The South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Ira Winderman) reports: The Heat seems to be hitting its stride with Udonis Haslem having settled in at center and Mario Chalmers at point guard. In addition, Chris Quinn has morphed into Jason Kapono. The question now is whether there is room for anyone else in what has grown into a tight, comfortable rotation, with Haslem, Michael Beasley, Shawn Marion, Dwyane Wade and Chalmers as the starters, and then Quinn, Yakhouba Diawara, Daequan Cook and Mark Blount off the bench.
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Nov 8: Hornets 100, Heat 89
The AP reports: Chris Paul finished with 21 points and 13 assists for his sixth straight double-double of at least 20 points and 10 assists to open the season, surpassing the mark set by Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in 1968… Paul also had seven rebounds and four steals to help the Hornets (4-2) snap a two-game losing streak. Nevertheless, Paul wouldn’t take complete credit for the record… Tyson Chandler added 13 points and 10 rebounds, and David West had 21 points for New Orleans. Dywane Wade led the Heat with 30 points, and Udonis Haslem added 12.
InsideHoops.com Notes: Dwyane Wade (9-of-20) had 30 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists for the Heat. Michael Beasley (4-of-13), Shawn Marion and Udonis Haslem all scored in low double-digits. Chris Quinn shot well off the bench for 14 points.
Heat gets first win at Spurs since 1996
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Ira Winderman) reports: Before Friday night’s 99-83 victory over the Spurs at the AT&T Center, the Heat was 1-20 all-time in San Antonio, with the lone victory 12 years ago. That previous victory came when Heat assistant coach Keith Askins was the team’s starting small forward, when future NBA coaches Avery Johnson and Vinny Del Negro were in the Spurs’ starting backcourt, and when Tim Duncan was still on campus at Wake Forest… This is a game the Heat should have won, even as it redefines itself in the wake of last season’s NBA-worst 15-67 record. With Manu Ginobili still sidelined from preseason ankle surgery and Tony Parker lost in the first quarter with a sprained left ankle, the Spurs were reduced to Duncan and a bunch of fill-ins lacking anything in the way of championship pedigree.
Nov 7: Heat 99, Spurs 83
The AP reports: Tony Parker’s encore to 55 was two to four. That’s how many weeks San Antonio is preparing to be without the NBA’s leading scorer after he sprained his left ankle early in a 99-83 loss to Miami on Friday night. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said the ankle is “pretty swollen.” Tim Duncan found solace that it wasn’t worse. Dwyane Wade, who had 33 points and 10 rebounds for Miami, pitied that “another great player” went down… “I don’t know what it is,” said Duncan, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds but sat most of the fourth quarter… Rookie Michael Beasley added 20 points for Miami and briefly left the game with what the Heat described as a left shin contusion. He later returned to the bench, and the team said X-rays were negative. Roger Mason scored 18 points and Ime Udoka had 14 off the bench in trying to rally the Spurs with Parker out.
Nov 5: Heat 106, Sixers 83
The AP reports: Dwyane Wade scored 29 points, rookie Mario Chalmers set a franchise record with nine steals, and the Heat scored 12 straight points in the fourth quarter to pull away and beat the Philadelphia 76ers 106-83 on Wednesday night—giving Miami its first 2-0 home start since 2004… Wade added seven rebounds, six assists and five steals. Michael Beasley finished with 17 points, and Shawn Marion—playing with a hard plastic mask to protect a broken nose—added 12 points and seven rebounds for Miami (2-2). Yakhouba Diawara scored 11 points and Udonis Haslem added 10 for the Heat. Thaddeus Young scored 12 of his 19 points in the first quarter for Philadelphia, which got 16 points from Louis Williams and a 12-point, 12-rebound night from Elton Brand. Andre Miller finished with 11 points and six assists for the 76ers (2-3), while Andre Iguodala was held to only two points.
Wade not feeling team yet
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Ira Winderman) reports: Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade said Monday that not only doesn’t he look like himself through the first three games of the season, but he also doesn’t feel like himself. Wade is shooting 41.2 percent from the field through the first week, down from his career 48.1. He is coming off a 5-of-15 performance in Saturday’s 100-87 road loss against the Charlotte Bobcats that dropped the Heat to 1-2. Wade said he still is having trouble finding himself in an offense that features several new players to the rotation, including rookies Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers.
Daequan Cook defending well
The Miami Herald (Michael Wallace) reports: Heat guard Daequan Cook has seen an increase in playing time because of his improved play on defense, not just because he regained his shooting touch. Cook, who had been mired in a preseason slump, has emerged as the first guard off the bench. Cook, who scored 13 points in each of the first two games of the season, has impressed on defense, where he had struggled with poor footwork and bad technique. ”For me, it was being focused, being patient and realizing what’s going to get me out on the floor is defense,” said Cook, who is averaging 25 minutes a game. “On the defensive end you get looked at more.”
Nov 1: Bobcats 100, Heat 87
The AP reports: A more aggressive Gerald Wallace scored 34 points Saturday, leading the hot-shooting, free-flowing Charlotte Bobcats past the Miami Heat 100-87 to end a month of frustration. After a winless preseason and an ugly loss at Cleveland to open the regular season, Wallace, Jason Richardson and Emeka Okafor led an efficient, hustling performance that gave the well-traveled Brown his 1,011th career win… Jason Richardson added 23 points and Okafor had 18 points and 13 rebounds for Charlotte, which shot 54 percent, controlled the boards and took advantage of Dwyane Wade’s off night to spoil Heat rookie coach Erik Spoelstra’s 38th birthday. Rookie Michael Beasley capped his opening week with 25 points for the Heat, who couldn’t build off Friday’s blowout win over Sacramento. Wade, hampered by foul trouble, added 19 points on 5-of-15 shooting, while Udonis Haslem scored 16 points.
Wade getting lit up
The Palm Beach Post (Chris Perkins) reports: Guard Dwyane Wade (19 points on 5-for-15 shooting) stayed in foul trouble the entire night. And his defense has to be eyed suspiciously. In his last four games he’s allowed Memphis’ O.J. Mayo 28 points, New York’s Jamal Crawford 29 points, held Sacarmento’s Kevin Martin to nine points and allowed Charlotte’s Jason Richardson 23. Coach Erik Spoelstra won’t be happy with his team’s effort. It appeared Udonis Haslem (16 points, seven rebounds) was upset with his teammates the entire night.
Oct 31: Heat 103, Kings 77
The AP reports: Dwyane Wade had 20 points and eight assists, Michael Beasley finished with 17 and the Heat scored a whopping 41 points off turnovers to easily beat the Sacramento Kings 103-77 in their home opener Friday night… Udonis Haslem scored 14 points for the Heat. Marion finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and like Wade, they both sat out the entire fourth quarter. Daequan Cook scored 13 points and Mark Blount added 10. John Salmons and Quincy Douby each scored 14 for the Kings (0-2)… Heat PG Chris Quinn was inactive. Quinn, who was believed to be the preseason favorite to start, dressed but didn’t play in Wednesday’s loss at New York.