Miami Heat Blog – Page 60 – NBA Blog

Video: Heat vs Rockets slow-motion highlights

On Sunday the Miami heat beat the Houston Rockets 113-104. Here are some cool, slow-motion video highlights:

Miami Heat sign Justin Hamilton, release DeAndre Liggins

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed center Justin Hamilton and released guard DeAndre Liggins from his 10-day contract

Hamilton appeared in 37 games (all starts) with the HEAT’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, earlier this season and averaged 19.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.03 blocks, 1.5 assists and 35.8 minutes while shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from three-point range and 81.2 percent from the foul line. He recently appeared in one game with Charlotte, recording one steal in 3:44 minutes of action, after signing a 10-day contract with the Bobcats on March 4.

Hamilton, a 2014 NBA D-League All-Star, was originally drafted in the second round (45th overall) by Philadelphia in the 2012 NBA Draft and was acquired by the HEAT in a draft night trade. He appeared in five preseason games with Miami and averaged 2.6 points and 1.0 rebounds in 5.6 minutes. Additionally, Hamilton appeared in three 2012 Summer League games with the HEAT totaling 27 points and 12 rebounds in 56:43 minutes of action while shooting 8-of-17 from the field and a perfect 11-of-11 from the foul line. He then split the 2012-13 season with both VEF Riga (Latvia) of the VTB United League and Cibona (Croatia) of the Adriatic League before joining the Skyforce.

Hamilton will wear number 7.

Liggins, who was signed to two 10-day contracts by the HEAT, appeared in one game with Miami totaling two points and one rebound in 1:24 minutes.

Paul Pierce scores 29, Nets beat Heat

Something about facing the Miami Heat still brings out the best in Paul Pierce.

Jason Kidd isn’t half-bad against them, either.

Pierce scored 17 of his 29 points in the third quarter and delivered two crucial scores late, Shaun Livingston created a turnover on the game’s final play and the Brooklyn Nets topped the Heat 96-95 on Wednesday night — moving to 3-0 this season against the two-time defending NBA champions, two of those wins coming by a single point and the other in overtime…

Mirza Teletovic scored 17 off the bench. Livingston finished with 13 points and Andray Blatche scored 11 for the Nets.

Chris Bosh scored 24 points for Miami, giving him 15,003 for his career. Dwyane Wade scored 22, LeBron James finished with 19 and Mario Chalmers scored 14 for the Heat, who gave up 22 points off turnovers and were hit with two technicals (on Wade and Chalmers) for arguing calls within a 92-second span of the third quarter.

— Associated Press

Heat send DeAndre Liggins to D-League for very brief assignment

The Miami HEAT announced today that guard DeAndre Liggins will join the Sioux Falls Skyforce for their NBA Development League game today against the Canton Charge. Following the game, he will re-join the HEAT in Miami for their contest against the Washington Wizards tomorrow night.

Liggins, who was signed to a second 10-day contract by the HEAT on March 8, has appeared in one game with Miami totaling two points and one rebound in 1:24 minutes while shooting 1-of-1 from the field in a, 124-107, win against Charlotte on March 3.

Liggins, a 2014 NBA Development League All-Star, has appeared in 35 games (34 starts) with the HEAT’s NBA D-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, so far this season averaging 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.54 steals and 40.3 minutes while shooting 39.8 percent from the field.

Heat use longer film session to examine recent defensive struggles

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel with insight on how the Miami Heat work to make themselves even better:

A day after getting away from basketball, the Miami Heat added a longer than usual film session to help get past the two-game losing streak.

On Saturday, the Heat’s practice lasted about 45 minutes longer than expected because of extended work in the video room. It was their chance to break down consecutive losses to the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets.

“This isn’t AAU,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “You can’t just move on and go on to the next game. We have to review it and own it and get better at the things that we need to win on the road against good teams.”

It was the first session as such in a while this season. The Heat reviewed mistakes ranging from turnovers to ball movement to shot selection.

