Game Thread GAME# 21: HEAT @ BLAZERS - DECEMBER 3, 2016 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM (PDT), CSNNW

Dragic will score 86

 

Babbit is starting? We better smash them...

 

Whatfensive improvement?

 

Haslem still with the Heat. That's pretty cool - it doesn't seem like role players play their entire career with a single team. The only other guy I can think of is Nick Collison, and he kinda got screwed into playing for two different teams despite never being traded or signing with another team.

 

VS







VS





VS

 

They are going to be starting two guys who couldn't even find the court when we were a lottery team. If we can't hold that lousy lineup to under 50% shooting, I will lose all hope.

 

He's a keep gettin them checks all-star for sure Riley has been loyal to ONE heat lifer at least...

This team is complete trash I know bosh is probably done but this team is just atrocious babbit and mcbob lol good luck with that. How did we lose out to these guys with whiteside? must not have been a basketball decision at all which makes me glad we didnt sign him in the first place

 

We HAVE to win this one. Our December is one of the toughest months in recent memory.

5 game road trip across 3 time zones beginning Monday.

@ CHI, @ MIL, @ MEM (b2b), @ IND, @ LAC (wtf,midwest trip ends in LA?

Then b2b at home vs OKC.

Then off on the road again after a day of rest in between: @ DEN, @ GSW, @ SAC.

Then, the Spurs twice before the end of the month.

If we come out of this month above .500 and mostly healthy, then we are going to win at least 48 games. We might be favored in maybe 5 of the 15 games.

 

Luke Babbitt and Josh McRoberts have come back to haunt us!!!

 

Here's what I wrote about MIA at the time of the Whitside signing:

"Interesting that Whiteside sites stability as the reason he's staying in MIA. There's probably more uncertainty in MIA than just about everywhere else. Will Bosh be able to play again? Wade is threatening to leave because MIA won't pay him. What is the status of Joe Johnson and Amar'e Stoudemire? Luol Deng is also a free agent. All those guys are well past 30. Hell, even Goran Dragic, is 30 (I'm surprised he's that old). Does Whiteside think these guys are going to play forever?

Other than Whiteside, here are the ages of every Heat player that started more than 8 games:

Goran Dragic: 72 ganes started, age = 30.056
Gerald Green: 14 games started, age = 30.157
Luol Deng: 73 games started, age = 31.076
Chris Bosh: 53 games started, age = 32.099
Amar'e Stoudemire, 36 games started, age = 33.228
Dwyane Wade, 73 games started, age = 34.166
Joe Johnson, 24 games started, age = 35.002

If that isn't a roster that's ripe for some turnover, I don't know what is. So much for stability (and winning). Florida really is where old people in the East go to retire. At least half those players will probably be gone within the next couple weeks and not a single one will be around for the duration of Whiteside's contract.

He got paid the max and that seems to be his motivation. MIA is overdue for a major rebuild, and it won't be pretty.

Whiteside chose losing over winning. As long as he's in MIA, they will probably never go as far in the playoffs as they did this past season. He signed to stay with a roster in rapid decline that will take years to rebuild. Oh well, as the geriatrics around him retire and move on, at least he will get to be "the man", albeit, on a crappy team. But, that is the lot he has chosen. He could have had equal money and played for a winner, but he chose not to. We were the youngest team to make the playoffs and already better than MIA. He chose to stay on a team in decline, rather than join a team on the rise. Fuck him."

Called it. Did he really think he'd be starting next to Chris Bosh, Luol Deng and Dwyane Wade again this year? Instead he has Josh McRoberts, Luke Babbit and some guy named Macgyver.

Enjoy the money Hassan. Hope it makes up for all the losing.

BNM

 

Where have you been? Everyone's heard of him. He's fucking AWESOME!



BNM

 

Makes me so sad that DWade is playing for another team...

Fuck Pat Riley man

 

Is that a shark in the Willamette? ha

 

It's the Willamette Ness Monster

 

Man, forget you guys! When do I get back the thread making duties!? This DarkWing guy is putting people in the starting lineups that aren't even in the NBA! I think we are at a .605 winning clip when The HCP creates threads! Lets vote FAMS!!!!!

 

Nice!

 

ET and Harkless played well over the last 6 games.

ET averaged 13.7 points while completing 52% of his field goals (5.5 out of 10.5) and 40% of his 3-pointers (1.0 out of 2.5).

Harkless averaged 16.0 points while completing 57% of his field goals (6.5 out of 11.5) and 34% of his 3 pointers (1.3 out of 3.8).

Our team coalesced offensively over the last 6 games and we are seeing improvement from the vast majority of our players. We have a good chance coming out of this month above 0.500 if they continue the defensive stops like they did against the Pacers. There is a light at the end of the tunnel!