the last quarter, broken in half increments, has been the onslaught of the eventual NBA MVP.

Chicago is Miami's biggest threat because Boston traded Kendrick Perkins. Boston lacks size and depth because of injuries to Shaquille O'Neal and Delonte West. Boston still has Ray Allen, but he will not score 23 points a game (he averaged 22.7 in the first three regular season games against the Heat) because Dwyane Wade will be playing playoff basketball and playoff defense.

The same goes for Joel Anthony, whom Kevin Garnett said killed Boston by himself in the last regular season match-up between the Heat and Celtics.

Miami will beat the Boston Celtics in six games.

Back to Chicago, if coach Erik Spolestra puts LeBron James on Derek Rose, he'll find a way to adjust, he's Derek Rose. Like Dwayne Wade in his hayday against the Pistons, Miami should rotate defenders on Rose to disrupt his timing.

Three point shooting will still be an issue, however, because Miami is ranked close to last in three point shooting defense out of all the playoff teams.

Miami is the choice again here, because the Heat will find a way to steal a game in Chicago and wrap it up at home.

Depending on the West competitor, the Heat will win in six or seven games. James had a taste of the finals in 2007 and Wade won it in 2006, so they'll be ready.

If its the Dallas Mavericks, Miami will not have as much trouble as with the Los Angeles Lakers. If the Lakers make it again, Andrew Bynum down low will be a huge problem, even for a recently aggressive Chris Bosh.

It all boils down to the play of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Can they feed off each other?

If so, it is Miami's championship for the taking and another parade down Biscayne Boulevard.

A Miami and Philly kind of weekend

Cafe Con Leche. Philly Cheesesteak. LeBron James, Cliff Lee.

It may be a coincidence or just very good scheduling, but the Marlins, Phillies, Heat and 76ers all play this weekend.

The Marlins started off with a Friday night win against division-leading Philadelphia, the final score; 4-3.

Tomorrow, White Hot begins. The Heat square off against the 76ers at 3:30 pm on ABC. Will LeBron close in the postseason or as Miami Herald writer Linda Robertson mentioned in a column today, "sink to the occasion" like in Cleveland?

Only time will tell, but either way, it is a sports-filled Miami-Philadelphia weekend.

A temperature Heat reading

Ever since LeBron James announced that he would be "taking his talents to South Beach" back in July, the annual Christmas Day Lakers versus Heat match-up has been all the more intriguing.

All those Nike commercials from last year, where LeBron would bench "2010" in the gym in front of an amused, cartoon-sized Kobe Bryant will somewhat tell the tale of what will play out for the Heat this year.

The Heat have a 1-8 record against teams with winning records, even though they have won 12 of their past 13 games. The 2006 Heat were the same way, but like Kobe said in an interview with ESPN's Michael Wilbon, it doesn't matter.

Well it does, for the team that wins. If the Heat hope to match up against the strong Western conference in a possible Finals preview, this Christmas Day game will be a measuring stick. Bryant is fresh off a frustrating loss against the Milwaukee Bucks, in which he was ejected late in the fourth quarter.

If the Heat look to stand a chance, on the road, against a very good Lakers team, their defense will have to frustrate Bryant. The three-headed monster at center of Erik Dampier, big Z and Joel Anthony will also have to slow down Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

It is just a game, but one of epic proportions for the NBA landscape.

LeBron's return to Cleveland

The time has come.

LeBron James will return to the Quicken Loans Arena Thursday to face his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. There has been so much talk over what will happen that in actuality, no one really knows.

Will a fight ensue? Will LeBron be safe? Will there be vulgar language? These questions and more have been posed by reporters over the last day and a half.

Personally, I believe LeBron will have his breakout game tomorrow. The intensity that will take place in that building tomorrow will be unprecedented. It won't be the biggest game in James' career (by default because Game 7 of the 2007 East Finals was quite a feat) but by far it will be the most memorable. This is LeBron's chance to show he is still King James, a two time NBA MVP, seven time all star, I could go on.

Anyway, that is all. I'll be watching as well millions of other NBA fans.

Without trying to sound promotional or corny, it begins, LeBron vs. Cleveland, Thursday, 8PM, on TNT.

Heat set to face undefeated Hornets

A heat wave looks to stir up some Hornets in New Orleans tomorrow.

The Miami Heat take the NBA's number one defense and a four game winning streak into New Orleans tomorrow to square off with the undefeated New Orleans Hornets (3-0). Chris Paul and company look to pose a (serious) threat and possibly add another 'L' in the loss column for the Heat.

Miami's Thrice of Dwayne Wade, Lebron James and Chris Bosh have been averaging 55.8 points per game and that's playing only three quarters. However, Miami will need to have everyone play normal minutes to pull off a win in the Big Easy tomorrow.

In other news, Lebron James missed practice with a shin bruise, he will start tomorrow though. Dwayne Wade still leads the Heat in scoring, barely, over James.

