@ <span style="color:#00BFFF">NO/Okl. Hornets(10-12)</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Projected Starters: Chris Paul, Rasual Butler, Desmond Mason, Cedric Simmons, Tyson Chandler</span><span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players: Jannero Pargo, Hilton Armstrong, Marc Jackson, Linton Johnson, Brandon Bass</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Miami Heat(10-13)</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Projected Starters: Jason Williams, Dwyane Wade, Dorell Wright, Udonis Haslem, Alonzo Mourning</span><span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players: Gary Payton, Antoine Walker, James Posey, Jason Kapono, Micheal Doleace</span><span style="color:#8B0000">Injury Report:</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">NO/OKL. City Hornets:</span> Bobby Jackson-Ribs-Out Peja Stojackovic-Back-IL David West-Forearm-IL<span style="color:#FF0000">Miami Heat:</span> Shaquille O'neal-Knee-IL Wayne Simien-Illness-IL<span style="color:#000080">Star Watch:</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Chris Paul:</span> 18.7 ppg, 9.1 apg, 4.7 rpg, 2.0 spg, 46.9 fg%<span style="color:#FF0000">Dwyane Wade:</span> 28.6 ppg, 8 apg, 4.9 rpg, 1.7 spg, 47.4 fg%<span style="color:#2F4F4F">Valo's X-Factors:</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">For the Hornets</span> Jannero Pargo has been very good in the sixth man role since Bobby Jackson has been injured. They will need his energy and excitement to continue tonight, as well as they will need him to play defense on whoever is at the other point guard spot for the Heat.<span style="color:#FF0000">For the Heat:</span> Alonzo Mourning's shot blocking and shot altering will go along ways tonight. With Peja out, Butler is the only real outside threat on the Hornets team, so I would imagine they will try to get alot going to the basket. If he is altering shots, and causing problems in the paint, it will be a long night for the Hornets.<span style="color:#2E8B57">Valo's Key Matchup:</span><span style="color:#000000">Chris Paul against Jason Williams</span> at the point guard spot will be a huge matchup. Both will be looking to take the other off the dribble, as well as get their team set up, and in their offenses. This should be a matchup of two good point guards, and the one that plays the best will set his team up for success.<span style="color:#696969">Valo's thoughts:</span> This should be a fun game to watch, with two of the best young stars in the league, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade. The Hornets look to win their third straight against Miami, but both of those were in Oklahoma City. The Hornets have lost their last four games in Miami. The Hornets have also droped six of their last seven games, inlcuding a lopsided 90-79 loss to Dallas on Sunday. Dwyane Wade returned to the lineup on Saturday, and scored 41 points in a Miami win over Memphis. Wade has struggled against the Hornets though, averaging 19.3 points per game against the Hornets for his career.<span style="color:#000080">Valo's predictions:</span> I think Wade comes out, and shows up big tonight in his second game back from dental surgery. I think the Heat will win, in a rather good game, that is pretty close.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (anypoint @ Dec 18 2006, 01:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Its Dwyane not Dwayne.</div>Yeah, my bad, didn't do mean to.Edit: The Heat are up early, 16-8. I like Dorell Wright in the starting lineup, a good young guy to run the floor with Wade. They are exciting at those wing spots. Both have lobbed the ball to each other, and Wright hit a nice pass to Haslem who was running the floor. He is pretty athletic for a power forward also, can run the floor very well for a big guy.
So the Hornets are up 94-83 right now, and are shooting 53 percent on the game which is impressive. Pargo is having a good night, and keeping the Hornets ahead, and has 14 points on the game. Rasual Butler is also playing well, 18 points so far, hitting his shots. Chris Paul is getting into the lane, and causing alot of problems, 24 points, 5 assists on the game so far. The Heat are not controlling the paint, as the Hornets have 40 points in the paint so far, not good if your the Heat. Wade has 20 on the game so far, but has settled for a few jump shots I don't like, and picked up his dribble on the baseline a couple of times. Minus those, he has had a very good game so far. I am impressed with Udonis Haslem so far also, who has like 15 or 16 points and dragged down a few rebounds. Past those two, I'm not to impressed with anyone else on this team so far.edit: The Heat are settling for some of the most god awful shots I have seen. Kapono took one first, then Williams ran down off of a rebound and put up a terrible three point shot that wasn't needed. Now Kapono has taken a decent shot, and Wade got the reboud and made a good play on it got the shot and the free throw. 97-92.
Heat win. Wade, once again, hits another huge game winner for us with 1.3 left to put us up by two. Hornets had one last shot, but Pargo airballed a three.
Wade had a nice night, 29 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter and the game winning shot. He also set up his teamates for a couple of shots in the fourth, including Kapono on a huge shot down the stretch, and had 9 assists on the night. He was so calm and collected in the fourth quarter, he is definately mr. clutch in the league in my opinion. Heart breaker for Chris Paul who played out of his mind tonight, and as well as he could with 26 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds. Good win for the Heat tonight.
