<font size="14"><font color="red">Miami Heat 2004-05 Season The Arrival of the Diesel</font></font> Thats right only 6 players reamin from last years squad. A completly new roster almost. The Newcomes are Shaquille O'Neal, Damon Jones, Keyon Dooling, Christian Laetner, Shandon Anderson, Steve Smith, and even Miamis own legend Alonzo Mourning. Many people doubted the Heat. They all thought they would fail soon and many awaited that day. The Heat started out slow and that just made the haters talk more [expletive]. However then the Heat placed Damon Jones in the line-up. They went from a line-up of Dwyane Wade, Eddie Jones, Rasual Butler, Udonis Haslem, and Shaq to Damon Jones, Dwyane Wade, Eddie Jones, Udonis Haslem, and Shaq. THey moved Wade to his natural position of SG and Eddie Joens to SF while placing Damon Joens at PG. With this new starting line-up things were about to change. With Damon Jones in the startling line-up the Heat went 14-1 in the month of December. Some of these victories included a win over Kobe Bryants Los Angeles Lakers and the Detroit Pistons. The Detroit Pistons game the Heat triumphed 89-78 and Wade recorded his 1st triple double even before King James himself. 31/10/10 were Wades stats. Wade won Player of the Month for December and Coach Stan Van Dundy won Coach of the Month.(Both for East). During this month the club had a 14 game winning streak. In February the All Star Game takes place. Shaquille O'Neal marks his 12th appearence at the all star game and Dwyane Wade marks his 1st all-star game. Stan Van Gundy coaches the East squad to victory in the game. Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade in East uniform help the East overthrow the West 3 year reign. Iverson won the All Star Game MVP. Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem also played in the rookie-sophomore game on the sophomore side which won the game with Carmelo Anothony earning MVP honors. During this month the Heat also traded for Steve Smith. During the Month of March the Miami Heat signed free agent Alonozo Mourning. Alonzo Mourning is known my many Heat fans as the greatest Heat ever and many love his return. During this month the Heat also complie another 10+ games winning streak with Shaq earning player of the month honors and Stan Van Gundy getting coach of the month. Mourning led the HEat to many playoff runs and was an all-star 5 times with two defensive player of the year titles. By Mid March Miami began to clinch some stuff. Wades Clutch buzzer beater shot vs the Knicks marked the Miami Heat as the 1st team of the season to clinch a playoof spot. Then with thevictory over the Phoenix Suns Miami clicnhed the South East Division. Then with a victory over the Chicago Bulls the Heat clicnched the 1st spot in the East and homecourt throughout the Eastern Playoffs. w00t w00t! <u>Season Accomplishments</u> -59-23 Record(2nd best in Franchise History) - 15-1 Against Division Foes(Best in NBA History) -Damon Jones breaks Tim Hardways record of 3 Pointers in a signle season. - Shaq 2nd in MVP Voting(behind Steve Nash who won MVP) - Shaq ALL NBA 1st Team - Wade All NBA 2nd Team - Wade All 2nd Defensive Team - Wade led all guards in Blocks Per Game - Shaq won March East Player of the Month - Wade won Eastern December Player of the Month - First time in Franchise History two players on the Heat won Won Player of the Month in the same season. - Stan Van Gundy won Eastern Coach of the Month twice. ( December and MArch.) If I'm missing something please tell. <font size="14"><font color="red"> Playoffs</font></font> Miami enters the playoffs as the 1st Seed in the Eastern Conference. <font size="7"><font color="blue"> Round 1 Nets</font></font> With a wekaened Shaq with the thig injury Flash and the rest of the Heat step it up. Especially Flash. Nenead Kristic goes and exploits Shaq inmobility with his thig injury and his inability to defend screen and rolls so good so he goes to have a good series. Unfortunatly noone else for the Nets does. Eddie Jones completly shuts down Vince Carter. And Jason Kidd is having trouble with his team shut down. Wade continues to dominate which brings out the broom. SWEEP! <font color="blue"><font size="7"> Round 2 Wizards</font></font> THis is not a very good series for Heat fans despite the sweep. Wade continues to show his ultimate dominance through the playoffs agaisnt the Wizards and Shaq misses his First two playoff games in his career. Wade and Zo are the heroes of this series. Wade brings the offense and Zo brings the defense. Another Sweep For Miami. <font color="blue"> <font size="7"> Conference Finals, Detroit</font></font> This IMO was the best series in the playoffs. The Pistons take the 1st game quickly stealing the home court advantage. The Heat then go on to win 3 of the next 4 contest. In Game 5 the inevitable happens. Dwyane Wade gets fouled hard by RAsheed Wallace. He then has to go to the locker room, but the Heat won the game becaause of the nice lead. Dwyane Wade doesn't play Game 6. The Heat are blown out. Then comes the deciding Game 7. The Heat enter the game with two injured superstars. They put up a good fight, but in the end the Pistons came victorious. The Season is over as the Pistons go on to the Finals, but then lose to the Spurs who are crowned NBA Champions. We will be back.........
Excellent Summary! I would probably add in the Detroit series that Wade manages to score 20 points while being injured in game 7. A truly amazing effort by Wade as he hobbled up and down the court.
Amazing summary... I love it. This year was a great, yet disapointing year for the heat... sounds weird but this year was somewhat of a disapointing depending on which way you look at it. I am very excited what next year will bring and I hope to god Shaq's body will hold up for 4 more seasons.
Nice read. This really was an amzing year for the Heat. We just fell short. i', confident that Miami will go back the Eastern Canference Finals maybe even the Finals next year.
Good recap, Diesel. It really did show how successful the Heat's season was. Thinking about a season review in a month or two?
nice yes, very very nice summary...brings back all those good memories like a picture album...i bet we would have crushed those pistons if shaq and wade were healthy...and then take on the spurs...o yea u didnt add that we got wayne simien in the draft, which is a pretty good steal
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">Good recap, Diesel. It really did show how successful the Heat's season was. Thinking about a season review in a month or two? </div> Uh... I'd say this is a pretty good season review.
Great summary Diesel, I too think Miami will be back next year, even stronger, maybe even with an Antonie Walker.