LeBron "Rise"

He has responded.

Lebron James' new Nike commercial answers the critics while posing the question, "What do you want me to do?"

After watching ESPN's Pardon the Interruption this afternoon, I googled the commercial and thought it was portrayed brilliantly.

Lebron has been wising up to the media all off-season, but tomorrow, he can further put his critics at rest with a star performance. The commercial features the past, along with some new Miami wrinkles in the present as well as the future.

Some scenes take shots at MJ and Barkley, but why not retaliate on a national level? There will always be haters that will remember Lebron's decision, but "what do you want me to do?"

Watch the video above.

The games are bigger...the heart beats faster..the Heat is on!

That title above used to be the Heat's playoff slogan during the 2008-2009 season.

Tickets then were so easy to come by that people were giving them away. To get a seat at the "Heat's house" today, you'll have to give up a arm, leg, used car, take your pick.

I'm guilty as well, I should have listened to Riley and paid the $500 to be a Heat season ticket holder pre Miami Thrice, now a "Heat fan" should look to spend $300 a seat, in section 300, not even for a good game.

Forgot the Dec. 2 game against Cleveland, the chances of getting tickets to that game or Christmas Day against the Lakers are... well there is no chance.

Anyway, to divert back from my rant. The Miami Heat season starts Tuesday. Wade will play, but with the loss of Mike Miller until Jan. with a thumb injury, the Heat look to incorporate newly signed veteran Jerry Stackhouse and Eddie House should see some more touches as well.

What about Lebron?

The King's reign in Miami will begin Oct. 29th, against the Orlando Magic. The Heat don't have to worry about a cancellation this game, the Florida Panthers don't share an arena with the Heat.

Personally, I cannot wait to see what happens this season. I'll be watching many games from home, but when the opening jump ball goes up, this 82 game season will be the best ever.

Miami Heat Pre-Season Reaction

Wow, we do not even need Dwayne Wade.

That was my reaction when I watched Wade leave the court with a strained hamstring in the first quarter of yesterday's pre-season opener against the Detroit Pistons.

Wade played about three minutes before straining his hamstring after running after Pistons guard Richard Hamilton along the baseline. After some time on the bench, Wade was ushered to the locker room. (Don't worry folks, Wade will be back in time for the season opener.)

The starting line-up featured Arroyo and Anthony along with the unanimous tandem of Wade, James and Bosh before things were shaken up after the injury.

That gave the new number 6, King James, a chance to showcase his skills. Taking defenders off the dribble, he and Bosh combined for 38 points in a Motor City beat-down.

Coach Erik Spolestra was able to use a series of different line-ups with Wade out, but the end result is hopefully one we will see all season, a victory.

The Heat play again on Friday and the long awaited season opener will be nationally televised on TNT on October 26th. It should make for an interesting rivalry, Boston's big three and Shaq versus Miami Thrice and former Celtic guard Eddie House.

It is going to be a wild ride this season, when was the last time a pre-season game was near capacity?

Miami Heat Season Outlook- Week of September 20th

The Miami Heat's season opener is just a little over a month away and there is still plenty of buzz to the dismay of sports reporters about none other than Lebron James.

Lebron just cannot seem to get himself out of the spotlight. This starts nine days ago when he says he wanted Ohio State to beat the Miami Hurricanes so I can understand why he is not liked in any location outside of Miami. The homeless in the streets of Miami don't even want his jerseys but then again that gesture from the Clevelanders was pretty disrespectful to start with.

In other news, the Heat want to sign Erik Dampier. At this point, it doesn't really matter who they sign as he will most likely only play after the Heat are up by 40 in garbage time. A nice pickup nonetheless, Dampier is a strong inside presence that will free up minutes from Haslem and Big Z. It could also be a nice insurance policy for the injury prone Z.

Miami Thrice starts October 26th and I cannot wait!

Miami Heat Season Outlook

Miami Thrice starts Oct. 26th.

The Miami Heat are the envy of the entire NBA with the signings of Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and Lebron James.

Miami returns to "Leaveland" on December 2nd, in what will be a hotly contested affair for King James.

In fact, no nationally televised game on the Heat's schedule is easy. They play Boston to start the season, followed by Orlando on Oct. 29th. The classic Christmas day Heat vs. Lakers rivalry will also be renewed, in what looks to be a NBA Finals preview.

While ABC's Stan Van Gundy has said that the Heat will break the single-season win record of 72 games, the Heat still have alot of work to do.

The Heat don't have a real answer at center or point guard, despite the signings of Eddie House and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. While the starting five looks to be as dominant as it can be, questions arise about the Heat's bench.

Since most of the money went to the trifecta, the rest of the Heat team have been filled in with draft picks and players who have signed for the veteran minimum.

Although, the Heat will definitely be winners, it is just a matter of when.