Thibodeau calls LeBron an all-time great

Everybody knows that LeBron James is an NBA great. But it’s always fun hearing top basketball minds describe LeBron in their own particular words. Here’s ESPN Chicago quoting Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau:

Tom Thibodeau has been around professional basketball for well more than two decades. He has a passion for the game and the intricacies that separate the good players from the great ones. He studies compulsively to try to make sure his Chicago Bulls team always has an advantage when it steps onto the floor. That’s why his praise of Miami Heat superstar LeBron James is so telling. When asked Saturday to compare James to another player he’s watched or coached against in years past, Thibodeau didn’t hesitate.

“Nobody,” Thibodeau said.

“Because you’re combining the speed, the power, the skills, the passing, the vision. I can’t recall anyone that I’ve coached against that’s like that. There’s nothing that he doesn’t do. He’s great with the ball, great without the ball, can post, can drive, can shoot, can really pass. If you overcommit to him he’s going to make you really pay. And he keeps getting better every year. So he’s an all-time great.”

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade make side trips before Bulls game

Here’s the Miami Herald with insight on some beyond-the-norm LeBron and D-Wade activities:

Amid one of the Heat’s worst two-game stretches of the season, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James took some time to celebrate Saturday.

Following an intense practice session in suburban Chicago, James boarded a private jet bound for Cleveland and Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ jersey retirement ceremony. Wade said he had plans to attend his sister’s wedding. Throw in one less hour for the overnight time change and Sunday’s noon tipoff (local time) at United Center, and the Heat’s road-trip finale against the Chicago Bulls has all the makings for another sluggish start.

The Heat allowed 39 points in the first quarter of Tuesday’s loss to the Houston Rockets. On Thursday, the San Antonio Spurs scored 37 first-quarter points against the Heat. Poor defensive effort in the first quarters of those games was a point of emphasis by coach Erik Spoelstra.

Heat sign DeAndre Liggins to second 10-day contract

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed guard DeAndre Liggins to a second 10-day contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Liggins, who was signed to a 10-day contract by the HEAT on February 25, appeared in one game with Miami totaling two points and one rebound in 1:24 minutes while shooting 1-of-1 from the field in a, 124-107, win against Charlotte on March 3.

Liggins, a 2014 NBA Development League All-Star, appeared in 35 games (34 starts) with the HEAT’s NBA D-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, earlier this season and averaged 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.54 steals and 40.3 minutes while shooting 39.8 percent from the field.

Heat point guards need to step up

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel on the Miami Heat, who have dropped their last two games, both to good teams — the Spurs and Rockets. No huge deal, but here’s one thing that stood out:

Another glaring blemish during the losing streak has been the play of point guards Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole.

They were badly outplayed by Spurs guard Tony Parker and the Rockets’ Patrick Beverley the past two games.

“It’s been off the last two games,” Chalmers said. “We’ve got to do better.”

Cole and Chalmers have combined to score 13 points on 5 of 23 shooting while committing seven turnovers. The opposing point guards averaged 18 points.

“We’ve got to get back on track, find a way to get back on track,” Chalmers said. “It starts with me. I’m the starting point guard. I just got to turn it up. It’s just been one of those trips. We’ve got to get out to a better start. That starts with me. I’ve got to make sure we got off to a better start.”

LeBron James dislikes sleeved NBA jerseys

Here’s ESPN.com reporting on Heat superstar LeBron James, who says he does not like having to play while wearing sleeved NBA jerseys:

James partly blamed the jersey for his off shooting night in the Miami Heat’s 111-87 loss Thursday to the San Antonio Spurs. He was 6-of-18 from the field, his second-worst shooting game of the season.

“I’m not making excuses, but I’m not a big fan of the jerseys,” said James, who had 19 points. “Every time I shoot it feels like it’s just pulling right up underneath my arm. I already don’t have much room for error on my jump shot. It’s definitely not a good thing.”

James said the sleeves affect him on long-range shots, especially 3-pointers. He was quick to point out that the jersey also bothered him on Christmas Day, when he shot 0-of-4 from 3-point range in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers, and during the All-Star Game last month, when he was 0-of-7 on 3-pointers in sleeves.