Miami Heat

What makes Mario matter?

Ira Winderman — 2009-11-07T16:35:57-05:00

Dwyane Wade noticed it right away.

"He had two games where he had some tough matchups with Nash and Arenas, and he struggled a little bit," Wade said. "But to come in against one of the best, in Billups, really shows some growth.

"He probably had his best game of the year on both ends of the court."

Not probably. Mario Chalmers did.

He was very good Friday night. And while the bulk of his season-high 16 points can off his 4-of-5 3-point shooting, Chalmers also filled the box score, with five rebounds, four assists and a steal.

Now the issue becomes consistency. Because the league is loaded with opponents such as Arenas and Nash.

With Jermaine O'Neal drawing attention in the paint, and with Quentin Richardson settling in at small forward, point guard continues as the most uneven position for the Heat.

Indeed, don't be surprised in upcoming games if Chris Quinn gets his shot. Remember, Carlos Arroyo is on a non-guaranteed contract for a reason. The Heat still prefers its flexibility.

And what the Heat still doesn't have, still needs, is a defender at the position, because while Richardson might be able to step in against Arenas, Tony Parker and Devin Harris are a different story, with their quickness.

Eventually, expect healthy doses of Wade, Richardson and Daequan Cook on the perimeter, without a true point guard in the lineup. It is an alignment that would stretch the floor and provide additional athleticism.

For Chalmers, Friday was a step forward. But greater strides still are needed.

ASK IRA: Can Beasley play above the rim?

Ira Winderman — 2009-11-07T11:32:50-05:00

Q: Bease has to accept he can't score over the top and has to get more creative. He is a beneath-the-basket presence. -- Martin.

A: Yes, he is. I think that has become particularly clear. But he also has the gifts to get the ball to the rim. What he has to do is make it more about skill and less about forcing the issue. Sometimes that means pulling up. Sometimes it means a floater. And sometimes it means using the glass. He can do all three and might have to move more in those directions.

Q: Ira, I get sick to my stomach every time you say "it's all about Beasley gaining trust." I mean, what more does he have to do? He's rebounding, playing better defense. Heck, just trade him; he's never going to get a fair deal here. -- Melvin.

A: He's 20. Yes, 20. That means patience. No, I don't like that his minutes have been so limited, especially at power forward. But the end of the game is winning time, and, so far, you can't exactly complain about the record. What I would like to see is Michael being allowed to play through foul trouble, since it's not as if he's being saved for the end of the game.

Q: Ira do you think that there is anything Chalmers or other Heat players can learn from Richardson? I mean, he is not afraid to take big shots, and that's something that the other players do not seem to want to do. -- Jon.

A: Picking your spots is something that only comes with experience, which Quentin obviously has. Mario's confidence got a significant boost with Friday's performance, but I still would like to see him turning the corner hard off the pick-and-roll.

Q: Ira, I was watching Chris Duhon the other night. In my opinion, he is a better player than Chalmers and on the Heat he would complement Wade very well. On the other hand, at most he is considered an average point guard. To use a little logic, if Duhon is an average point guard and Duhon is better than Chalmers, what does that make Chalmers? -- Michael.

A: I'm not sure I would rate Duhon ahead of Chalmers, but, then again, what does it matter when both hardly are considered elite? I just don't like the fact that there is not a defensive component at the position for nights when Mario isn't scoring to offset the opposing point guard. Quentin Richardson had his moments defending Gilbert Arenas, but I doubt Quentin would be put in position against quicker point guards. Expect, when Daequan Cooks returns, to see plenty of Cook, Wade and Richardson at the same time.

Q: Hey Ira, Rudy Gay didn't reach an agreement with the Grizz before the deadline. Do you think if we get him it will end the Beasley experiment at small forward and put him where he belongs? -- Brent.

A: I doubt the Heat would move in that direction,. I'm still not sold on Gay being more than a tease who gets his numbers but doesn't necessarily make a team better. Yes, the Heat has a way of turning such players around, but I'm not sure you want to foist Gay and Beasley at the same time on a second-year coach.

