Bosh Is Out Indefinitely...What This Means For Miami by Deron Butler

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers was physical just like every other NBA Playoff series is right now. But much like every other NBA Playoff series comes more than physical play, injuries are involved, much like the injury Indiana dealt to Chris Bosh. In Sunday's game, Bosh was injured after a play in which he was going for a basket, resulting in an abdominal strain. Miami will have to contend without Bosh in their series against Indiana but now it seems like their only options aside from their scoring productions from Wade and LeBron, we should look to Udonis Haslem, Ronny Turiaf, and Joel Anthony to come off the bench and fill the void that is now gaping. Game 2 will now test Miami's mettle more than ever when they face Indiana tomorrow night on TNT. For homework, I want you all to take the time to appreciate Haslem, Turiaf, and Joel Anthony and what they've done off the bench for their time in Miami and cheer them on like everyone's watching. I'm Deron Butler, and I believe Udonis Haslem should start for Game 2 and continue to get the ball rolling for Miami. 

Things Indiana Pacers Should NOT Say by Deron Butler

See this goofy looking guy in the picture? This is Frank Vogel, head coach of the Indiana Pacers. Just today, the Pacers head coach made a comment regarding the Miami Heat and their upcoming series in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals in which Vogel said that "It'll be very interesting to see how the referees officiate the series and how much flopping they reward." Judging from that goofy smile on Vogel's face, there is nothing to grin or joke about. Vogel's Pacers had just defeated a Dwight Howard-less Orlando Magic in 5 games but just imagine if D12 were effective for the Magic sans his back injury, the Pacers would've been eliminated and an afterthought on top of that. Vogel shouldn't be making jokes at this stage in the playoffs and if you remember reading my last post about how Miami should not undermine their opponents, well, Indiana has proven that even your opponents can undermine the most daunting of challenges and could possibly make themselves look the most embarrassed amongst their peers. 

In addition to Vogel's comment about the Heat being the "best flopping team ever", Pacers center Roy Hibbert chimed in by saying "We didn't do it the easy way. It took time. We didn't do this by signing a couple of superstars."  Well excuse us, Mr. Hibbert if you don't approve of how Miami's system of success to solidify themselves as contenders for the NBA Championship. Miami may not be Indiana as far as destination and pitch wise for a player of high caliber to play amongst the lights, sights and sounds of the big city but the one thing you can't take away from a team is how hard they practice and mold together to form a team worthy of winning championships. While I do admire Indiana for their hard work to climb to the top of the Eastern Conference but to bash another team for their way of doing things beyond the court is just wrong. Why not take that up with Pat Riley, who knows success and opportunities when he sees them. The Heat host the Pacers this Sunday at 3:30pm on ABC and for homework, I want you to see how long you can hold in your anger regarding Vogel's comments about the Heat and if you manage to hold it in until Sunday's game, use it for a positive by cheering for the Het in the most excitable and most raucous way imaginable. I'm Deron Butler telling you that it's best to be seen and not heard. 

Next up: The Indiana Pacers by Deron Butler

After defeating the New York Knicks in 5 games, the Miami Heat now move on the semi-finals, where they take on the Indiana Pacers. You may be laughing to yourself right now thinking about Indiana Pacers  and saying to yourself "what good players do Indiana have"? Well, before I answer your question, allow me to instruct a little history lecture for ya. Back in the 2004 NBA Playoffs, after the Miami Heat defeated the then Eastern Conference team New Orleans Hornets in 7 Games, Miami had to face the Indiana Pacers (yes, when they had Reggie Miller) in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. The Pacers had swept the Boston Celtics at that time and were looking to do the same to Miami. The Pacers took the first two games of that series in Indianapolis but once the series shifted to Miami, The Heat tied the series but afterwards Indiana took the next two games, eliminating the Heat but losing to the eventual NBA Champions that year in the Detroit Pistons. Since that time, Miami has won its first championship and brought forth big stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Gary Payton to LeBron James and Chris Bosh while Indiana had to say goodbye to Reggie Miller after 18 seasons with the team and looked for a new hope in Danny Granger. Now that we got that history lesson out of the way, and to answer you question about what good players Indiana have, the Pacers have Danny Granger, George Hill, Paul George, Tyler Hansbrough, and Roy Hibbert. While those names may not sound all that daunting, keep in mind that this Indiana Pacers team not only defeated a Dwight Howard-less Orlando Magic but were also placed third in  the Eastern Conference Standings during the regular season. And during that regular season, Miami has defeated Indiana 3 games to 1, which would mean Miami would win the series over Indiana but again, that was the regular season and this is the playoffs, where injuries are always occurring and at any moment boiling emotions can turn into a fisticuffs. For Homework, I want you as Heat fans to not rest on your laurels. Just because we got past one stage against a rival team, doesn't mean it's time to celebrate. Again, this is the playoffs and anything can happen. Let's remind ourselves of what happened last year's NBA Finals and not make the same mistakes and not to underestimate the Pacers or any team thereafter. I'm Deron Butler, telling you that our celebrations are temporary but our work and determination are always mandatory.

