<div align="center"> Charlotte Bobcats: 7-19 Miami Heat: 24-7 Date: Saturday, January 1st Time: 7:30 PM TV: Sunshine, NBALP Previous Games: Heat @ Pistons 89-78 (WIN) Sonics @ Bobcats 103-97 (LOSS) <font color="darkorange"><font size="1">Coach Bernie Bickerstaff</font></font> C - <font color="darkorange">Primoz Brezec</font> PF - <font color="darkorange">Emeka Okafor</font> SF - <font color="darkorange">Gerald Wallace</font> SG - <font color="darkorange">Keith Bogans</font> PG - <font color="darkorange">Brevin Knight</font> ***stats to be added on 1/1/05 <font size="4">VS</font> <font color="red"><font size="1">Coach Stan Van Gundy</font></font> C - <font color="red">Shaquille O'Neal</font> (21.5 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.9 APG) PF - <font color="red">Udonis Haslem</font> (11.4 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.4 APG) SF - <font color="red">Eddie Jones</font> (11.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.7 APG) SG - <font color="red">Dwyane Wade</font> (23.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.6 APG) PG - <font color="red">Damon Jones</font> (11.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.8 APG) BOBCATS - <font color="darkorange">Kareem Rush</font> Predicted Stats: 11 points, 0 rebounds, 2 assists HEAT - <font color="red">Christian Laettner</font> Predicted Stats: 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist BOBCATS - <font color="darkorange">Emeka Okafor</font> Predicted Stats: 18 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist HEAT - <font color="red">Dwyane Wade</font> Predicted Stats: 30 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists </div> The Heat are on a 13-game win streak. That's right...1...3...thirteen. The Bobcats are on a four game losing streak. The Heat are in the East; the Bobcats in the East. Miami has Shaq and Wade, and the Bobcats have...Emeka. How's that for an analysis? Not enough? Well... The Cats are looking at their toughest opponent in the East in the Miami Heat. In fact, only Emeka has the clear-cut advantage in the matchups, and the rest...well...do I have to mention that Shaq is the dominant center in the East? How about the fact that Dwyane Wade, in his previous game, notched his first triple double of his career? Aside from those two, Eddie Jones has found his shot, Damon Jones is the Heat's new threat from beyond the arc, Udonis has received his report card, and look mom...all A's. The Heat and Bobcats will be looking to control the boards, especially the offensive glass. Emeka will get there before Brezec, so O'Neal will have to be sure that all shots off the rim fall in his direction. Otherwise, it could result in easy second-chance points for the Bobcats...and vice versa for Miami, where Charlotte really has no answer for Shaq in the paint outside of Okafor...but will Okafor keep Shaq from the rim this early in his career? I doubt it. Stan Van Gundy is a huge factor in this game. Why? Well, if he decides to force Shaq out to defend the pick and roll each time, Emeka and Brezec may match their career highs in scoring. Otherwise, the Bobcats will have to rely on shooting...which may be a safer bet for the Heat. My suggestion for the Heat? Keep Shaq in the paint. As for the Bobcats, play Rush more in this game. If Rush gets hot, Shaq may be forced to step out of the paint...which could close the gap quickly for the Cats. Now for the biggest questions: will Emeka get his 19th double double against the previous record-holder? Also, after the first triple double of his career, can Wade continue his Eastern Conference dominating and lead the Heat to a 14th straight win? Bet on both happening. The Bobcats just don't have enough power to contend with the Heat. Inside power, and "fire power" from the arc...the Heat fit these to a "T" compared to the Bobcats. Van Gundy may not find a way to keep Okafor away from the rim, but the rest of the Bobcats will struggle...and the Heat will win their 14th straight game, 95-88.
I don't think Shaq will be going out on pick and rolls in this game, why you ask? Well Brevin Knight cannot shoot, their will be no reason for Shaq to go out on pick and rolls because Knight is not a shooter. Jason Hart also has a shaky outside jumper, so the Bobcats don't have a shooting threat in PG pick and rolls, and with their other players who are a threat to shoot, they aren't as good passers, so they won't be able to take advantage of the situation. Miami 101 - Charlotte 90
Put this one down in the win column and the Miami Heat will continue their win streak. This should be an easy win as the bobcats don't have any player that can play against Shaq or Wade. Okafor will have his hands full with the Big Fella'. This should be a good way to strat the new year!
113-90 Heat. Okafor got his 19 straight double-double and the Heat are on a 14 game winning streak. It worked out well for both teams.
This was one sweet game. I ddin't watch it, I was at a party but when I checked the score at the end... wow 113-90 a blowout which is what I expected. Real Deal's predicted stats for Wade and Okafor were almost right on... pretty sweet. 14 games in arow, can anyone stop us?
We face the Sonics, Knicks, Blazers, Sonics, and Suns. We have a chance to beat 2 out of 3 of the top teams in the West.
I feel we can take each team there... except the Suns. The Suns... we gotta be on our A game to beat them, although I think Wade could torture Steve Nash night in and night out, we have no answer to Amare and Marion. And their fastbreak...
Haha, actually...I think I did fairly well with the Laettner and Rush predictions as well. The Heat are going to have trouble with the Sonics...trust me...but they'll split those games, unless Shaq takes the game over in the fourth. As for the Suns...I don't know...but whoever Q is defending, they should attack the hoop; Richardson's defense, especially perimeter defense, is terrible.