Heat 96, Nuggets 88

Ira Winderman — 2009-11-06T22:01:12-05:00

Observations from Friday's 96-88 victory over the Nuggets at AmericanAirlines Arena:

Denver went right at the Heat with 6-8 Carmelo Anthony against 6-6(ish) Quentin Richardson. It was surprising the Heat wasn't as aggressive on the other end with Dwyane Wade against Anthony Carter.
Anthony (pictured at right) had four shots up before Wade was credited with his first attempt, and nine in the first period to two for Wade.
Wade, in fact, missed his first five shots, including three at the rim.
Three Heat players had more than Wade's seven points at halftime, and the Heat still led by 12 at the intermission.
That's a good thing, a sign of the type of balance that was lacking in Wednesday's victory in Washington, when 40 points were required from Wade. This time, 22 were more than enough.
This time Mario Chalmers stepped into his shot and provided a needed scoring boost. He was very good Friday. Assertive. Attacking.
Quentin Richardson continues to solidify his position in the lineup. His rebounding is particularly impressive for a player of his size.
This truly was a team effort, with the starters this time refusing to allow a lead to dissipate.
Chalmers also rebounded, which kept the Heat's competitive on the boards and limited the Nuggets' ability to run.
The Heat, in fact, matched the Nuggets in transition.
Udonis Haslem showed his versatility by defending Anthony while on the court alongside Michael Beasley. That left Beasley defending Malik Allen.
Dorell Wright had his moments after entering in the second quarter. He not only was active, but took the defensive challenge against Chauncey Billups when Denver went small.
Daequan Cook missed a fourth consecutive game with a strained right shoulder, but should be back for Tuesday's game against the visiting Wizards.
Rhianna, who was seated next to Wade's mother, Jolinda, Lil Wayne and Flo Rida were among those in the crowd.
The balconies were open for the first time since the opener against the Knicks, with a hearty crowd in attendance.

ASK IRA: What's the plan with Beasley?

Ira Winderman — 2009-11-06T11:04:00-05:00

Q: Can you explain Spoelstra's plan with Beasley? Wasn't this billed as the year to get a better look at what we drafted? Couldn't one make the argument that it's most important to see what we have in Beasley, even if it means putting a few wins at risk? -- Albert.

A: The plan is to win games, and to provide Dwyane with the players he feels most comfortable with on the court. In Oklahoma City, it's all about developing Kevin Durant. Here, it's all about satisfying Dwyane Wade. What has to happen first is Michael earning Dwyane's trust.

Q: All I can say is: Thank God we didn't pick up Allen Iverson! After reading his complaints about being a sixth man after coming off the bench his first two games back from injury, it makes me sick. He would've found something else to complain about in Miami, killing all chemistry. -- David.

A: Or he would have been the Heat's best point guard. In fact, if he would have settled for less money, he could have found himself in a better situation in South Florida. Would it have worked? That's debatable. But don't kid yourself, his skills would help.

Q: It seems the concerns with Jermaine O'Neal on back-to-backs are valid. Has there been any thought to giving the Big Cat 10 minutes or so to distribute the minutes and add another dimension to the second unit? -- Justin.

A: For now, Joel Anthony is the backup center, although Joel has not shown much lately. Jamaal Magloire's time is coming, in the form of next Thursday's arrival of Shaquille O'Neal.

Q: Is everyone around Wade afraid to shoot the ball? In the final five minutes of the game, the ball becomes a hot potato. As soon as any player touches the ball, they pass it back to Wade without even looking at the basket. It works now, but not in the playoffs. -- J.K.

A: Yes, there has been somewhat a return of give it to Dwyane and get the heck out of the way. In that regard, at least Quentin Richardson is not bashful. What's remarkable is how Dwyane still is able to get to the rim in those situations.

