Category: Miami Heat Blog

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Early in season, Heat lack rebounding

Tom Haberstroh of ESPN reports:

Along with their propensity to turn the ball over, rebounding has been a documented chink in the armor for the Heat. Currently, the team’s 23.0 offensive rebounding rate places them third to last in the NBA. It’s unfair to knock 7-foot-3 Zydrunas Ilgauskas for not collecting offensive boards, considering he’s typically roaming the perimeter for pick-and-pops. But Joel Anthony’s a different story. The 6-foot-9 center has been a below-average offensive rebounder this season, collecting 8.6 percent of available Heat missed shots. This, despite being firmly planted around the basket in offensive sets.

For all the energy Anthony brings, his hyperactivity doesn’t translate to beating others to the live ball. On the defensive end, the UNLV product is too busy fly-swatting others shots, rather than preventing the opposition from acquiring second-chance points. In fact, the Heat’s defensive rebounding rate soars from 61.5 percent while Anthony’s on the floor to 70.9 percent after he exits the game.

Udonis Haslem adjusting to Heat bench role

The Miami Heat are still adjusting to each other, and the process will continue for much of the season.

One of the most important pieces of the supporting cast is veteran forward Udonis Haslem, who is learning to contribute in big ways coming off the bench.

Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald reports:

udonis haslem

Haslem’s role off the bench has expanded gradually over the past six games. Beginning with his 24-minute contribution against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 2, Haslem’s minutes have increased steadily in each game. On Saturday, he played 37 minutes in the Heat’s 109-100 victory against the Toronto Raptors. Only starter LeBron James (40 minutes) logged more time on the court…

For now, Haslem will continue to provide a spark off the bench. Officially, Haslem is Bosh’s backup at the power forward position, but many times through the first 10 games of the season both Haslem and Bosh have been on the court together late in games.

“I like having Udonis in the game but right now I don’t plan on starting him,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I don’t plan on starting Chris at the center. I like having a veteran warrior who knows our system, who knows what’s important to us coming off the bench.”

Said Haslem: “I feel like when I come in, I think I got to get more done faster, instead of just coasting into the game. Coming off the bench, it’s just full speed ahead automatically because you don’t know how many minutes you’re going to get or what’s the situation. When I come in the game, I’m real aggressive. I’m attacking the boards.”

The Heat have started the season exactly how I thought they would. They’re beating the bad teams, and losing to the really good ones. It’s still super-early. Keep watching the development.

Chris Bosh still learning to fit in with Heat

Shandel Richardson of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

Bosh admitted to playing passive the first six games. He realized a change was necessary heading into the New Jersey game. It didn’t help he faced criticism for being nearly non-existent in a loss to the New Orleans Hornets the previous night.

So Bosh reverted to the player who was a five-time All-Star with the Toronto Raptors.

He played aggressive. He showed passion. It resulted in a season-high 21 points, easily his best effort with the Heat. After the game, Bosh confidently stated the Nets caught him on the “wrong night” because his frustrations reached an all-time high.

He was having difficulty adjusting to a new role of being the third option behind LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

“This process hasn’t been easy for me,” said Bosh, who is averaging 14.4 points and 5.4 rebounds.

James Jones benefitting from absence of Mike Miller

Shandel Richardson of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

James Jones benefitting from absence of Mike Miller

James Jones (Miami Heat) has benefited the most from the absence of Mike Miller, who had thumb surgery and is out until January.

After struggling with open looks against Boston in the season opener, James has been effective the past two games.

He was 9-of-14 on 3-pointers against the 76ers and Magic.

“I’m just doing what they brought me here to do and what I’ve done my entire career, which is shoot the ball,” Jones said.

“I look at it as I’m an NBA player, I’m a skilled player and I just have to be ready capitalize and I have to take advantages of the opportunities that I’m given.”

Dwyane Wade sheds the Flash nickname

Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald reports:

Dwyane Wade sheds the Flash nickname

Wade announced via Twitter on Sunday night that he is shedding his nickname Flash.

On Monday, Wade explained this season signifies a new era in his life and his career. For Wade, dropping the nickname is about growing up. Wade is 28 years old.

“That’s not me no more,” Wade said. “I’m in a different time; in a different place than I was when I was 22 years old. I’m just going in a different direction. I am who I am and just been thinking about it a lot, and I just want people to respect me for who I am and not a character.”

Heat sign Jerry Stackhouse

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent guard Jerry Stackhouse. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Stackhouse, who was originally drafted with the third pick in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, has appeared in 896 career games (563 starts) with five teams over 15 NBA seasons. During his career, he has averaged 18.0 points, 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 32.8 minutes while shooting 40.9 percent from the field, 30.7 percent from three-point range and 82.1 percent from the foul line. During the 2009-10 season, Stackhouse averaged 8.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 20.4 minutes while shooting 40.8 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from three-point range and 79.7 percent from the foul line in 42 games after signing on January 19, 2010 with the Milwaukee Bucks. He scored in double-figures 15 times, including two 20-point games.

The two-time NBA All-Star has appeared in 71 postseason games (16 starts) and has averaged 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 30.1 minutes while shooting 37.2 percent from the field, 34.2 percent from three-point range and 83.0 percent from the foul line. Last season, he appeared in seven postseason games for the Milwaukee Bucks averaging 7.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 20.6 minutes while shooting 32.6 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range and 90.0 percent from the foul line including a 16-point effort in a 107-93 Opening Round Game 3 win against the Atlanta Hawks.

Mike Miller out until January

The AP reports:

mike_miller

Miami Heat swingman Mike Miller will be sidelined until January after undergoing surgery to repair a broken right thumb as well as ligament damage.

Miller was injured in a freak accident at practice on Wednesday…

Miller will be in a cast for four weeks, then in a brace for additional recovery time.

InsideHoops.com editor says: This hurts, but the Heat will be fine, partially because of those LeBron, Wade and Bosh guys, but also because Miller’s role will be pretty clear and easy to adjust to: Stand outside and hit open shots. It isn’t a role that requires lots of time to fit into. Miami does need Miller and will be a bit worse without him, though.