Category: Miami Heat Blog

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Different type of All-Star Weekend for Dwyane Wade

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on banged-up veteran Heat guard Dwyane Wade:

Different type of All-Star Weekend for Dwyane Wade

An experience that had become routine for Dwyane Wade over the years suddenly was foreign. It was so new Wade for a moment thought about returning in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center. Then he thought against it.

“I’m normally in there at the end,” Wade said. “It was a part of me that really wanted to be in there. I came out in the second half and I felt a lot better. I wanted to play but I decided not to for the better of our season.”

As expected, the night ended earlier than usual for Wade in the Eastern Conference’s 163-155 victory against the West. Wade left with 5 minutes, 49 seconds remaining in the third quarter, becoming a cheerleader the remainder.

He experienced the game from a “different lense.”

“Just on my vet stuff this year,” Wade said. “I actually got it from other vets. I’ve been around guys when they were older and how they approached the All-Star Game, where they kind of let the younger guys go out there and enjoy themselves and get a feel for the game and have fun. I just kind of chilled a little bit.”

Celtics, Warriors, Heat trade Joel Anthony, Jordan Crawford, Toney Douglas, MarShon Brooks

Joel Anthony

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have completed a three-team deal with Golden State and Miami. The Celtics have acquired center Joel Anthony, a conditional future Philadelphia first round draft pick, Miami’s 2016 second round draft pick and cash considerations; Miami acquires guard Toney Douglas and Golden State acquires guard Jordan Crawford and guard/forward MarShon Brooks.

“It’s always difficult trading a player like Joel who was a big part of the past two championship teams and will always be a part of the Miami HEAT family,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “This trade gives us great flexibility moving forward in our journey to win an NBA Championship. Joel was a true professional who worked hard every day and we wish him the best in the future.”

Anthony, a 6’9” center, has appeared in 12 games for the Heat this season and has recorded six points, seven rebounds and four blocks in 37 minutes of action. He has posted career averages of 2.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 16.5 minutes per game. A member of Miami’s two past NBA Championship teams; he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Heat on July 3, 2007 after playing two seasons collegiately at UNLV and a season at Pensacola Junior College in Florida.

Jordan Crawford

Crawford, 25, appeared in 39 games with Boston this season (35 starts), averaging 13.7 points, a career-high 5.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds per contest, leading the Celtics in assists. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week ending December 8, averaging 23.3 points on 61.0 percent shooting to go along with 6.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds over three games, including a 23-point effort against the New York Knicks on December 8 in which he connected on a career-high six three pointers. On November 29 versus Cleveland, the 6’4” guard posted his third career triple-double, registering 11 points, a career-high-tying 11 rebounds and 10 assists. He has scored 20-or-more points eight times this season, including a season-high 25-point effort on December 3 versus Milwaukee.

Originally selected by the New Jersey Nets with the 27th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Crawford owns career NBA averages of 12.9 points, 3.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 26.4 minutes over 215 games (99 starts) in four seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics. He had his finest NBA season to date in 2011-12 with Washington, averaging a career-high 14.7 points, 3.0 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 64 games, including 16.4 points per contest in 32 starting assignments.

Brooks, a 6’5” guard/forward, has appeared in 10 games for the Celtics this season and has posted averages of 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 7.3 minutes per game. He was originally drafted by the Celtics with the 25th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and was traded on draft night. He was reacquired by the Celtics in a trade with Brooklyn on July 12, 2013.

LeBron James did not appreciate foul from Nets forward Mirza Teletovic

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on a grumpy LeBron James, after the Miami Heat lost in double overtime on the road Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets:

lebron james

Heat forward LeBron James did not appreciate the way Nets forward Mirza Teletovic fouled him with 8:37 left in the fourth quarter of Brooklyn’s 104-95 double-overtime win against Miami on Friday night at Barclays Center.

“He went around my neck, that was my take,” said James, who scored a game-high 36 points before fouling out for just the sixth time in his career (including playoffs).

“That was not a basketball play.”

James had jumped out in transition and was trying to get to the rim, but he pushed off Nets forward Andrei Kirilenko with his left arm and was called for an offensive foul.

With the play happening at full speed, Teletovic did not realize a foul had been called, so he wrapped up James to prevent him from going up for a layup or a dunk.

Mario Chalmers close to being suspended for flagrant fouls

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel with an update on Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers:

Mario Chalmers close to being suspended for flagrant fouls

There no longer is any wiggle room. Or shoving room. Or bumping room. And, assuredly, no “unnecessary contact” room.

With Friday night’s costly flagrant foul against Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers now has five points in the NBA’s flagrant-foul tracking system.

