<font size="7">@</font> When: 8:00 ET Where: MCI Center, Washington <font size="5">Starting Lineups</font> <font color="red"><font size="3">Miami Heat</font></font> <font color="black"><font size="1">Damon Jones, Dwyane Wade, Eddie Jones, Undonis Haslem, Shaquille O' Neal</font></font> CLICK THE PLAYERS FOR STATS! <font color="darkblue"><font size="3">Washington Wizards</font></font> <font size="1"><font color="black">Gilbert Arenas, Larry Hughes, Jared Jeffries, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood</font></font> CLICK THE PLAYERS FOR STATS! <font color="black"><font size="5">My Analysis</font></font> Will the Heat sweep the Wizards? The answer is yes. Even though Shaq isn't playing tonight, Dwyane Wade and company will be able to win this game. Everyone always talks about Wade and Shaq but I'm going to talk about the role players, the guys people don't know about unless they mess up. Miami is loaded with role players who get the job done night in and night out. Let's start with Damon Jones. He has done outstanding this year from the point guard position and is Miami's best long range shooter. He has made some big shots that shift the momentum in games and is also a great passer. The Heat have plays set up for Wade to drive then kick the ball out to Jones giving him the open look. He takes advantage of these situations by draining these shots. He has done well this year and should be a big influence on the outcome of tonights game. Another guy who has stepped up this year is Udonis Haslem. He has put up great numbers this year and has made Shaquille O' Neal's life a lot easier. When Haslem isn't playing great defense or setting picks for #34, he is grabbing rebound after rebound and making it hard for the opposition to get any second chance oppurtunities. The Heat have played 7 playoff games and in 5 of them Haslem has grabbed 10+ rebounds. His highest came in a game against the Nets where he had 19 rebounds. That's a crazy amount and keep in mind that this guy is a power forward. When Haslem is playing well, his team is playing well and that's something every role player wants to accomplish. The final role player I will tell you about is a older player who was out last year with kidney problems. Yup, we are talking about Alonzo Mourning. He has been a huge reason for the Heat's success so far these playoffs with his rebounding, scoring, inspiring defense and his experience. He has helped Miami extremely during Shaq's injury. Zo stepped in and succeeded right away. Against New Jersey in game 2, he dropped a team high 21 points and also grabbed 9 rebounds. Oh yeah, did I mention that was all coming off of the bench? With the chance to start tonight, he will make the most of it and help his team soar to victory over the Wizards. Yes the Heat have two great stars in Shaq and Wade but they also have role players who step up when needed and know how to do there jobs. These types of players are just as important as stars. Look at the Rockets for example, past McGrady and Yao they have no great role players like the Heat do. Now the Rockets are at home watching the playoffs while the Heat are cruising along to the third round. Role players make a huge difference in games and because Miami is loaded with talented role players, I think they will be able to beat the Wizards tonight and pull off the sweep. <font color="black"><font size="5">My Prediction</font></font> This should be a very good game between to very talented teams but I think the Heat will win. Dwyane Wade and Shaq will be to much for the Wizards in this one and the Heat win finish the sweep tonight. <font color="black"><font size="5">Predicted Score</font></font> <font color="red">Miami Heat- 94</font> <font color="darkblue">Washington Wizards- 88</font> WINNER: <font color="red">HEAT</font>
Nice preview, but Shaq isn't playing so that should change your prediction (score wise). Game is on ABC right now. Hopefully the Heat can win this game so that Shaq gets some more much needed rest for the next series.
51-47 At the Half, Washington Leading. Zo hasn't been able to give the Heat much thus far, because he's been in foul trouble. As a result, he's only played 7 minutes with a block and 2 TO's. It's important they he stays out of foul trouble because Haywood is carving them up inside, who has 13 and 9 at the half. Doleac has been decent, but he and Udonis cannot contain Haywood when he's going at them like this.
The game and series are officially over. The Miami Heat have advanced. Lately, I don't even know what to say about Wade. I can't stop bragging about him. Tonight he had 42 points, a Miami Heat Franchise high for Playoffs. He led that team the entire night. Hubie Brown was so impressed with his court intelligence. This kid is unstoppable right now. Anyone that agrees with my last sentence, copy and paste what I have in my signature into your's!
Nice preview Swish15. Absolutely lame performance by the Wizards. I realize they are a young, inexperienced playoff team, but come on. The Heat are without their bigman and the Wizards actually outscored the Heat inside. Not until the final 4 minutes did the Wizards play with any energy. All game long they allowed the Heat to stay in the game and once the Heat took the lead, they quickly found themselves down by 10 points. The Wizards had an opportunity to win Game 3 and Game 4, but they played this series like a regular season game. Poor shot selection killed the Wizards in the series. As for the Heat, what is there left to say about Dwayne Wade. He's been the best player in the playoffs so far. He was unstoppable in Round 1 and Round 2, and he should be well rested for the Pistons or Pacers in the ECF. Right now the Heat are in the driver's seat and making short work of the Nets and Wizards will allow them to buy more time for Shaq to get healthy. I was glad to see Eddie finally hit a clutch shot to shed that 'choker' label he's had to deal with in the post-season.
Congratulations to the Heat for winning eight straight playoff games. Dwyane Wade has just been a monster in Shaq's poor form so far, and I'm definitely upbeat at the much better odds the Heat will have to beating either Indiana or Detroit thanks to the likely week-long rest the team will be getting. However, both teams have able big men (Detroit with B. Wallace and McDyess, and Indiana with O'Neal and Foster) to contend with Shaq defensively, so the spotlight and burden will most likely once again fall on Dwyane Wade's shoulders. I'm fully confident in his ability to step up to the plate, though.
nice performance by wade!!I just hope the next games agains indy or detroit gonna be more interesting
