He been ran out of shit to say. Westbrook is his new whipping boy. Only reason you don't hear about it as much is because Russel aint as big as Lebron.
*}{}{*}{}{*Official 2012-2013 Miami Heat Thread*}{}{*}{}{*
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He been ran out of shit to say. Westbrook is his new whipping boy. Only reason you don't hear about it as much is because Russel aint as big as Lebron.
76ers-Heat Preview
The Miami Heat's winning streak continues to grow. While the team insists they're focused on the bigger picture, a home matchup with the struggling Philadelphia 76ers seems to pose little threat to the team's red-hot run.
Miami can win its 17th straight game, matching the 12th-longest streak in NBA history and the league's best this season, with a victory over the Sixers on Friday night.
The Heat (45-14) already defeated Philadelphia once during the streak, 114-90 on Feb. 23, and now look for their 13th consecutive win in this regular-season series.
Eleven of the Heat's 16 straight victories - one shy of the Clippers' run to close 2012 - have come by double digits. However, three of four this month have been by seven points or fewer.
They needed some late-game heroics from LeBron James in a 97-96 win over Orlando on Wednesday. James provided the game-winning layup with 3.2 seconds left to extend the franchise-record streak, though the team doesn't sound preoccupied with the number.
"It really doesn't affect us," said Dwyane Wade, averaging 27.7 points and shooting 61.9 percent over the last seven games. That stretch includes 33 points on 14-of-18 shooting against Philadelphia.
"In a sense, we want to win, and we want to win every game we play. The day it comes where our streak gets broken we move on to the next game. Obviously, it is great, when you look back at it one day and say, 'Oh, we won that many games in a row.' But right now, we are just playing."
Instead, Miami still has its focus set on winning a second straight championship. A win Friday is the next step on that road, as the Heat would become the first team to clinch a playoff spot - with 22 games to play.
"We don't even talk about it," James said of the streak, during which he's averaging 28.2 points and shooting 61.0 percent. "We don't really get caught up into the streak at all. What we are trying to do is bigger than a streak."
The Sixers (23-37) will try to avoid becoming the first team to fall prey to Miami twice during the streak, but their prospects don't appear favorable as they've dropped three in a row and 10 of 11. Philadelphia also has lost 11 straight road games after a 107-97 defeat at Atlanta on Wednesday and hasn't won away from home since New Year's Day.
Miami's only three home losses have been to teams with winning records, and the 76ers have been below .500 for quite some time.
Fatigue may still be an issue for coach Doug Collins' team, which already appeared worn out at times against the Hawks. Friday will be the Sixers' ninth game in 14 days.
"We tried to give it our all, especially at first," said Jrue Holiday, shooting 13 for 48 (27.1 percent) over the last three games. "Sometimes when fatigue kicks in, it's hard to concentrate ... I think we just need some rest."
Philadelphia allowed Miami to shoot 58.4 percent in the first meeting as James had 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for one of his three triple-doubles this season.
The Heat offense has cooled a bit, getting held under 100 points in four straight games to tie a season high, but the defense has been solid. They've held those four opponents to averages of 90.3 points and 25.3 percent 3-point shooting while forcing 16.8 turnovers per game.
The Miami Heat's winning streak continues to grow. While the team insists they're focused on the bigger picture, a home matchup with the struggling Philadelphia 76ers seems to pose little threat to the team's red-hot run.
Miami can win its 17th straight game, matching the 12th-longest streak in NBA history and the league's best this season, with a victory over the Sixers on Friday night.
The Heat (45-14) already defeated Philadelphia once during the streak, 114-90 on Feb. 23, and now look for their 13th consecutive win in this regular-season series.
Eleven of the Heat's 16 straight victories - one shy of the Clippers' run to close 2012 - have come by double digits. However, three of four this month have been by seven points or fewer.
They needed some late-game heroics from LeBron James in a 97-96 win over Orlando on Wednesday. James provided the game-winning layup with 3.2 seconds left to extend the franchise-record streak, though the team doesn't sound preoccupied with the number.
"It really doesn't affect us," said Dwyane Wade, averaging 27.7 points and shooting 61.9 percent over the last seven games. That stretch includes 33 points on 14-of-18 shooting against Philadelphia.
"In a sense, we want to win, and we want to win every game we play. The day it comes where our streak gets broken we move on to the next game. Obviously, it is great, when you look back at it one day and say, 'Oh, we won that many games in a row.' But right now, we are just playing."
Instead, Miami still has its focus set on winning a second straight championship. A win Friday is the next step on that road, as the Heat would become the first team to clinch a playoff spot - with 22 games to play.