Q: Should the Heat target Amare Stoudemire rather than Chris Bosh? It seems Amare is a more athletic and stronger player than Bosh? -- Ralph.

A: But Bosh has less of an injury history and more of an upside. And Amare does not always rebound, something the Heat desperately needs.

Beasley apparently is no Super Cool Closer

Ira Winderman — 2009-11-05T13:18:56-05:00

This time I didn't even try to hide the reason for asking.

Instead, after Erik Spoelstra was done with the media pack following Wednesday's victory in Washington, I walked up and said, "You know, I'm going to get about 300 e-mails again."

Hyperbole? Sure. But there certainly was strong sentiment after Michael Beasley was held out of the Heat's offensively challenged finish of Tuesday night's 104-96 home loss to the Suns, when Spoelstra's team scored only 15 points in the fourth quarter.

And here was the Heat again, playing the most significant part of the fourth against the Wizards without Beasley.

The difference this time is the Heat won. And, yes, that's a huge difference.

But in Tuesday's loss, Beasley played 9 minutes, 10 seconds in the second half.

In Wednesday's victory, he played 9 minutes, 45 seconds in the second half.

That's your starting power forward. That's also your No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

"I struggled with it and I was thinking about it," Spoelstra said of getting Beasley back during the finish of Wednesday's 93-89 victory in Washington. "He's going to get his opportunity. We need him. We're going to need him to play an important role and tonight I just went a different direction with the guys that were in the game."

Granted, there certainly is more to the game than scoring. Beasley did not have a single rebound in his second-half minutes Wednesday, and had just one in the second half against the Suns.

Yet he was pulled for good with 5:47 to play against the Suns and 5:57 left against the Wizards.

But what about offense-defense substitutions, especially in a game like Wednesday's, when there were 21 free throws in the fourth quarter to provide ample stoppages?

"It depends on how long a guy's been sitting," Spoelstra said. "It depends on what he did when he was in the game. On occasion, I've certainly done it, maybe not as frequently as some other coaches. But, again, it just depends. I don't have a steadfast rule about not doing it. I would say defensively I've done it a lot."

ASK IRA: Why such a long leash with Chalmers?

Ira Winderman — 2009-11-05T09:17:47-05:00

Q: Why is Chalmers given a much longer leash then Beasley? Beasley has proven he can score, and his rebounding and defense are improving, but he is not in down the stretch when he could bring offense, but Chalmers is left in. -- Mash.

A: Because at Michael's true position, power forward, there is a veteran who has proven his value in crunch-time situations, in Udonis Haslem, who has made clutch shots and locked down opponents. At point guard, there isn't anyone like that, unless Wade moves over from shooting guard. The Mario Chalmers scholarship is into its second year, and your question is legitimate. Enough about what he did this summer, his scrappiness and all the rest of that rhetoric. It's game time that matters.

Q: I don't know if I'm the only one that is noticing, but as quick as Wade is, he seems a step slower and looks physically bigger than before. Do you think his increase in weight has become a disadvantage? -- Marc.

A: I do not believe Dwyane is anywhere near peak shape, even with Wednesday's 40-point effort in Washington. The thing is, he's so talented, he can get away with it. My sense is this is a conscious decision, to build into shape over the course of the season. While he did work this past summer with Tim Grover, it was nothing like his 2008 offseason conditioning.

Q: Hey Ira, Wade doesn't even look like he wants to push his team to a playoff run. He has been my favorite player since he entered the league, yet it's almost like he is saving himself for free agency. -- Jay.

A: No, Dwyane is constantly marketing himself, and he knows nothing sells more than winning. The final score matters to Dwyane, which is why you saw that final push against the Wizards. What also matters is having enough of a supporting cast to consistently wind up on the positive side of that final score without having to put up 40.

Q: Just read about the altercation between Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo. After watching the Heat, I honestly believe the one thing we really do need more than anything is an elite point guard. Any chance we could use the expiring contracts to entice the penny-pinching Hornets into trading Chris Paul? I bet D-Wade would re-sign the same day if that happened. -- David.

