Marion's first Heat game

[Proteus]

The Heat gotta stop messing up their fast breaks. Two times in a row that happened in about the last minute or so of the 3rd quarter.

 

[mojorizen7]

Having Mark Blount as a finisher underneath doesn't help matters.

 

[Budden]

HAHA! The Heat just had a 5 on 1 and Jason Williams jacked up a 3 and missed it. The next play, the Heat had a 4 on 2, and Wade through a behind-the-back-pass at Mark Blount's shins for a turnover. Then the next play, Wade dribbled the ball for like 8 seconds, bobbled the ball, then picked the ball up and traveled. The Heat should've cut the lead down to 3 going into the 4th quarter, and instead they're now down by 9.

That's what it's like on other teams.

 

[Mainstreet]

Did Bill Walton just refer to Shaq as "heavy toxic waste"? He said something like the Miami playing spirited and relieved now that they've dumped that heavy toxic waste out to a desert landfill. Giving your opinion is something, but that I thought that was a little much.
Boo Bill Walton, hurray beer!

It was be nice if Walton and Stern could make a nice little trip to Phoenix to meet the Suns fans. Maybe we could arrange for Shaq to meet with Walton.

 

[Ciani]

Miami could make a comeback if Marion doesn't take any more 3s.

Haters will be haters forever I guess.

Marion's D and hustle plays gave the opportunity for the Heat to come back, he is the best player tonight on that sorry team.

 

[slinslin]

You can see why the Heat after this game could go 32-1 and still not be over .500.

 

[az1965]

Man, Heat is just an awful team... how the hell did we lose to them?

 

[slinslin]

Man, Heat is just an awful team... how the hell did we lose to them?

Shaq 18 points 11 rebounds 5 assists 1 block 1 steal 70%FG 28 minutes

Lamar Odom loves Shawn Marion. Gasol is still as soft as ever.

 

[sunsbo]

Banks w/ 6 points, 4 assists in 12 min. I hope he does well for them.

 

[Bufalay]

damn...wade must be a horrible passer if marion couldn't get to his alley oop

 

[Mainstreet]

Banks w/ 6 points, 4 assists in 12 min. I hope he does well for them.

I wish I could feel the same about Banks but he never played well for Phoenix and I also felt he never played with intensity here. Now Marion is a different matter. He gave the Suns 8 1/2 good years. He is a warrior.

 

[The_Matrix]

Banks got the crunch time minutes and played well on defense and driving to the hoop. He just can't shoot consistently.

On the game's final possesion with the Lakers running out the clock I watched Marion's body language. He had his head down, and was rubbing his forehead like, "man this was a bad loss... kinda freaked out that I've left the Suns for this... so this is what happens 40 out of 49 games?"

 

[DeAnna]

It was so weird to see Shawn in a white uni. He had a pretty good game; 15/15/5.

That conversation with Riley was funny:

Riley: Shawn, what were some of your fav plays at Phoenix?
Shawn: Well, they never ran any plays for me
Riley: Start thinking about them then, 'cause here we will run some for you.

He musta been in hog heaven when he heard that.

 

[mjb21aztd]

well I think the heat have a bright future with wade and marion that is a sacry duo they just need a true pg and a decent center. They will be a fun team to watch next year I think Marion if he is still with the Heat will bring a lot of energy to them

 

[DeAnna]

I watched Marion's body language. He had his head down, and was rubbing his forehead like, "man this was a bad loss... kinda freaked out that I've left the Suns for this... so this is what happens 40 out of 49 games?"

Nah, he always does that when he's trying to focus.

 

[Mainstreet]

well I think the heat have a bright future with wade and marion that is a sacry duo they just need a true pg and a decent center. They will be a fun team to watch next year I think Marion if he is still with the Heat will bring a lot of energy to them

It almost sounds a bit like Phoenix's problem (at least partially) before the Shaq trade except Phoenix has a much better surrounding cast and a winning record. Phoenix needed a decent center and a backup PG.

 

[bigfoot]

That was a pretty good debut for Shawn who got nice stats as usual. Banks wasn't bad in that game either. They could've made the game a lot closer if not for some costly turnovers.

 

[mjb21aztd]

I'm missing Marion for the suns already felt really really strange watching him play for the heat ...

 

[BeeBeard]

It might have been closer at the end if Wade realized he wasn't Steve Nash on that ally-oop to Marion. I'm predicting there will be many, many more instances where Marion's new teammates let him down.

 

[jbeecham]

Banks was getting the crunch time minutes because Jason Williams is a horrible PG.....he makes bad decisions and forces bad shots. My favorite was when he jacked up a 3 on a 5-on-1 fast break for the Heat.....he clanked it badly and the rebound went away from everyone and out of bounds.

Dwayne Wade also takes a lot of bad shots......almost every shot he takes is difficult. He doesn't do a good job of creating space so all of his shots seem to be contested.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I really don't get the Banks hate at all? I always felt he busted his ass out there and was penalized for not being Steve Nash by D'antoni. And unlike Barbosa, no one decided to have an assistant take Marcus as his pet project and grow him. I love Mike but I think his handling of Banks was a crime as it seems he was against him from the start.

And does anyone have any reports/links about Banks to back up these claims that he was selfish and a poor worker? Everything I read had been his charitable efforts and his tying to learn from Steve. I just don't get it.

I for one think he is a good numbers guy but not really a player conducive to consistent winning at this point in his career. But i do think both he ans Shawn will get their numbers in Miami and make it seem like a great trade but not win a damn thing with them.

Anyone else see that alley-oop at the end of the game that wade missed Shawn on to get within 4???

For as good as Wade is - That ain't Steve Nash throwing you passes anymore Shawn

 

[bigfoot]

Give 'em time to perfect that Wade-to-Shawn alley-oop. Pretty soon it will be a staple of the Heat offense.

 

[Assface]

Give 'em time to perfect that Wade-to-Shawn alley-oop. Pretty soon it will be a staple of the Heat offense.

Outside of Wade that might be their only offense.

 

[Assface]

I think both Shaq and Marion were unhappy in Miami/Phoenix and as a result hurting their teams and becoming lightning rods for the displeasure of the fans. In each's new situation , they have the chance to revitalize both the team and fanbase.

Hopefully this is one of those rare trades where everyone benefits.

 

[msdundee]

Very nice game from Shawn on his first outing -- 15/14 plus 4 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks -- the usual stuff. I guess it's surprising since he didn't have Nash hand-feeding him the ball ...... that, and he expects it will take 4-5 games to get comfortable with the new team. #7 was a good choice.