Mini Blog #27: Heat-Celtics

Heat

• Jeff Van Gundy is insane. No way they win 72. For as talented as they are, no one has they Jordan-esque eye of the tiger that will refuse to let them lose on off-nights. 60-65 is probably realistic, though.
  
• They'll be far better than they were last night, which was still almost good enough to beat a Celtics team that played pretty well. It's going to be a matter of building chemistry.
  
• Wade needs a tetanus shot for all that rust.
• They have no low-post game, which is a big problem. In the same way NFL teams with a great receiving core need to complementary running back that the defense at least respects, so in the NBA parameter players need a decent inside game to relieve some of their pressure. The one exception in league history is the '90s Bulls, and this team ain't them.
  
• For them to score they have to RUN. They need to play at a speed approaching the Nash-led Suns and I don't see that happening with Carlos Arroyo running the point.
• LeBron needs to accept his passing DNA and run the dang offense. Drop down to 15-17 PPG and average 12-15 APG setting up Both and Wade. Doubt that's going to happen, though.
  
• All the commentators are saying that Dwayne Wade is the guy who'll be sacrificing the most. I couldn't disagree more. I think he'll be sacrificing the least. The guy to keep an eye on, in my mind, is Chris Both. Even with an off night by Wade he only got 11 shot attempts. I doubt he's going to be happy very long averaging 10-12 PPG.
• Like most young coaches, Erik Spoelstra needs to develop. He might be a fine coach one day, but he's not Pat Riley. He's not even the young Pat Riley who took over the Lakers in '81.
  
• Juwan Howard. Man, those Fab Five guys just can't win a championship can they?
  
• The NBA is all about match-ups. I can see the Heat battling the Celtics for the East, but don't see them beating the Lakers. They've got no way to match-up with Gasol and Bynum.
  
• I enjoyed hearing LeBackstab get booed every time he touched the ball.
• For a good reaction to The Commercial, click here.
  

Celtics

• They're starting 4 (and possibly 5) future Hall of Famers. Sick.
  
• Their chemistry is just amazing. Love that crisp passing and help defense.
• I'm interested to see how well that defense keeps up with Lawrence Frank replacing Tom Thibodeau.
• I thought Barkley had a great point when he said that it's hard to be focal point of the offense when you can't shoot. Rondo is the motor that makes the whole thing run. If anything happens to him, they're hosed.
• Jesus Shuttleworth's jumper remains a thing of beauty.
  
• As much as I'm rooting for the Geriatric Department, er, Celtics, to play well at their advanced age, it'd be kind of fun to see them lose seven players to season-ending injuries.
  
• Most people don't realize the Artist Formerly Known as "The Diesel" is now the oldest player in the league. Shall we call him "The Electric Car."
  
• That team now has two Big Babies: Big Baby Davis and Bigger Baby O'Neal.
  
• I don't care what everyone says, KG's knee still looks gimpy. He still has a noticeable limp. Is he healthier than last season? Sure. Healthier even than he was in the play-offs? Probably. But I doubt he'll ever be the same.
• Once Perkins comes back, that bench is stacked: the Big Babies, Jermaine O'Neal, Nate Robinson, Marques Daniels, and Delonte West.
  
• This team is better off losing a few more games and staying fresh for the playoffs. I hope that don't play as hard every night as they did last night.
  
• Why couldn't 'Sheed have just played one more year?! I would have loved to see him get ejected from each and every game.
• The thing I dislike most about the Celtics is Paul "Mock Epic" Pierce's constant fake injuries.