MIAMI HEAT
Recap Rewind: The Heat, still playing without center Shaquille O’Neal, managed a 1-3 record this week. On Monday, the Heat fell 124-118 to the Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch of the Christmas Day rivalry. Dwayne Wade scored 33 points, but the Heat were done in by 25 points each from Brian Cook and Kobe Bryant.
On Thursday night, in the first game of a TNT doubleheader, the Heat survived the Indiana Pacers 104-101 at home. The Heat blew a sixteen point lead with eight minutes remaining before Wade saved the day with a layup with 4.3 remaining. Pacers forward Danny Granger missed a three-pointer at the buzzer, and the Heat survived.
Friday night proved to be the low point of the Heat’s season, as they fell 98-95 in overtime to the Philadelphia 76ers, the worst team in the NBA. The Heat erased a seventeen point deficit and nearly won after Sixers guard Andre Miller fouled Wade on a three-pointer in the closing seconds, but Wade hit only 2 of 3 free throws, tying the game instead of winning it. The Sixers proceeded to win the overtime period and the game.
On Sunday, the Mavericks, paced by 23 points off the bench from Jerry Stackhouse, defeated the Heat 99-93, extracting some revenge from last year’s finals. The Mavericks won thanks mainly to a 48-35 advantage on the glass.
Notable News: The long anticipated return of Shaquille O’Neal from injury was put on hold once again this week. O’Neal remains day-to-day after undergoing knee surgery on November 19, but could return as early as Monday against the Knicks.
According to the Palm Beach Post, the Heat have placed a call lobbying for the inclusion of Jason Kapono in the three-point shootout contest during the all-star weekend. Fellow shooting sensation Kyle Korver of the 76ers believes Kapono should be in the contest.
According to Peter Vescey of the New York Post, the Heat are very much the frontrunners for acquiring Clippers forward Corey Maggette, although it is not certain the Clippers will deal the disgruntled forward. The Heat’s offer of James Posey and Jason Kapono remains the most “attractive” offer out there.
Fast Forward: The Heat have four games this week, starting Monday when they face the New York Knicks at home. They then close with three consecutive road games against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, the Knicks on Friday, and the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.
ORLANDO MAGIC
Recap Rewind: The wheels are starting to fall off for this young team, as they lost all three games this week and have lost five in a row. On Tuesday, they fell to a depleted New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets squad, shooting only 35 percent in an 84-78 loss. That’s not going to cut it, even if you hold your opponent to 38 percent shooting.
It got worse on Friday, as the division rival Washington Wizards broke open the game in the second half and embarrassed the Magic 114-93 on Orlando’s home court. Orlando shot 47 percent for the game, but were pounded 50-38 on the glass and allowed Washington’s Antawn Jamison to score 31 points and grab 16 rebounds.
It got worse on Saturday, as the New Jersey Nets held Magic star center Dwight Howard to only a single point in a 101-94 victory. Hedo Turkoglu tried to pick up the slack for Orlando with 24 points and 8 rebounds, but the Nets’ Eddie House provided a spark, scoring 15 of his 17 points in the final period.
Notable News: Since promising forward Trevor Ariza went down with a sprained MCL, the Magic have lost all five of their games.
After starting the season with such promise, point guard Carlos Arroyo is official in coach Brian Hill’s doghouse after not playing a single minute in the 114-93 loss to Washington on Friday. Travis Diener replaced Arroyo as the backup point guard for that loss. As of now, the move is temporary, but Hill has given no indication that he will change his mind in the future.
Fast Forward: The Magic have two tough games to start the week, on the road against the Cleveland Cavalilers on Monday and then the Dallas Mavericks the next night on Tuesday. On Friday, they have a more than winnable game against the Hawks.