Miami Heat Blog – Page 63 – NBA Blog

Anderson Varejao can see LeBron James playing for the Cavs again

The LeBron James “Decision” TV special is old news, but here’s the Akron Beacon Journal blog with good stuff from Anderson Varejao:

Anderson Varejao, the last remaining player with ties to LeBron James, said Tuesday he disagreed with the way James left but believes he could return to play for this organization again.

“It could happen,” Varejao said. “Bron is from Akron. Akron is not too far from here. Eventually in his career, he probably wants to play at home.”

And then unprovoked, the normally quiet Varejao said he didn’t like the way James left the Cavs via the one-hour television special.

“Going back to that, I think the way he left was wrong,” Varejao said. “But regardless … He helped me a lot, helped my game and helped me as a person. I have nothing against him. It could happen.”

Chris Bosh continues to hit 3-pointers

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel on the Miami Heat offense sometimes including Chris Bosh out on the perimeter, where he is able to operate with success:

Bosh has made a 3-pointer in each of the past three games, 3 of 5 from beyond the arc in those three, the ball whipping around to him just as it has been to the Heat’s 3-point specialists.

“The ball will find him, in open areas, in open gaps,” Spoelstra said. “We use the term all the time, ‘The ball will find energy.’ And when he’s playing with that type of energy, the ball will find him.

“We’re not running necessarily plays for him. But you see him moving into open areas and he’s very skilled when he gets in those sweet spots of his.”

Just as Bosh is moving, so is the ball.

LeBron James, Blake Griffin named NBA Players of Week through November 17

The Miami Heat’s LeBron James and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 11, through Sunday, Nov. 17.

James averaged a league-best 34.0 points in leading the Heat to a 3-0 week. He led Miami in scoring in all three games and shot .702 from the field (fifth in the league), .625 from three-point range, and .810 from the foul line. On Nov. 15, James tallied 39 points on 14-of-18 shooting and added six rebounds and four assists as the Heat topped the Dallas Mavericks 110-104.

Griffin helped the Clippers to a 3-0 week behind averages of 25.7 points (tied for third in the Western Conference), 11.3 rebounds (ninth in the conference), 4.7 assists and 1.0 steals. He posted a point-rebound double-double in all three games. On Nov. 13, Griffin scored 22 points and added 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals as the Clippers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Jeff Teague, Chicago’s Luol Deng, Denver’s Ty Lawson, Golden State’s Klay Thompson, Houston’s Jeremy Lin, Minnesota’s Kevin Love, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Orlando’s Arron Afflalo and Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge.

LeBron James interested in bringing MLS team to Miami

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting:

Miami Heat forward LeBron James caused a stir when he teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh three years ago.

Now, James is contemplating linking up with another superstar from a different sport. On Monday, James confirmed he has interest in teaming up with soccer icon David Beckham in bringing a Major League Soccer team to Miami.

“There’s some interest on both sides,” James said. “David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years. I think it would be great for this city to have a football club for sure. There’s interest on both sides but it’s preliminary talks.”

Mario Chalmers suspended for striking Dirk Nowitzki

Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers has been suspended for one game without pay for throwing a forearm and making contact with the head of Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident, for which Chalmers was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected, occurred with 5:01 remaining in the fourth quarter of Miami’s 110-104 win over Dallas on Friday, Nov. 15, at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Chalmers will serve his suspension tonight when the Heat visit the Charlotte Bobcats.

To view the play, click on this link.

Miami Heat analysis: Dwyane Wade fine playing a supporting role

Aging NBA veteran Dwyane Wade is still a terrific basketball player, but for the most part the Miami Heat are LeBron James’ team to lead. Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

Wade scored a season-high 29 points in Thursday’s victory against the Los Angeles Clippers, but knows moments as such are a rarity because of the Heat’s offensive game plan. The system is set up for LeBron James to shoulder to scoring load while receiving contributions from Wade, center Chris Bosh and the rest of the supporting cast.

“You’ve got to keep other guys happy,” Wade said. “Years ago, if I had it going, I would have tried to keep it going. Just understanding on this team, there’s so many other guys who are capable and you’ve got to keep your teammates happy. A night like [Thursday] night, you feel like when things are going in, this is a 40-point night. But on this team, it’s not about that.”

Wade no longer makes a fuss when critics say he is on the downside of his career. Instead, he focuses on his previous resume while still proving he is still one of the top players in the league.

LeBron James to play through back issues

I know many of you don’t believe it, but LeBron James is human. He is. He has to eat and sleep like everybody else. And even LeBron can suffer some health issues once in a while. Here’s ESPN Miami reporting:

LeBron James has been dealing with back spasms since midway through the Miami Heat’s training camp.

So what took him so long to divulge his discomfort?

“It just never came up,” James said of his back after Friday’s practice. “If it doesn’t come up, I don’t talk about it. For me, I don’t really talk about injuries much, and I’ve had my fair share. That’s just the way it is. If I’m OK to play and I’m out on the court, then I don’t have an excuse.”

James said he plans to continue playing through the back soreness, and expects to be in the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Boston Celtics. But if the pain gets much worse, he’ll reluctantly consider sitting out to rest.

Mario Chalmers fined $15,000 for hitting Blake Griffin

Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers has been fined $15,000 for hitting Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin in the throat with a forearm, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The foul on Chalmers, which was called a common foul on the floor, has been upgraded by the league office to a Flagrant Foul 2. The incident occurred with 8:05 remaining in the third quarter of the Heat’s 102-97 win over the Clippers on Thursday, Nov. 7, at AmericanAirlines Arena.

LeBron makes it 500 straight games scoring in double digits

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel, reporting on how LeBron James continues to do some of hte biggest things in the NBA anyone has seen in a long time:

With his 10th point in Tuesday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre, Miami Heat forward LeBron James became the fifth player in NBA history to score in double figures in 500 or more consecutive games.

James reached 500 with a first-quarter dunk.

It is the longest active such streak in the NBA.

Shaq says Nets could knock off Heat in East

The Miami Heat are still considered the best team in the East — and the league. But on paper, the Brooklyn Nets look able to at least compete with the champs. And Shaquille O’Neal agrees. Here’s the New York Daily News:

The big-name acquisitions made over the summer by GM Billy King have the Nets talking NBA title contention. But the championship rhetoric isn’t contained within the confines of the Barclays Center or the team’s training site in East Rutherford.

Some believe the Nets have what it takes to knock LeBron James and the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat from their perch. Former NBA great and current TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal is one of them. He feels Brooklyn’s title aspirations are legitimate, provided its star players can stay on the court and build chemistry.

“If they can stay healthy, I think they can give Miami a run,” O’Neal said Monday at a TNT luncheon in New York, according to SI’s Richard Deitsch. “If they come together, I think they can take Miami.”

The consensus at Nets practice Monday was they were appreciative of his comments and agree with his qualifier regarding the team’s health.