A: You don't trade expiring contracts for Chris Paul; you trade an All-Star and a lottery pick. Chris would have to grow a lot more displeased before New Orleans would even consider such a move. Based on his play Wednesday, he still is capable of producing victory in New Orleans.

Q: Ira, just like last year, it seems we can expect Spo' to lose us at least two to three games, such as Tuesday, with his ill-advised fourth-quarter lineups. Riley has to start holding him accountable. This is a team that cannot afford to give away games. -- Arthur.

A: Of course Pat holds Erik accountable, just as Erik holds his players accountable. Erik is a second-year coach, which means there will be second-year growing pains. I'm sure if you look back at Riley's career, or that of Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan or even Red Auerbach, you'll find they had their second-year moments, too. What I know is this: Erik is dedicated to making this work. Is he the man for the job moving forward? This season will go a long way toward that decision, as will the direction the Heat takes in 2010 free agency. Of course, when you win, like Wednesday, the lineup issue suddenly goes away.

Heat 93, Wizards 89

Ira Winderman — 2009-11-04T21:45:12-05:00

Observations from Wednesday's 93-89 victory over the Wizards at Verizon Center:

No, It is not a good sign at all that the Heat had to ride Dwyane Wade this long and this hard in the second half of the second night of a back-to-back.
Wasn't this season supposed to be about a depth of talent and a diversity of talent?
But that No. 3 sure is awfully good. Wade vs. Carmelo and Wade vs. LeBron should be particularly fascinating over the next eight days.
And, yet again, when another scoring option would have helped late, Michael Beasley was on the bench. How exactly does that grow your young talent?
Wade's post-up game was looking solid early. Either that, or Randy Foye was making it look solid.
The Heat opened 10 of 14 from the field, while Washington opened 3 of 16. The result was a 24-6 lead.
The lead went to 27-8, and then it almost all went away by the midpoint of the second quarter. Once again, the Heat's supposed depth proved illusory.
But with Quentin Richardson 5 of 5 in the opening two periods, the Heat was able to go into the intermission up 50-41. Richardson also continues to rebound at a significant rate for someone of his size. He was a necessary sidekick Wednesday.
Even with Wade scoring 31 points in the first three quarters, the Heat could do no better than a 66-66 tie going into the final period.
Without Daequan Cook, there is almost no creativity at the scoring positions when Wade (pictured at right) is out of the game, which is why he couldn't get out in the second half.
And, please, enough of this sudden infatuation with Dorell Wright.
If you didn’t know better, you'd think the Heat was trying to showcase Wright, at least in the first half.
Cook not only was out again, but it looks like his strained right shoulder will also have him out Friday night against the Nuggets.
Mario Chalmers went to the bench midway through the first quarter after he was kicked in the shin, leading to early minutes for Carlos Arroyo, who picked up three fouls in his 4:32 of trying to contain Gilbert Arenas. That forced Chalmers to return before the close of the opening period.
Chalmers was off with his scoring, but did move the ball well at times. Still, there has to be more than that late 3-pointer.
It got to the point where Heat coach Erik Spoelstra went with Richardson as the primary defender on Gilbert Arenas, who crossed him up silly on one third-quarter sequence. The switch at one point left Arroyo, at 6-2, defending 6-8 Mike Miller. It is becoming more and more difficult to hide Arroyo defensively.
This team is developing considerable concerns at point guard.
Jermaine O'Neal was sluggish on both ends. No, that's not the broken nose, but more likely having 14 seasons of wear on you and completing the first back-to-back of the season. It took him four taps to control his first rebound. As good as he looked in the first two games, he looked that off Wednesday.
Without O'Neal providing a post game, it often became all-or-nothing from the perimeter for the Heat. O'Neal did not score his first point until 2:01 remained in the first half. A botched late alley-oop by O'Neal was particularly frustrating.
To his credit, O'Neal did stand in to take a third-quarter charge from Caron Butler, risking the shot to his nose. And he did hit a key late shot, as well as record a key late blocked shot.

