Heat hangs on despite O'Neal drought

It's a lot easier to win when the opposition is playing to lose. In what ended as a win-win proposition Friday night, the Heat escaped with an 88-85 victory over the Celtics, despite going more than seven ...

[Frank]

Championship teams can maintain pressure and score baskets to secure a win in the final minutes.
The Heat better take heed.

[JMJ]

was a trap game on a back-to-back.....chill out frank

[Dave Wannstedt]

JMJ wrote:

was a trap game on a back-to-back.....chill out frank

I called Riley before the game to see if he wanted to borrow any of my traps. I have a HUGE collection of em.

[Lets Go Heat]

The last 4 games have seen the Heat blow nice leads, especially the huge one against the Pistons which we ultimately lost. Something concerted and very deliberate needs to be done in order to preclude this recurrence in the playoffs. As the saying goes, offense is the best form of defense, so when you are on top, just keep on banging 'em even harder and increase the lead even more.

[hamza]

we cannot play like this in playoff time we cannot give up a damn lead and not score for 7 minutes comin heat

LETS GO HEAT!

[Never was a Jones fan]

Eddie Jones was the bargin of the year! He stil plays superb defense and he has slot right back into this team, henve his minutes and scoring.

[Never was a Jones fan]

Eddie Jones was the bargin of the year! He stil plays superb defense and he has slot right back into this team, hense his minutes and scoring.

[ms-wade]

damn str-8 yo thats the truth thats wat b hurting us we to take the lead nd dont look back cuz wen we look bac thats hurting us

[Wonder why]

They should get a good quaterback from the draft this year, not free agency.

Trade up for Oden

[frustrated heat fan]

I DON'T MIND THE 3 POINT SHOTS BUT CAN ANY ONE STAY IN TO TRY TO REBOUND A MISSED SHOT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND RILEY LETTING THEM GET AWAY WITH THAT!!!

[Miami Guy]

Problem - can't close out games.
Solution - Dwayne Wade

This team was built around Shaq and Wade, w/o one or the other, this team will always be 75% of itself.

[hotnuke]

Another win by Miami, luckily, and NO THANKS to Riles. I've said it over and over, Riles is one of the WORST in-game coaches in the history of the game, and coupled with that the majority of people consider him one of the five or six greatest coaches ever, he is, in my view, the MOST OVERRATED COACH IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS HISTORY.

Watching the heat hoist shot after shot down the stretch with 15, 16, 18, even 20 seconds left on the shot clock as the BUMS called Boston actually made this a game we had to sweat, makes me want to ring Riley's neck. The man is pathetic. I can't WAIT till he retires.

[Dillon]

What are you talking about? The heat were trying to go through O'neal down the stretch, and they did not shoot the ball until the shot clock was close to expiring. They just did not execute well in the 4th quarter in the last few games. You called the man who just won the championship last year "one of the worst in-game coaches" considering they were the underdog going in, not to mention they won 4 in a row to get it? Give me a break, and please give the man more credit than that.

[TaxThe PRO PLAYERS]

Celtics without question lost on purpose! Should be investigated

[ccheat]

So - the Heat want either washington or nj at home in the first round.

Will the heat securing the 3rd seed give them one of these 2 opponents or are things so crazy that noone really knows for sure?If the seeding is so important, how are the Heat playing in the 4th quarter like they are waiting for Wade to return and knowing they are already in the playoffs?

If we had the first seed - who would be the opponent?Orlando!?If that is the case - is that a good deal for the Heat?

Sorry folks - but I just cant get into the 'we have to win for seeding' articles. The east is all so evenly matched for it to really matter. Thats all we need is to get the highly coveted 3rd seed and then have to face Cleveland!

The real story is will Wade come back 100% and who cares if he comes back causes the team to lose some regular season games in the process and the vital 'home court'. Getting him back 100% in the flow is priority number 1. Im a little puzzled at the stories mentioning that the heat need to bring Wade along to fit into the team again. He doesnt need to fit into anything as the team will center around him. Its great to be winning all these games - but look at the 4th quarters. It's a mess. That is Wade's time.

Regarding the Boston game. It was a trap game. THe heat didnt want to be in the building. Boston didnt want to be there either. What transpired in that game really shouldnt be analyzed. It was - just give us the win and get outta here

[The Exterminator]

I hope Shaq watches the films on his plays in the fourth quarter. His trying to make baskets from a little way from the basket was ridiculous. He looked like a guy who never made a basket. What a site.

[alex]

wade won't be 100% any time soon...
opponent will not let him have his game....period.

[Hyperdude]

Old Farts ran out gas again!!! This squeeking by terrible teams shouldn't make anybody's toes tingle.
Nothings changed, they're winning,so what?
The emerging team is the Bulls,the Pistons are still good,but not great. Whoever wins the east,will get slaughtered by the West. Missed baskets,sloppy passes & missed shots usually happens when focus drops & fatigue sets in. They're on life support and will be put out there misery during the playoffs.
Teams who make them run,will win easily in the fourth quarter.