Miami Heat Blog – Page 64 – NBA Blog

Dwyane Wade aims to be more efficient on offense

A healthy and even more efficient Dwyane Wade would be a scary thing for anyone playing against the Miami Heat. But if all goes as planned, that’s exactly what the Heat will have as a weapon. Here’s the Miami Herald:

Practice had long since ended last week, but there was Dwyane Wade — the last player on the floor — working with assistant David Fizdale on polishing his post moves.

Indiana coach Tom Crean, his close friend and former coach at Marquette, pointed out this summer that Wade is “one of the most efficient players to ever play the game.”

But even after finishing seventh in last season’s NBA’s efficiency ratings — he was second or third the previous four years — Wade said in no uncertain terms: “I’ve got to be way more efficient than I’ve ever been.”

Wade, off July’s Ossatron knee treatment, has looked very good — “best I’ve seen him since year one,” LeBron James said earlier in camp — and how his game evolves, at 31, will be fascinating.

Miami Heat waive Eric Griffin and Justin Hamilton

The Miami Heat announced today that they have waived forward Eric Griffin and center Justin Hamilton.

Griffin, who was signed by as a free agent in September, appeared in seven games with the Heat this preseason and averaged 1.7 points, 1.1 rebounds and 6.1 minutes.

Hamilton, who was acquired by the Heat in a draft night trade in 2012, appeared in five games and averaged 2.6 points, 1.0 rebounds and 5.6 minutes.

The Heat’s roster now stands at 15.

LeBron James speaks on return of Greg Oden

The return of center Greg Oden to NBA (preseason) action is a fun story, and hopefully it continues with Oden staying healthy and being a key member of the Miami Heat. Here’s Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald:

LeBron James put it this way: “I have no idea what my feeling would be like after being away from the game for three years. I was so excited for him when he got on the court and his first basket he gets a dunk.

“Can you write it any better? Obviously he’s not where he wants to be, but the process is going great. I was so happy for him. I was like a big brother seeing his little brother succeed again. It was a great moment.”

Chris Bosh said: “We remind him daily that we’re going to need him. So, just to see him take that first step forward is huge.”

Oden played alongside Bosh, and that pairing should be effective against teams with two offensively gifted power rotation players, such as the Indiana Pacers, with Bosh slotted into his natural power forward position in those lineups.

Greg Oden returns to NBA action

Greg Oden is alive! And back on a basketball court. And even better, he was active and looked perfectly healthy and like a player worth watching and giving minutes to. It was nice to see. Here’s Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra refused to tip his hand Wednesday morning. Wednesday night he played his trump card.

For the first time in nearly four years, Greg Oden appeared in an NBA game, when the hulking center checked in with 5:15 to play in the second quarter of Wednesday night’s 108-95 exhibition victory over New Orleans Pelicans at New Orleans Arena.

“It’s been a long time,” Oden exulted in the locker room afterward. “It’s been a long road for me, just to get that off my back, my first step tonight.”

Teammates were even more emotional.

“It was a very special moment,” forward LeBron James said. “I have no idea what my feelings would be like being away from the game for three years, and it was a proud moment. I was so excited for him when he got on the court and checked in.

“I might have to toast this for him. I ain’t no drinker, but I might have to take a shot for him.”

Miami Heat waive Jarvis Varnado, Larry Drew II and Charlie Westbrook

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have waived forward Jarvis Varnado and guards Larry Drew II and Charlie Westbrook.

Varnado appeared in six games with the HEAT this preseason and averaged 2.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 9.9 minutes. Additionally, he appeared in 13 regular season games with the HEAT last season totaling eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in 58 minutes.

Drew appeared in one game with the HEAT this preseason totaling 5:52 minutes of action.

Westbrook appeared in four games with the HEAT this preseason and averaged 2.5 points and 5.7 minutes.

The HEAT’s roster now stands at 17.

Derrick Rose says the only true Bulls rival is the Heat

Derrick Rose believes the Bulls have only one main rival — and it’s the Miami Heat, not the Indiana Pacers.

Rose made his feelings known before Friday night’s preseason contest against the Pacers.

While being respectful regarding Indiana’s recent success, Rose acknowledged that he believed any rivalry with the Pacers is a thing of the past.

“People say that it’s a rivalry, but I don’t really see it,” Rose said before scoring 32 points in the team’s 103-98 win against the Pacers. “I say the team that is more like a rivalry is when Darren Collison was on the team. That one was more like a rivalry, but this team is a great team. They’ve already proven themselves last year by making it to the Eastern Conference finals.”

Reported by Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago

Prosecutors drop DUI charge on wife of Alonzo Mourning

Miami-Dade prosecutors on Tuesday dropped a drunken-driving charge against Tracy Wilson-Mourning, the wife of former Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning.

Police arrested Wilson-Mourning on a DUI charge in February after she was pulled over for speeding near Old Cutler Road and San Servano Avenue.

According to the arrest report, an officer said he saw Wilson-Mourning driving her 2010 Porsche Panamera at 48 mph in a 20 mph zone and making an improper right turn at about 3:40 a.m. Police also said Wilson-Mourning ran a flashing red light.

Reported by David Ovalle of the Miami Herald

Greg Oden continues his progress in Heat practices

“He fouled me twice,” LeBron James said with a smile.

It might have been two of the more enjoyable fouls of James’ career, especially in a practice setting.

The hits came from Greg Oden during the scrimmage portion of Monday’s Miami Heat practice at AmericanAirlines Arena.

It has been more than three seasons since Oden has appeared in an NBA game. Monday marked another step in his comeback from several gruesome knee injuries, even as coach Erik Spoelstra yet again downplayed the hulking center’s timetable.

“It felt good to be out there, get some up and down,” Oden said. “You see I’m a little frustrated in myself because I’m not as back as I want to be. But you know, it’s little steps. Today was another step, getting out there and doing some five on five.”

Teammates appreciated the moment.

“It’s a testament to him just keeping his composure, his believing in himself, his family believing in him,” James said. “He’s back where he belongs, and that’s in the NBA.”

Reported by Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel

Shane Battier could lose minutes in Heat bench rotation

On paper, if it actually all works out, the reclamation of Michael Beasley would be just another brilliant brushstroke by Pat Riley in an ever-growing mural of managerial greatness. But here’s something important to consider before projecting Beasley into the Heat’s second rotation:

Who loses minutes?

One possible answer is Shane Battier, and that would be strangely ironic considering Battier’s steady demeanor, his attention to detail on defense and his importance to the Heat’s back-to-back championships. Battier was benched deep into the 2013 playoffs, sure, but he also redeemed himself in Game 7 and was a mainstay during Miami’s near-record winning streak of 27 games during the regular season.

Reported by Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald

Miami Heat start preseason 3-0

It has been nine years since the Heat had a winning preseason, dating to their 4-3 record in 2004-05. Of course the Heat also have won three NBA titles in the interim.

Still, Spoelstra said there is value in the 3-0 start to the eight-game preseason schedule.

“We’ve talked about our habits,” Spoelstra said. “We reveal our character every single night in different circumstances.”

Friday’s 82-75 victory in Kansas City over the Charlotte Bobcats completed a back-to-back sweep that opened with a Thursday road victory over the Detroit Pistons.

“We were a very good back-to-back team last year,” Spoelstra said.

Reported by Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel