| Game 3: ‘Wadeing’ For The Rest Of The Team Authored by Mike Leffman - May 26, 2005 - 11:36 pm
Dwyane Wade is going to single-handedly defeat the Detroit Pistons and send the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals.
That is, until Shaquille O’Neal gets healthy and starts putting up 30 points a game and bringing down 15-plus rebounds a game. It does not seem likely he’ll be in the condition to do that, but the series is on hiatus with a three-day break until Sunday’s Game 3. The previous 11-day break for the Heat didn’t help much in Game 1.
Before Game 1, the Pistons were spouting off about how O’Neal was faking and he’ll be ready. O’Neal’s either taking this too far, or he’s truly injured. What does this say about Detroit and their mental chemical-balance?
We already know they’re head-cases and Miami did win the “battle of wits” before the series even started. Not a good position for the Pistons to be in when a seven-game series seems likely.
At least Detroit will be home for the next two games where they’re 32-9, but the Heat were 1-1 at the Palace at Auburn Hills.
During a Dec. 31 game at Detroit, O’Neal – suffering from a sore back and ribs – only managed to score 21 points, but Wade carried the team by getting his first NBA triple-double (31 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists).
A complete fourth-quarter meltdown by Detroit helped the Heat too.
Fourth-quarter scoring: Miami 22, Detroit 9. Apparently, the Pistons were more interested in getting up early to watch the Outback Bowl. Or in too much of a hurry to start drinking champagne.
So who has been holding the Heat back in both games?
Udonis Haslem, the Miami-born, Florida-Gator has done absolutely nothing to help his team out, well, besides combining for 13 rebounds in both games, however he shot three-of-11 field goals in 64 minutes, for a grand total of six points in both games. Not enough.
Teams that aren’t deep need consistency from their starters.
Damon Jones struggled in Game 1 (five points), but came back in Game 2 (14 points) to show he will contribute to the series. Then again, Eddie Jones struggled in Game 2 (six points) and was one of the only bright spots for the Heat in Game 1 (22 points).
A lot of the Heat’s inconsistencies could be attributed to the long layoff between series. It’s nice to get the rest, then again, momentum is something the Heat struggled with in April.
No one likes to sit around for a week and a half, watching which two teams they might be playing in the next round.
The series is shaping up to be a defensive-oriented matchup with both teams scoring in streaks. Some quarters they both total only 30 points, then others they combine for 54 points.
These are the two best teams in the Eastern Conference. No one team will get the upper-edge and dominate for more than a few minutes at a time. What this series will come down to is depth.
Who will step up on the benches? We’re not talking about scoring 20-plus points, more like four or six big points in the clutch. That’s what matters.
Everyone knows when it comes down to the last two minutes, the Heat will look to Wade. The Pistons know this.
A quick dish inside to Mourning, or maybe out to Dooling for a 20-foot swish, could mean the difference between a one-point Game 3 win or a one-point Game 3 loss. |