"We don't even talk about it," James said of the streak, during which he's averaging 28.2 points and shooting 61.0 percent. "We don't really get caught up into the streak at all. What we are trying to do is bigger than a streak."
The Sixers (23-37) will try to avoid becoming the first team to fall prey to Miami twice during the streak, but their prospects don't appear favorable as they've dropped three in a row and 10 of 11. Philadelphia also has lost 11 straight road games after a 107-97 defeat at Atlanta on Wednesday and hasn't won away from home since New Year's Day.
Miami's only three home losses have been to teams with winning records, and the 76ers have been below .500 for quite some time.
Fatigue may still be an issue for coach Doug Collins' team, which already appeared worn out at times against the Hawks. Friday will be the Sixers' ninth game in 14 days.
"We tried to give it our all, especially at first," said Jrue Holiday, shooting 13 for 48 (27.1 percent) over the last three games. "Sometimes when fatigue kicks in, it's hard to concentrate ... I think we just need some rest."
Philadelphia allowed Miami to shoot 58.4 percent in the first meeting as James had 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for one of his three triple-doubles this season.
The Heat offense has cooled a bit, getting held under 100 points in four straight games to tie a season high, but the defense has been solid. They've held those four opponents to averages of 90.3 points and 25.3 percent 3-point shooting while forcing 16.8 turnovers per game.
Considering what they've already done to 1) the Bulls 2) the Clips, 3) the Grizzlies and just recently 4) NY, I have no doubt they can pull off the 5th revenge matchup on Sunday
Considering what they've already done to 1) the Bulls 2) the Clips, 3) the Grizzlies and just recently 4) NY, I have no doubt they can pull off the 5th revenge matchup on Sunday
Best record in the league now too
the Indiana game is one where they need to play the Birdman
Correct, Haslem and Shane haven't been able to slow him down.
Bosh height should factor in some difficult looks.
Showdown in the East
Pacers vs Heat
There's only one opponent the Miami Heat haven't beaten this season, and it's also the last one to defeat them - well over a month ago.
As impressive as it may be for the Heat to extend their winning streak to 18 by toppling that team, the Indiana Pacers completing a regular-season sweep of this series Sunday night in South Beach would be quite a major statement as well.
LeBron James, though, doesn't think his team could make one.
"We don't need to make no statement, against no team," said James, who added that Indiana is "not a rival at this point."
His opinion may start to change if the Heat (46-14) lose Sunday or if they see Indiana (39-23) again in the playoffs. This is the Pacers' first trip to Miami since a 113-85 defeat - easily the most lopsided of the teams' past 10 meetings - in Game 5 of last year's Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Indiana was ousted in the next game after leading the series 2-1 but has come back this season to win both meetings by double digits, though both were in Indianapolis.
"They are playing so well. And we being the last team that beat them, we know everybody's going to be up for that game," Pacers All-Star Paul George said. "It should be a fun game to watch. We know they are going to be ready because we are up 2-0 on them."
The only other team to knock off the Heat more than once is New York, but Miami beat the Knicks last Sunday as part of a franchise-record win streak that dates to a 102-89 loss at Indiana on Feb. 1.
The Heat now look to tie the sixth-longest streak in league history. They have matched the Clippers' 17-game run from earlier this season, but no team has had a better one since Boston's streak of 19 in 2008.
"Every team that has beaten us, especially since the break, we've tried to redeem ourselves and play a lot better," said Dwyane Wade, averaging 27.0 points and 61.3 percent shooting in the last eight games.
Wade has averaged 29.2 points in the last five matchups with Indiana - including the three wins to close the playoff series last year - and James is at 29.6 in that span. However, their teammates have not stepped up offensively in this season's two meetings while Indiana dominated inside, especially in an 87-77 win Jan. 8.
"Now it's our turn, being at home, to come out and take care of business," Wade said.
Indiana has an 89-61 rebounding edge in the season series while limiting Miami to 41.0 percent from the field. The Heat lead the league at 49.5 percent and are 32-2 this season when hitting at least 48.0.
The Pacers are holding teams to an NBA-low 41.1 percent, and none of their last 11 opponents have reached 100 points. Two of the seven times Miami didn't hit that total this season were against Indiana.
"We got to lock in on defense and really try to play big," George said.
No Pacer plays bigger than 7-foot-2 Roy Hibbert, who says the Pacers "relish this type of atmosphere." Hibbert, who has 21 blocks in his last five games, has keyed Indiana controlling the season series as he's helped limit Chris Bosh to 13.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Hibbert has 20 boards in the two matchups while David West grabbed 18 and George 17. George had 29 points in the first meeting, and West scored 30 in the second.
