Miami Heat

Finals media day: Pop perspective, Wade knee, LeBron headband

By Ira Winderman — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:16:00 GMT

For one final time, players and coaches at the NBA Finals were back to talking the talk on Wednesday afternoon, the final off-day media session of the series that concludes with Thursday's 9 p.m. winner-take-all Game 7 at AmericanAirlines Arena.

From the wise guys: Odds tilting in Heat's favor

By Ira Winderman — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:57:00 GMT

So what do the wise guys have to say? That the odds are the Heat will be hoisting hardware on Thursday night.

ASK IRA: Was Game 6 even comprehensible?

By Ira Winderman — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:06:00 GMT

Q: This win took everything the Heat had and an act of God. What a win. -- Chet.

Winderman's view: Heat 103, Spurs 100 (OT)

By Ira Winderman — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:13:00 GMT

Observations from Tuesday night's 103-100 NBA Finals overtime victory over the San Antonio Spurs at AmericanAirlines Arena:

For starters: San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat

By Ira Winderman — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:18:00 GMT

A look at the starting lineups, inactives, referees and a pregame note of note for Tuesday's 9 p.m. NBA Finals game between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs at AmericanAirlines Arena (ABC), with Mike Miller again starting for the Heat:

ASK IRA: Did Heat give Spurs proper due?

By Ira Winderman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:05:50 GMT

Q: Ira, one of the ESPN writers said the Heat are "smug" and that's the reason they're in trouble. Is this everyone jumping on again, like they did in the Dallas series? Did "smug" hit all those 3-pointers, and many were contested, by the Spurs? -- Steve.

For Heat, it's about survival, nothing more

By Ira Winderman — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:37:00 GMT

At this point, it is about longevity, nothing more.

ASK IRA: Is Miller experiment a bust?

By Ira Winderman — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:00:52 GMT

Q: Mike Miller being in the starting lineup is not working at all. You can't have a guy on floor with poor defense who won't shoot, right? -- Mike.

Winderman's view: Spurs 114, Heat 104

By Ira Winderman — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 02:51:00 GMT

Observations from Sunday night's 114-104 NBA Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center:

For starters: Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs

By Ira Winderman — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 23:26:00 GMT

A look at the starting lineups, inactives, referees and a pregame note of note for Sunday's 8 p.m. NBA Finals game between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center (ABC):

Decision time looming for Heat player options

By Ira Winderman — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 21:52:00 GMT

The clock already is ticking. Within two weeks the decisions have to be made.

For Cole, annual championship runs more than kid stuff

By Ira Winderman — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:16:00 GMT

Playing for an NBA championship annually? Kid stuff.

ASK IRA: Do Heat appreciate magnitude of Game 5?

By Ira Winderman — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 10:00:59 GMT

Q: I am sitting in the dark, scared of how the Heat are going to come out for Game 5. Do they realize the magnitude of winning this game, or are they just going to mail it in like every other game? -- Albert.

Pop goes the condescension; Spurs coach in no mood

By Ira Winderman — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:05:00 GMT

So what's it like to interview Spurs coach Gregg Popovich when he doesn't want to be interviewed? Sort of like Saturday at the AT&T Center.

Time to back off the replay charge?

Ira Winderman — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:54:00 GMT

Sunday notes: With the NBA closer to video review for block-charge judgment calls, is the process getting too unwieldy? Also: Mike Miller says nothing corny about Sioux Falls; Sean Marks recalls Heat tenure; summer beckons.

ASK IRA: Should Bosh have been whistled for flop?

By Ira Winderman — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 10:00:53 GMT

Q: Ira, regarding Chris Bosh's "flop," it would make sense to call the flop at the time of the play, and make it a penalty of some sort at that moment, whether it's a foul or, in my opinion, a technical foul. It's a coward's way out to fine a player the next day for a flop. A fine does nothing as far as having meaning to the game itself. If it is, indeed, called a technical foul at the moment, fewer players will flop. What is meaningful is how flopping affects the play on the court at the time. By the way, there is an offensive flop, when a shooter kicks his leg out to create contact with the defender, which is an offensive foul. -- Martin.

Heat's Chris Bosh fined $5,000 for Game 4 flop | Video

By Ira Winderman — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:47:00 GMT

Center Chris Bosh became the second Miami Heat player penalized in the NBA's postseason crackdown on flopping, fined $5,000 Friday for what the league perceived as a violation with 6:07 remaining in the second quarter of Thursday's 109-93 Game 4 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.

Small ball again provides big boost for Heat

By Ira Winderman — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:49:00 GMT

Change tends to be a gradual process for the Miami Heat, calculated, rarely rushed, seldom spontaneous.

ASK IRA: What was the net gain of Heat lineup switch?

By Ira Winderman — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:05:47 GMT

Q: So now who does Erik Spoelstra replace Mike Miller with on Sunday? He turned into Shane Battier. He wasn't even looking to shoot. Isn't that why they started him? -- Jorge.

Winderman's view: Heat 109, Spurs 93

By Ira Winderman — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:41:00 GMT

Observations from Thursday night's 109-93 NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center:

For starters: Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs

By Ira Winderman — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 01:04:00 GMT

A look at the starting lineups, inactives, referees and a pregame note of note for Thursday's 9 p.m. NBA Finals game between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center (ABC), with Mike Miller starting in place of Udonis Haslem for the Heat:

Chris Bosh downplays trade rumors, content in Heat role

By Ira Winderman — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:56:00 GMT

Chris Bosh appreciates that he could be the fall guy, even if he's not the fail guy.

ASK IRA: Are Heat too exasperating?

By Ira Winderman — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:00:55 GMT

Q: Ira, the Heat are a veteran-laden team all of whom have played in multiple playoff and championship series. Yet they do not bring the focus and intensity they know to be required to win on a nightly basis. I think you are right. They have been playing with fire too much and if they don't get it straightened out by Game 4, it will cost them another championship. As I see it, Game 4 is must win. We're not winning three straight closeout games against the Spurs. They are too good. It has been exasperating, to say the least, to watch. You don't know which team is going to show up from game to game. It is also inexplicable to me. It'll be interesting to see if they show up from the opening tip Thursday. -- Bob.

Magic Johnson sees imminent breakup of Heat Big Three

By Ira Winderman — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:06:00 GMT

So who says Miami Heat forward LeBron James needs to start playing more like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant and less like Magic Johnson? That would be Johnson, himself.

Jimmy Kimmel Show on Heat coach Erik Estrada | Video

By Ira Winderman — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:11:00 GMT

"Lie Witness News" cut to the chase recently with Heat fans during the NBA Finals.