See no evil, Hear no evil…
Anyone there in South Beach??
One of the surprising turns for me this season is just how little attention the Miami Heat are getting. Or maybe I just block them out in my head.
But with all the big headlines: the Harden Trade, Lakers coaching kerfuffle, Clippers & Memphis laying down their intentions as contenders, Knicks not sucking, Wizards sucking terribly, Bobcats surprisingly not. Where is the chatter on the Miami Heat?
I know it’s early but here are some stats and why I find it amazing that people aren’t talking more about their back-to-back hopes:
- 10-3 overall, 6-0 at home and are currently on a 4 game winning streak. 1st is points per game, 1st in 3PT%, 1st in FG%, 4th in assists and 5th in points differential.
- Lebron is averaging about 25-8-6-1-1, 53% FG (!), 44% 3PT. The only fault in his season is his FT% at 67%.
- Ray Allen is at 12 points a game making 53% on 3’s. Rashard Lewis is averaging just over 7 points, 54% on 3’s.
- Oh and they also have two guys called Wade and Bosh who are putting up their usual All-Star numbers with Wade slowing down a slightly as expected.
So are the Heat really that impressive and equally impressive at flying under the radar at the moment? Or is it a case that the Knicks/Clippers/Memphis genuinely have a chance at unseating the defending champs? What are the other stories currently flying under the radar?
Courtside Notes 
naturalbornanalysts 12:11 pm on November 29, 2012 Permalink |
The Heat really are that impressive, and surprising nobody, which equates to no headlines. If they were losing then there would be all kinds of talk. But everyone is playing at a reasonably high level, and they are just going about their business like everyone expected them to.
I dont see ANY TEAM IN THE NBA challenging the Heat in a best of 7… I just dont.
I still don’t think Memphis are getting their dues. Playing some great basketball, and have legitimate All-Star possibilities in 4 of 5 positions (yes I think Mike Conley is that good).
Eastern Sleepers…
Somebody talk about Philadelphia and dont mention Andrew Bynum. This strange assemblege is being lead by an incredibly underrated Jrue Holiday, who IS DEFINITELY playing at an all star level. They are sitting at 9-6, without arguably the best big man in the league….
And what about Atlanta? Haven’t heard any headlines about this team. but their record (9-4) is one of the best in the East, and they are doing it after getting rid of their best scorer. Have to love the way these guys are playing…. especially our boy Teague… loves to dunk. (I don’t care if this was a charge)
The only under the radar story in the West (other than the Spurs being 13-3 again) is that there is absolutely nothing in the west….2.5 games between 4th and 12th at the moment. And then Portland another half game behind.
jk41 8:54 am on November 30, 2012 Permalink |
Miami unbeatable in 7 this season? What about OKC?
1 year of growth from KD, Westbrook, Serge. Not sure what you get out of Kevin Martin but couldn’t be worse than Harden last year right? I still like OKC out of the West and even though the Lakers are sucking now, it seems like they would have the star power to combat the Heat but their depth and chemistry are a problem.
Hawks have a nice little team when Josh Smith and Al Horford are on their game like they had against the Bobcats (still counts) with basically identical lines: 17-13-6-3-5 and 17-11-6-1-3 respectively. Strong games. Plus they surround those two with Korver, Lou Williams, Jeff Teague–they’re a nifty little team. But again, worry about their depth and Josh Smith being able to put it up every night.
Spurs will be a sleeper as long as the Pop/Duncan era exists. It’s just their nature. Never happy:
Take that David Aldridge. LOL.
naturalbornanalysts 1:06 am on December 3, 2012 Permalink |
But we aren’t talking about the same Miami team either remember. They have improved a lot on last year’s team. Norris Cole has the extra year. Battier is playing better. Mike Miller is Mike Miller. But Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis have come in and contributed. Watching the end of games now, when LBJ attacks and gets doubled or tripled, who does he kick it out to for the game winner? Only the best 3pt shooter in the history of the game (and he’s healthy). Its formidable.
OKC are nice, but if you are worried about the Lakers depth, worry about OKC’s as well. While Collison is awesome off the bench, I’m not sure about Eric Maynor coming off surgery, and Jeremy Lamb and PJ3 arent getting minutes. Im not convinced OKC can beat the Heat unfortunately.
Where do you think your bulls will be sitting by the time Rose gets back?
jk41 3:31 am on December 4, 2012 Permalink |
That’s true. I guess that gets back to my point that they’ve been sneakily dominating. Contradiction much?
I think Kevin Martin could surprise. All he’s being asked to do is come off the bench and jack ’em up for some scoring. I like him as that energy scorer off the bench a bit better than Harden, even though Harden is the light years away better player.
Right where I think they’ll be all season, which is .500. I’m tipping he comes back maybe a couple of weeks after the All-Star break in March. But til then…..go Kirk?
Sigh….kill me….
JK
naturalbornanalysts 1:13 pm on December 5, 2012 Permalink
Wait.. did the Wizards just beat the Heat?!…
jk41 7:14 am on December 6, 2012 Permalink
Haha…yeah that just happened. Delete post? 😉