"They play inside-out with Hibbert and David West. And even Paul George ... his attack mentality helps them," James said. "If they could they would like to keep our game in the 80s, which they've been able to. So we gotta try to push the tempo a little bit."
Ray Allen went scoreless in both meetings, something that's happened in only one other game during his 17 seasons. Shane Battier has averaged 5.5 points and shot 4 of 12, and Mario Chalmers has scored 5.0 per game on 3-of-11 shooting.
Indiana's only two losses in its last nine games were to the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 28 and to the Celtics - maybe the league's hottest team other than Miami - on a last-second basket Wednesday. However, both defeats were at home.
The Pacers are 4-0 on the road since the start of February, winning by an average of 19.5 points.
"I'm excited about going down there," Indiana's Tyler Hansbrough said. "It'll be a fun game. They're rolling."
Heat playin some defense today
Not hard to dominate in a league full of bums...but the Pacers are a good team. I think they'll give the Half Champion Heat a run for their money today.
BULLS!!!!!!!!
BULLS!!!!!!!!
#Heatnasty bitches 
Its the KING and Wade Show!
You gotta ignore that cat. Its just Chitown being Chitown
. He give all the Bull's fans a bad reputation.
Bosh shooting threes 
Thought it would be more talk in here. Let's go!
That has to be a career high steals for Wade.
Gotta be
Gotta be
And you a faggit
18 straight u bitch
Oh yeah bulls lost to the fuckin lakers. Get ur bitch ass up out this thread
you havent had to make a sorry as miami heat thread in a while
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
you havent had to make a sorry as miami heat thread in a while
that is a good thing
18 straight wins ties the most Jordan ever led his team to. 1 mo win and the Heat will match Shaq's 2000 Lakers for their longest. Sheer dominance right now.
But bron only scored 13 tho
MV fuckin P
One thing about it, when Mario is going they have to feed him, tonight was another example of that...
Hawks visiting South Beach...
MIAMI (AP) - LeBron James once carried a team to 66 wins. Ray Allen played for a club that won 19 consecutive games. Dwyane Wade led a team that finished with the Eastern Conference's best record.
For each, it's a footnote in a season where no championship was won.
There's no arguing that the Miami Heat are playing better than any other team in the NBA right now. They've won 18 straight games, are sitting atop the league standings and have a very real chance of wrapping up the No. 1 seed in the East playoffs by the end of the month. While all that sounds good, it's not changing the singular priority of this Heat season.
Championship-or-bust was the thinking Miami carried into this year, and not even the seventh-longest winning streak in NBA history has changed that.
"It's not our goal," James said. "Our goal isn't to win games consecutive. Our goal is to win a championship. Right now, our goal is to get better each and every game, to continue to improve. That was never one of our goals coming into the season, see how many games we'd win in a row. Our goal is to win a championship and not take any shortcuts in that process."
Miami (47-14) will try for its 19th straight win Tuesday night, when the Heat play host to the Atlanta Hawks - a team that's 0-3 against the reigning NBA champions this season. After that, a trip to Philadelphia awaits on Wednesday, to face a 76ers team that has lost 13 straight regular-season meetings with Miami.
Win on Tuesday, and the Heat would match the fifth-longest winning streak in NBA history.
Win Tuesday and Wednesday, and then it becomes truly rarefied air, because Miami would be just the fourth team to ever win 20 straight in the same season.
"You don't want to take a team like this for granted," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We've talked about this with our group for the last few days. It's a special group. It's a special opportunity. Nothing is guaranteed. We're going after something that's an unknowable future. But we have an opportunity, a legitimate opportunity, so we have to make the most of every day we have together."
The streak's latest addition came Sunday night, when even on a rare subpar scoring night from James, the Heat rolled past Indiana 105-91 in a game where Miami took control with a huge start to the third quarter and was never seriously threatened again.
Sunday's win was significant for many reasons, namely that the Pacers are the closest thing the Heat have to a nemesis these days in the East, that they were 2-0 against Miami this season and that they were the last team to beat the defending champions way back on Feb. 1.
In the five-plus weeks since, all the Heat have done is take what was a close race in the East and make it a total runaway, assume the top spot in the NBA standings and become the first team to clinch a playoff spot - not that getting one was ever, ever in doubt.
"Right now, honestly, it doesn't really feel like we are on this kind of win streak," Wade said. "We are just coming in and we're just taking care of business. We come in every day when coach calls us in, and we do our work and we come back and we just play. We're not in the locker room saying, 'Aw, we're on this win streak and it's amazing.' To us, we're just playing basketball."