A sixth point mandates an automatic one-game suspension. In fact, if Chalmers’ next flagrant foul is ruled a Flagrant 2 foul, for “unnecessary and excessive contact,” he would then be suspended for two games.

Chalmers’ latest brush with NBA law came with what Friday’s referees determined was too aggressive of a box-out attempt late in the fourth quarter of what turned into a 108-103 overtime loss at Sleep Train Arena.

It was a call that befuddled Chalmers.

Roger Mason and family robbed at restaurant

Here’s Local10.com reporting on a very foul act committed against Miami Heat guard Roger Mason and his family:

Roger Mason and family robbed at restaurant

Miami Heat Guard Roger Mason, Jr., along with his family, were robbed while dining at an Italian restaurant called Ni.Do. Caffe at 7295 Biscayne Boulevard after a Heat game Sunday night.

According to police, four suspects barged into the restaurant and robbed all patrons of their valuables.

On Monday, police recognized a black Cadillac Escalade as the vehicle that was used in the getaway after the robbery. When they attempted to pull the vehicle over, the driver refused and a chase began.

The driver and one passenger were finally apprehended at NW 148th Street and 18th Avenue after ramming a police cruiser, which caused the offending vehicle to stop.

Ray Allen looking to score more off the dribble

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel on one of Ray Allen’s goals that may surprise fans:

Ray Allen looking to score more off the dribble

During the later stages of his career, Miami Heat guard Ray Allen has begun each season with one goal.

Take fewer 3-pointers than the previous year.

So far, Allen is on pace this season because of an effort to score more off the dribble. Shooting less from the arc has provided the chance to prove he can still create his own opportunities.

“His layups per 48 [minutes] have gone up,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s just how the spacing is working. We want all of our guys to be playmakers on the weak side. … He has a reputation so there are a lot of close outs that are hard to run him off the shot. As long as we have good spacing, I don’t have a problem with any of our guys putting the ball on the floor.”

Allen is attempting four 3-pointers a game, the lowest since his rookie year with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1996. He is getting more chances at the rim because opponents are so focused on preventing the 3-point shot. Allen is the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-point baskets with 2,879.

Early analysis of future Dwyane Wade contract negotiations

Here’s ESPN.com on veteran Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade and how his next contract negotiation may play out:

Early analysis of the Dwyane Wade contact situation

Next summer Wade has an opt out in his contract. He is owed $20 million next year and $21 million in 2015-16. It is reasonable to think that Wade, who turns 32 in January, will not opt out and just collect that money. But Wade could also re-do his contract and, if the Heat agreed, get a four-year deal worth up to nearly $100 million. Or the sides could do a deal for anything in between. Basically, the Heat could ask Wade to take a pay cut and make it up to him by adding years to his deal.

That is what Wade and the Heat will likely have serious discussions about at some point before he has to make a decision on June 30. What Wade decides could have a significant impact on how the Heat proceed into next season. And Bryant’s new deal sets an interesting precedent.

Bryant is taking a pay cut next season from his $30 million salary but he will still be the league’s highest-paid player through 2016. The contract was somewhat controversial because it restricted the Lakers’ cap flexibility even as they plan to rebuild through free agency.

The reactions got to the point where Bryant ended up sniping back and forth with fans on social media. It’s not typical that a franchise player has to defend himself for re-signing with the team. Bryant pointed out that superstars shouldn’t yield to public pressure to take less money to help the franchise out and save the owners money.

LeBron, Heat playing in Cleveland tonight

Here’s the Miami Herald reporting on LeBron James heading home for to Akron for Thanksgiving, but with a stop in Cleveland to play the Cavs first:

lebron james

Two days before Thanksgiving, LeBron James sat in his old high school gymnasium in Akron, Ohio, and reminisced. Off to the side, while St. Vincent-St. Mary practiced, James’ sons shot hoops on the same rims that helped turn their father into the best basketball player on the planet.

These Heat road trips to his hometown for games against his old team have been memorable for James ever since he signed with the Heat, and this latest visit to Northeast Ohio will be another emotional exercise in balancing his appreciation for the place that made him and his love for what now defines him.

On Wednesday, James’ Heat plays the Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena and before the game a grassroots movement called “Come Home LeBron” will hold a rally outside the arena. After the game, the Heat is spending the night in the area instead of immediately boarding a plane to Toronto. On Thursday, James is hosting a Thanksgiving feast for the Heat at his home in Akron.

“I am happy that I’m able to do something for the team for Thanksgiving,” James said.

In describing James’ house, Chris Bosh mused that if the Heat’s players had to be away from their families, “it might as well be the biggest house in the world.” Dwyane Wade joked that he would make sure to wear “the right socks” because the house is too fancy for shoes.