Does anybody know what's the situation w/ Wade & Payton

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">CHICAGO -- If a team's character is defined by how it handles adversity, the Heat displayed more than a few flaws in falling behind by 12 points in the first half of Sunday's 93-87 loss to the Bulls.

After a crosscourt pass from Dwyane Wade bounded off teammate Gary Payton for a turnover with 56 seconds to play in the second quarter, the two spent the balance of the period griping at each other.

Not only did teammates have to separate the pair during a 20-second timeout, but Payton was escorted to the locker room by center Shaquille O'Neal. Several steps back, Wade was surrounded by consoling teammates.

Payton initially declined to discuss the incident, but later said, "That was just like Donovan McNabb and T.O. They were just playing around."

Actually, the nastiness between the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and receiver eventually led to a parting with Terrell Owens, but this was more of a heat-of-the-moment incident.

Wade declined to address the discord, with teammate Antoine Walker offering, "We messed up a play or something."

The Bulls, however, could not help but notice.

"When you see that," guard Chris Duhon said, "especially with a veteran team like that, definitely it was good for us. They are a veteran team and they'll be able to get over it."</div>

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<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Wade tries a skip pass across court to Gary Payton, but Payton fumbles it out of bounds. Payton glares at Wade and starts yelling.

A few seconds later with the Heat about to close to four points at halftime, Payton starts going after Wade, yelling something about not being his boy, that he doesn't have to take that from anyone. He is being held away from Wade by Shaquille O'Neal, who is counseling Payton to "let it go."

The Heat should have just let Payton go. It's what happens to a team when it invests in bad character and questionable talent. If Miami is desperate now it's because it seems to have built its team out of desperation.

Payton didn't cost the Heat two games at the United Center.

Miami blamed the referees more for that, though only with veiled suggestions, especially after O'Neal was fined $25,000 after Game 3 for his criticism of the officials.

Seemingly unfairly, O'Neal was in foul trouble for the second consecutive game and the Bulls had an astounding 31-5 edge in free throws.

That's unusual because the Bulls are known for their perimeter play against the Heat's power and drive game. The Bulls shot more free throws than their opponent 21 times this season and had 31 or more 17 times.

"If they (NBA) want to have Shaq on the bench, that's what they're gonna do," Payton said.

And what guys like Payton are going to do is what's best for themselves. We saw it in the 2004 Finals when he virtually quit on his Lakers teammates. He left Seattle and Milwaukee under similar clouds. This time, Payton represents the Heat's fatal flaws both on the court and off.

Payton, like most of the players who've been added to the Heat's roster since last season, doesn't complement O'Neal well. He's not a good standstill perimeter shooter when the defense, especially the Bulls', collapses and dares the Heat to beat them over the top, as basketball people like to say.

His defense is ancient, built on memories. That is what helped get O'Neal into foul trouble in both games in Chicago and compromised the Heat.

They ought to name a highway after Payton. He's Route 20. Express lane.

Sunday was one of those games in which the Bulls seemed the dominant team throughout. O'Neal was in and out again, playing just under 24 minutes. Wade felt like he was back home in February, Bulls defenders hanging on him like a coat. Jason Williams missed eight of his nine shots. And then Derek Anderson hit a three with 2:30 left to give Miami an 83-82 lead.

Kirk Hinrich then flashed by Payton, who fouled him. Hinrich made one free throw to tie the score.

"We need to make a more concerted effort and not let guys get to the rim," said Heat coach Pat Riley. Again.

Good luck with Payton's age and Williams' inability against quicker guards.

Anderson then rushed a bad three and … boom! This time it was Chris Duhon drawing Payton on a screen and he was by Payton again with Wade, perhaps their best perimeter defender, worrying about Ben Gordon.</div>

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There's two articles on the incident. Apparently they really went at it in the locker room at halftime. The Heat are falling apart because of frustration. Pat Riley needs to settle the team down and get their composure under control.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">The writer seems to be takin it to Payton pretty hard. from what i've heard, he was producing. but writers seem to blow everything thing outta porportion anyway.</div>

Yeah he sure did. It was a Chicago writer, and since Wade is a native of the area, maybe wrote it with some bias to it. Some points are valid, but it takes two to tango, both should know better.