They've won six straight against the Hawks (34-28), who have lost five of six to begin March - including four in a row on the road - to fall into a tie for sixth in the East.
Atlanta is dangerously close to the No. 8 spot, which would almost certainly mean a first-round matchup with the Heat. The Hawks were quickly aware of their next challenge following Saturday's 93-80 home loss to Brooklyn.
"We have a tough task ahead of us," Al Horford said. "We have to regroup and go to Miami."
The Hawks' best hope may be a huge performance from Horford, who has posted four straight double-doubles and is averaging 22.9 points on 62.3 percent shooting in his last 13 games.
The big man has managed 19.0 points per contest while shooting 65.8 percent against the Heat this season, but teammate Josh Smith is hitting just 36.0 percent from the field while the Hawks have averaged 90.3 points.
MIAMI (AP) - LeBron James once carried a team to 66 wins. Ray Allen played for a club that won 19 consecutive games. Dwyane Wade led a team that finished with the Eastern Conference's best record.
For each, it's a footnote in a season where no championship was won.
There's no arguing that the Miami Heat are playing better than any other team in the NBA right now. They've won 18 straight games, are sitting atop the league standings and have a very real chance of wrapping up the No. 1 seed in the East playoffs by the end of the month. While all that sounds good, it's not changing the singular priority of this Heat season.
Championship-or-bust was the thinking Miami carried into this year, and not even the seventh-longest winning streak in NBA history has changed that.
"It's not our goal," James said. "Our goal isn't to win games consecutive. Our goal is to win a championship. Right now, our goal is to get better each and every game, to continue to improve. That was never one of our goals coming into the season, see how many games we'd win in a row. Our goal is to win a championship and not take any shortcuts in that process."
Miami (47-14) will try for its 19th straight win Tuesday night, when the Heat play host to the Atlanta Hawks - a team that's 0-3 against the reigning NBA champions this season. After that, a trip to Philadelphia awaits on Wednesday, to face a 76ers team that has lost 13 straight regular-season meetings with Miami.
Win on Tuesday, and the Heat would match the fifth-longest winning streak in NBA history.
Win Tuesday and Wednesday, and then it becomes truly rarefied air, because Miami would be just the fourth team to ever win 20 straight in the same season.
"You don't want to take a team like this for granted," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We've talked about this with our group for the last few days. It's a special group. It's a special opportunity. Nothing is guaranteed. We're going after something that's an unknowable future. But we have an opportunity, a legitimate opportunity, so we have to make the most of every day we have together."
The streak's latest addition came Sunday night, when even on a rare subpar scoring night from James, the Heat rolled past Indiana 105-91 in a game where Miami took control with a huge start to the third quarter and was never seriously threatened again.
Sunday's win was significant for many reasons, namely that the Pacers are the closest thing the Heat have to a nemesis these days in the East, that they were 2-0 against Miami this season and that they were the last team to beat the defending champions way back on Feb. 1.
In the five-plus weeks since, all the Heat have done is take what was a close race in the East and make it a total runaway, assume the top spot in the NBA standings and become the first team to clinch a playoff spot - not that getting one was ever, ever in doubt.
"Right now, honestly, it doesn't really feel like we are on this kind of win streak," Wade said. "We are just coming in and we're just taking care of business. We come in every day when coach calls us in, and we do our work and we come back and we just play. We're not in the locker room saying, 'Aw, we're on this win streak and it's amazing.' To us, we're just playing basketball."
They've won six straight against the Hawks (34-28), who have lost five of six to begin March - including four in a row on the road - to fall into a tie for sixth in the East.
Atlanta is dangerously close to the No. 8 spot, which would almost certainly mean a first-round matchup with the Heat. The Hawks were quickly aware of their next challenge following Saturday's 93-80 home loss to Brooklyn.
"We have a tough task ahead of us," Al Horford said. "We have to regroup and go to Miami."
The Hawks' best hope may be a huge performance from Horford, who has posted four straight double-doubles and is averaging 22.9 points on 62.3 percent shooting in his last 13 games.
The big man has managed 19.0 points per contest while shooting 65.8 percent against the Heat this season, but teammate Josh Smith is hitting just 36.0 percent from the field while the Hawks have averaged 90.3 points.
Are they ever gonna fall off??? .... NO!!!
When was the last time ya'll seen Joel Anthony make this many attempts at the basket
This dude is like Birdman who
This dude is like Birdman who
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