ASK IRA: Has Beasley picked up his pace?

Ira Winderman — 2009-11-04T10:07:59-05:00

Q: Have you noticed Beasley looks a lot quicker and less flat-footed than last year? Not only that, he is playing with a lot more emotion and fire. -- Miguel.

A: That was a goal of the staff over the summer, that even if he wasn't going to make a fulltime switch to small forward, added agility still would be of benefit. He continues to move closer to a true NBA body, even as he fills out. Power forward is becoming an increasingly athletic position in the league, so it certainly is a step in the right direction for Michael. In fact, it was disappointing not to see Beasley get the opportunity to finish Tuesday against the Suns.

Q: Hey Ira, do you think the Heat is focusing more on this upcoming summer than this season? -- Osman.

A: Only to the extent that with so many players as impending free agents, the players have to look out for their own futures. But, so far, the camaraderie in the locker room seemingly has allowed all to put their agendas aside. The real test will come when/if the record starts going south, with Tuesday's loss leading to a rather subdued locker room.

Q: Ira, not much of a question more a statement: Been a diehard since the start and have full faith in Riley's plan. Riley's never been one for a middle-of-the-pack team. He either wants to build a sure-fire championship team or tear it down and restart the process. -- Adam.

A: But it's nonetheless a gamble at this stage. Yes, Pat has a variety of plans and alternatives, but nothing is guaranteed, therefore the concern of so many. In this case, he will enter next summer without a single bird in hand. That's kind of scary.

Q: Everyone says that Riley is wasting Wade's prime years by not providing a supporting cast. But Miami sports fans are doing the same by not watching and supporting him. With or without championship hopes, wouldn't you agree that he provides the best entertainment in all of South Florida? -- Max.

A: To me, he's the most dynamic presence in the history of South Florida sports this side of Dan Marino (and, of course, Ted Ginn).

Q: How happy are you to be covering an exciting team again? -- Ezequiel.

A: As happy as I was to cover a losing team. Either you enjoy the game, or you don't. I enjoy it, win or lose, which is why I've been doing the same thing now for 22 years. Heck, sometimes I actually miss Malik Allen and Vladimir Stepania.

Suns 104, Heat 96

Ira Winderman — 2009-11-03T22:01:23-05:00

Observations from Tuesday's 104-96 loss to the Suns at AmericanAirlines Arena:

At the start of the second half, Steve Nash showed why he's Steve Nash, rallying the Suns back in the game with eight points within the first two minutes of the third quarter.
That's when Dwyane Wade (pictured below to right of Udonis Haslem) made his own statement by scoring the game's next five points. Game on. Neither Wade nor Nash was a factor in the first half. Nash, however, eventually came to torment Mario Chalmers.
But what the heck was Erik Spoelstra thinking about with that lineup at the start of the fourth quarter? Dorell Wright and James Jones and Joel Anthony at the same time?
The Heat had to adjust when Michael Beasley was called for his fourth foul with 8:13 to play in the third quarter. Still, there had to be a better way with the substitutions.
Udonis Haslem still had his moments, with his third consecutive double-digit rebounding effort, matching Vladimir Stepania's franchise mark for such consecutive performances off the bench.
Another night without Daequan Cook, who said he is "very worried" about his strained right shoulder. Cook also will miss Wednesday night in Washington.
With Cook out, Wright again was the first wing off the bench, ahead of Jones and Yakhouba Diawara. Wright responded by nailing a 3-pointer on his first attempt, his first 3-pointer since Feb. 12, 2008 against Denver. Wright was active, if not also a bit unsure at times.
Jones then made a surprise appearance at the top of the second quarter, as the Heat went small, with Haslem at center. It was Jones' first meaningful minutes of the season.
Carlos Arroyo went Carlos Arroyo at the end of the third quarter, single-handedly creating a 3-pointer for himself with nine-tenths of a second to play in the period. It was the 100th of Arroyo's career. The quarter ended with the Heat up 81-75.
As planned, the Heat went to Jermaine O'Neal early, and O'Neal hardly was bashful, despite playing for the first time since breaking his nose Sunday against the Bulls. As he vowed, O'Neal did not wear a mask.
The game was an example of the value of a post presence. O'Neal's impact was felt beyond the points he scored, in how he helped space the floor and controlled tempo. Pat Riley's infatuation for pivot play was rewarded on this night. So why not go to him more?
The Heat had Beasley opening defensively against outside-shooting Channing Frye, even though Frye technically is listed as the Suns' center. That left O'Neal against Amare Stoudemire.
Beasley was active in his minutes, if not a bit confused at times defensively against the helter-skelter Suns.
The Heat led 26-23 after the first quarter, a huge moral victory for the defense.
It was 52-44 at halftime, with Phoenix producing its two lowest-scoring quarters of the season.
Frye became the latest player to express pregame surprise about how much weight Quentin Richardson lost in the offseason. Richardson then went out and put together his best numbers of the season.
With his second defensive rebound, Wade moved into eighth place on the franchise's all-time list.
Leandro Barbosa (wrist) missed the game for the Suns.

