The Miami Heat destroyed the Phoenix Suns last night 123 – 96 and it really wasn’t as close as the score indicates. Chris Bosh absolutely dominated on the offensive end, tallying 35 points on 12-17 shooting in just three quarters of work against the Sun’s big men and LeBron James played just twenty-three minutes yet posted 20 points, eight boards, and nine dimes.
[Check out the box-score here](/The Miami Heat destroyed the Phoenix Suns last night 123 – 96 and it really wasn’t as close as the score indicates. Chris Bosh absolutely dominated on the offensive end, tallying 35 points on 12-17 shooting in just three quarters of work against the Sun’s big men and Lebrun James played just twenty-three minutes yet posted 20 points, eight boards, and nine dimes. A few observations while watching this game: Against teams without a solid pick-and-roll defending big man the Heat are very dangerous. Channing Frye and Hakeem Warrick were exposed all night by Bush’s ability to roll and effectively drain the mid-range jumper. Why did the Celtic’s have so much success against this Heat? Because Kevin Garnett is the best in the game at defending the pick-and-pop play, regardless of who’s running it. Miami did a much better job of closing out on shooters in this on, although Phoenix missed their fair share of open looks from downtown. When Bosh doesn’t have to worry about an opposing big man dominating him on the block he defends his position much better – Channing Frye is the perfect kind of player for Bosh to cover. Phoenix simply doesn’t create enough turnovers to offset a disastrous shooting night and that’s exactly what transpired here. Just eleven turnovers were committed by the Heat last night and when Lebron moved to the point they had no answer for his ball handing and passing ability. Miami really did damage in transition off of long rebounds in this one due to the Suns shooting just 5-19 from beyond the arc. Phoenix lives and dies by their long-range bombing and tonight they just fell by the wayside. Goran Dragic is the future at point for Phoenix – when you watch him you realize that, while not nearly the shooter and intelligent passer Nash is the Suns are developing him in Steve’s image. Dragic still forces passes into coverage too much, resulting in needless turnovers, but he’ll learn eventually. He has a bright future with this team. Dwayne Wade was a defense machine out there, causing Phoenix problems all over the perimeter with active hands and a discipline approach on rotations. He didn’t score that much but delivered stellar defense against Jason Richardson who had been on fire recently, causing him to shoot 0-5 from three. I continue to be impressed by Udonis Haslem’s basketball IQ – the man makes sound defensive rotations, covers the pick-and-roll very well, and boxes out for rebounds like a madman. While not the offensive force that Bosh can be his defense is the excellent and his mid-range jumper effective. Total team player, this guy. Finally, Hedo Turkoglu looks lost out there for the Suns. Yes, he was a bust in Toronto but I thought moving to Phoenix would at least play to his strength’s as a shooter. He stands around so much on offense when he isn’t handling the ball that he hurts this team’s spacing. Set some hard screens, buddy! I am not a Miami Heat fan but boy, when they play teams with weak interior defenders they will swallow them up and spit them out in a thousand pieces. They did a great job adjusting to Steve Nash’s penetrating-and-dishing in this one after being picked apart by other elite guards. Mr. Alvin Gentry and company, please go out and land yourself a big man who can defend please. If you want to have a shot at the postseason you MUST make a trade before the deadline. Don’t waste Nash’s final years this way, I beg of you! Until next time….).
A few observations while watching this game:
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Against teams without a solid pick-and-roll defending big man the Heat are very dangerous. Channing Frye and Hakeem Warrick were exposed all night by Bush’s ability to roll and effectively drain the mid-range jumper. Why did the Celtic’s have so much success against this Heat? Because Kevin Garnett is the best in the game at defending the pick-and-pop play, regardless of who’s running it.
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Speaking of LeBron, they should just bite the bullet and play him at point guard, which he essentially is anyway on this team. His ability to defend all types of guards and passing acumen are just too great for them to stick him in the SF slot. He continually punished the Suns with his playmaking, including a two-man clinic with Bosh in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Why not start James Jones until Mike Miller arrives?
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Miami did a much better job of closing out on shooters in this one, although Phoenix missed their fair share of open looks from downtown. When Bosh doesn’t have to worry about an opposing big man dominating him on the block he defends his position much better – Channing Frye is the perfect kind of player for Bosh to cover.
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Phoenix simply doesn’t create enough turnovers to offset a disastrous shooting night and that’s exactly what transpired here. Just eleven turnovers were committed by the Heat last night and when Lebron moved to the point they had no answer for his ball handing and passing ability.
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Miami really did damage in transition off of long rebounds in this one due to the Suns shooting just 5-19 from beyond the arc. Phoenix lives and dies by their long-range bombing and tonight they just fell by the wayside. Offensive rebounds are scarce for them as well considering their bigs are not exactly elite rebounders - they were abused on the glass by Haslem and Bosh last night.
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Goran Dragic is the future at point for Phoenix – when you watch him you realize that, while not nearly the shooter and intelligent passer Nash is, the Suns are developing him in Steve’s image. Dragic still forces passes into coverage too much, resulting in needless turnovers, but he’ll learn eventually. He has a bright future with this team.
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Dwayne Wade was a defense machine out there, causing Phoenix problems all over the perimeter with active hands and a discipline approach on rotations. He didn’t score that much but delivered stellar defense against Jason Richardson who had been on fire recently, causing him to shoot 0-5 from three.
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Steve Nash recorded just two assists last night, the first time he has been held to that low of a total since December 29, 2008 against the Thunder. He only played nine minutes in that game though. The last time he had two or less assists while playing at least fifteen minutes was WAY back in 2002 against the Spurs.
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I continue to be impressed by Udonis Haslem’s basketball IQ – the man makes sound defensive rotations, covers the pick-and-roll very well, and boxes out for rebounds like a madman. While not the offensive force that Bosh can be his defense is the excellent and his mid-range jumper effective. Total team player, this guy.
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Finally, Hedo Turkoglu looks lost out there for the Suns. Yes, he was a bust in Toronto but I thought moving to Phoenix would at least play to his strength’s as a shooter. He stands around so much on offense when he isn’t handling the ball that he hurts this team’s spacing. Set some hard screens, buddy!
I am not a Miami Heat fan but boy, when they play teams with weak interior defenders they will swallow them up and spit them out in a thousand pieces. They did a great job adjusting to Steve Nash’s penetrating-and-dishing in this one after being picked apart by other elite guards.
Mr. Alvin Gentry and company, please go out and land yourself a big man who can defend please. If you want to have a shot at the postseason you MUST make a trade before the deadline. Don’t waste Nash’s final years this way, I beg of you!
Wasn’t quite the close game I was expecting but hey, that’s why we watch.
Oh, and a couple of years from now I’m thinking the Heat might regret letting Michael Beasley go free - this guy is just playing fantastic and hit the game-winning jumper last night. Unfortunately for Bosh, every single time he struggles and Beasley thrives fans will be skeptical and enraged.This debate will go on for years, I’m sure.
Until next time….