March 26, 200422 yr HEAT vs Dallas @ AmericanAirlines Arena? Mar. 26, 2004 ? 8:00 PM (Eastern) TV: UPN 33/ ESPN :o ? Eric Reid and Mike Fratello WIOD 610 AM (Mike Inglis, Tony Fiorentino), WBZT 1230 AM, WACC 830 AM (Jose Paneda) Series Notes: does anybody ever read this anyway? MiamiHeat.com I know I'm only...hmm about...11 hours early but oh well. I'll be at the game so look out for me on ESPN :mischief I'll be the girl with the hair.
March 26, 200422 yr I was planning to go to the game too but something came up. Probably go to the April 9th game vs the Cavs.
March 26, 200422 yr Oh yea I'm going. None of ya'll will prolly see me though, corner lowerbowl seats aren't usually seen well
March 26, 200422 yr Mavs @ Miami, March 26 The Mavericks bring a 44-27 record into their Friday night (March 26 at 7pm CT) clash with Miami. The Heat are 34-37 this season. Those records are deceiving on both counts. While Dallas has dropped 7 of its last 12 games, Miami is white hot having ripped off 6 straight victories and posted ?W?s in 9 of their last 10. This will be a MAJOR CHALLENGE for the Mavs as they work to get their game together heading towards the playoffs. Dallas? March slide has it now sixth in the West, one full game behind Memphis with eleven games to play. Miami also sits sixth in the East, but appears upwardly mobile, trailing number five Milwaukee by just a game. The Mavericks have managed just one win through three thus far on this five game Eastern swing, putting forth a solid effort only to fall short in Indiana Wednesday by the count of 103-99. While Dallas was suffering yet more frustration in another close loss, the Heat were drilling lowly Orlando on Wednesday 105-90. These two teams appear headed in opposite directions at the moment, but that can change quickly. It?ll be interesting to see how Dallas attacks this test. The Mavs got the better of an injury depleted Heat squad 103-93 back in November at American Airlines Center. Dirk Nowitzki proved unguardable, dropping 30 on the Heat defense. But Miami was missing standout rookie Dwyane Wade, along with leading scorer Eddie Jones, solid second year swingman Caron Butler and three point specialist Rasual Butler on that night due to injuries. All four will play in this one. As for Michael Finley, he?s likely to miss his second straight game with a strained right calf for the Mavericks. The Heat possess a very athletic starting five with Wade at the point and three time All-Star Jones at the shooting guard in the back court. Up front it?s Butler at the small forward, versatile Lamar Odom at the power spot with scrappy Brian Grant at center. The starting unit lacks a true play making point guard, but the passing skills of Wade (4.4apg) and Odom (4.3apg) allow Miami to get by night to night. The Heat bring their only pure floor general off the bench, as fifth year man Rafer Alston (10ppg, 4.5apg) has settled into the role of sixth man. Miami also comes with robo-rebounding rookie Udonis Haslem (6.2rpg), long range sharpshooter Rasual Butler (48% on threes) and lanky 6-10 power forward Malik Allen off the bench. This is a squad that?s bought into first year head coach Stan Van Gundy?s system of tenacious defense and is beginning to believe that it has what it takes to end a two year absence from playoff basketball. Miami is a dangerous team! The Mavericks may be forced to play more man-to-man defense than they?d like, as the Heat connect on 35% of their three pointers and possess a number of options beyond the arc in Jones (150 made threes), Odom (57 made three pointers), Alston (134 threes) and Rasual Butler (39-81 on threes), negating Dallas? desire to play it?s match-up two-three zone. The Mavs could find it tough to match-up with Wade, who?s displayed tremendous poise and a willingness to attack the rim off the dribble as this season?s progressed. I suspect that either Josh Howard or Marquis Daniels will draw him defensively. That would leave Steve Nash to stick to primarily perimeter shooting Jones. Up front, Lamar Odom will be a headache as a result of his well rounded game (17ppg, 10rpg, 4.3apg). Antoine Walker will likely guard him, leaving Dirk Nowitzki to battle Brian Grant on the boards. The start of this game will be important. Miami is playing on national television (ESPN) for the first time in almost two years, so the Heat figure to be fired up from the opening tip. Assuming a quick start for the home team, it?ll be imperative that Dallas remains close through the first quarter. The Mavs must generate an effective running game to off-set Miami?s excellent half court defense, while retreating effectively themselves in transition to force the Heat to earn their point by executing their half court offense. The battle of the boards will present another key watch. The team that emerges will likely walk away with the victory. It appears that the Mavs are running into a buzz-saw in this game, as they?re facing a Heat team playing it?s best ball in years. Toss into the mix that Miami has a national TV audience to perform before and you have the makings of a very tough challenge for Dallas. The Mavericks will need one of their best start to finish efforts of the season to win this game. A loss insures a losing road trip; a victory will have Dallas soaring into Orlando to wrap up the swing on Sunday. This could be a telling contest as the Mavs enter the regular season?s final phase. Now this is a preview, not that series notes bull
March 26, 200422 yr PB Post called Rafer Alston and Lamar Odom the Queens Connection... Since they both lived there and only afew blocks away.
March 27, 200422 yr 41-41 now Alston hit a 3 to break the heat record for of consecutive games with a 3 pointer. Now its at 38 Wade and Haslem had Monster Dunks. Heat on a Roll now.
March 27, 200422 yr 57-54 Heat at the half what a huge wint this would be not only over dallas, but on national tv, too
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.