ASK IRA: Can J.O. hold up to a back-to-back?

Ira Winderman — 2009-11-03T12:40:24-05:00

Q: Will this Tuesday-Wednesday back-to-back against Phoenix and Washington be a good early health barometer on O'Neal's knees? -- Justin.

A: Actually, I am curious how Erik handles it. Considering Phoenix plays small, without much bulk in the middle, I wouldn't be surprised if Jermaine is somewhat saved for Wednesday's game against Brendan Haywood and the Wizards.

Q: How bad is James Jones that Dorell gets playing time before him? This guy started in the Atlanta playoff series and made some plays. Is there anything behind closed doors going on? -- Walter.

A: Erik said Dorell was utilized Sunday against the Bulls in place of James because the situation called for ballhandling. James' lack of handle certainly is an issue. It's as if he's been pigeonholed into the role of shooting specialist.

Q: Do you think the Heat recognizes yet that Beasley will never be a star of the proportions you would expect from No. 2 pick? I believe it should. To me, it seems obvious that he as bad instincts. He seems to make the wrong decisions as to whether to pass or to shoot, drive or pull up, etc. He frequently gets himself in trouble on his drives and seems to do too many playground-type moves, instead of power moves at the rim. He's really sized for small forward, but just doesn't have fast enough feet to defend anyone over there. He doesn't have the height to play a power forward in the low block. -- Steven.

A: I think he's 20 and deserves time to mature mentally and physically. Remember, he's still on a rookie contract, and therefore is cost effective. I mean, Kwame Brown is still collecting a decent check in this league, so it's not as if this isn't a league of patience.

Q: I've read your columns stating that the Heat dislikes the Bulls and vice versa, and I've seen this myself. A true rivalry seems to be developing between these teams. However, the Bulls continue to try to woo Wade for 2010. I know Wade is a Chicago product, but how does this rivalry play into Wade's decision, should he decide to leave the Heat? How does this affect other free agents in similar circumstances? -- Myles.

A: It doesn't. When dollars enter the picture, emotions go out the window, which is why a Ben Wallace can go from the Pistons to the Bulls, or an Artest from the Rockets to the Lakers.

Q: Ira, just wanted you to know it's only been three games, but you're doing a great job. The extra work you put in over the summer appears to be paying off. We won't get too carried away since it is an 82-game season, but you're off to a good start. -- Michael.

A: Actually, it's all the time I spent in Tim Grover's sandwich shop in Chicago. Bulking up for the season was essential. The pastrami diet seems to have me flush with energy. I believe if you start with your cholesterol up, it can carry you through a season.