The Miami Heat edging the Los Angeles Lakers

The Miami Heat edging the Los Angeles Lakers

This game had had playoff atmosphere from the start. Even with the many empty court seats at the start of game because of the early start. (Television wins again!). It was back and forth with each team trying to separate but could not. At the end it became a bump and grind game and surprise, they Heat won. A type of game they've been losing during their losing streak. Wade took over late instead of Lebron and make key buckets getting layups and providing stellar defensive on Kobe. They even ran a pick and roll with Wade and LeBron. LeBron set a solid pick on Kobe and Wade got an easy layup. Of course it helps that the Lakers with the score tied late in last couple of minutes, they went with the late game Heat offense. Kobe with the ball at the top of the key, putting the rest of team in the corners and letting him go one on one. That was no triangle there. I even saw Heat coach Erik Spoelstra smile when this was happening because he knew it wasn't going to work. Kobe turned the ball over or Wade caused the turnover. Wade threw a pass to Lebron who then got an easy dunk. and momentum changed.

The Heat played like the more desperate team throughout, playing like this was game 7 in the finals. The Lakers came in being the hottest team in the league, and even though they wanted to win the game to keep pace with Dallas. They were after revenge for their Christmas debacle against the Heat.

The Heat won because even thought the LeBron and Wade struggle for most the game. The role players finally stepped up and played well, which hadn't been the case during the losing streak. Mario Chalmers got some steals leading to fast break points, he even knocked down threes early. Mike Miller who had been non factor during the streak, made a couple of threes and got a few offensive rebounds. Even newly acquired Mike Bibby who hadn't done much since since joining the Heat, knocked down a couple of clutch threes late reminding people of his Sacramento Kings days earlier this decade. But the key was Chris Bosh. Bosh who had been taking some much deserved criticism from the media, bloggers (including me) fans and talk shows played one his best games of the season. After one dunk in the second quarter he got fired up. I haven't seen him this fired up since the he was on stage with LeBron and Wade during for the championship celebration. I mean premature championship press conference. Bosh was slashing to the rim, hitting jumpers and getting tough offensive rebounds. He hasn't played this well against a quality opponent since the Heat beat the Lakers the first time. He took advantage of his speed against Gasol and took him the bucket off the dribble. Bosh was far from perfect he did have some turnovers when the Lakers threw some double teams at him. He also had a few problems with Gasol defensively who took him to the bucket a few times too. But Bosh played tough and kept the Heat ahead while Wade and LeBron struggled.

The Lakers played well keeping the game close and knowing how much the Heat needed this game. They just did not execute late. Pau Gasol did not play good defense against Bosh or on pick and rolls late. Andrew Bynum who had been a force on the defensive end and rebounding was hardly heard from in the first half. Kobe turned over the ball and forced a few shots late, even if he says he was fouled, which appeared he was not.

Gasol has a match up problem with Bosh he couldn't guard him in the first game and had trouble guarding him in this game too. The Lakers counted by doubling Bosh in the second half, which slowed him down but it left the Heat shooters wide open for threes. Jackson never made the smarter move by putting his best low post defender Bynum on Bosh for the fourth quarter, because even though Bynum can't guard Bosh because of a quickness advantage, his length gives Bosh problems, like on one possession in the fourth when Bynum blocked a Bosh jump shot. He gave him space and extended and blocked. He should have been on Bosh the entire fourth quarter. Bynum also didn't get enough shot attempts he has advantages on both Miami centers. It was either he didn't demand the ball which he has done at times, or get the ball from the guards. It maybe the latter because Kobe shot every time in last few minutes. With the score tied and under a minute in a half Kobe went one on one against a good defender in Wade. Kobe must have had amnesia thinking he was still playing with Smush Parker, Chris Mims, Kwame Brown and Luke Walton (when he actually played). There was no need to get away from the offense with the players he has now. Wade stole the ball and got an easy bucket. The next possession was even more puzzling, the Lakers were trailing by 2 and Kobe launches a long three point shot from the side with 24 seconds left on the shot clock. He's made those types of shots before, but there was plenty of time to get a better got, this pretty ended the game. A game the Lakers had a chance to win.

The Lakers were out rebounded, turned the ball over too many times and still had a chance to win. The reality is the game against Dallas is more important which could be for home court advantage in the 2nd round. If they play against the Mavericks like they did against the Heat, especially late, they will lose again.

This was a much needed win for the Heat. If they use the win as a springboard and get rolling again they can point to this game. If they lose two or three of their next games against good teams, this game becomes a simple case that even a blind squirrel can find an acorn every now and then.

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