Was Michael Biamonte's Comment About Amar'e Necessary? By Deron Butler

If you were in attendance for last night's Game 5 between the Heat and the Knicks, then you may have heard the Heat's excitable PA Announcer, Michael Biamonte's witty comment about Amar'e Stoudemire fouling out of the game in which Biamonte said "Stoudemire has been extinguished from the game", going back to the post Game 2 incident in which an exasperated Stoudemire took his frustrations out by punching a glass case concealing a fire extinguisher with his non shooting hand. To Heat fans, the joke was deemed as light hearted humor but to Knicks fans and several basketball bloggers and everyone else around the basketball world, no one was laughing along with Miami. The joke itself caused a ruckus amongst fans saying that the joke itself was "distasteful" and "a slap in the face" to Knicks fans. Sports blog Deadspin.com commented on the pundit saying that "The Heat are surely winning friends the right way", which may be a sarcastic insult to the Heat for Biamonte's choice of words. Though it may be a joke for Heat fans, no one (not even Knicks fans) are not laughing. Imagine if the Heat were in MSG struggling to win and, for example, Chris Bosh starts crying again. The Knicks PA Announcer would probably say something like "Bosh is crying because the Heat are extinct" or something that like. For Homework, I want all Heat fans to find some other form of humor not relating to anything about the Knicks, they've suffered enough as it is and it's time we move on to face Indiana. I'm Deron Butler telling you that it's all fun and games until someone's feelings are the subject of matter. 

Game 5? Is Tonight The Night We Close The Knicks Out? By Deron Butler

Hello, Heat fans one and all. If you have made through the last two days of waiting for Game 5 without losing your mind...or sleep, then congratulations, you are ready to sit back and watch your beloved Miami Heat put away the New York Knicks. Sunday's game against the Knicks brought forth a revelation for me. As I watched LeBron James in the fourth quarter make at least 9 points, I started to think to myself is this LeBron James trying to prove to the masses that he can close out in the fourth quarter? When the Knicks took the lead near the closing moments of Game 4, I was hoping Miami would nail the shot and sweep the series as did everyone else but who would've thought that D.Wade and not LeBron would be the one to take the final shot sans the Knicks defense hastily rushing the offense. No disrespect to Wade, it all seemed like LeBron was coming back for Miami in the fourth quarter but at the same time, has LeBron  ever closed out in these types of situations (and I'm not talking about regular season either)? Game 5 is just a few hours away and I'm anticipating this game to be like a title fight between two contenders. I want  to see LeBron dominate in the fourth quarter, I want to see Bosh be more agressive on offense and defense as well as being an X-Factor for the Heat, and Wade to guide the team and set plays. I still believe that the Knicks are running on borrowed time. Jeremy Lin is still injured, Amare Stoudemire still has that injured hand of his, and Carmelo Anthony still has problems playing defense. Speaking of defense, Erik Spolestra should not have Shane Battier play defense against Carmelo, not because Carmelo is a solid shooter but because Carmelo is much faster than Battier. If anyone is gonna guard Carmelo, it should be LeBron (see picture) or maybe Wade...primarily LeBron. For Homework, Watch Game 5 tonight at 7 on TNT and see if LeBron James can guard Carmelo defensively and how Shane Battier can learn from that plus see if LeBron James can close out in the fourth quarter.  I'm Deron Butler counting down the minutes, the seconds, and the hours until Game 5, where Miami will hopefully close out on New York. 

Game 5= Back to the Drawing Board By Deron Butler

After watching what almost could've been a Game 4 sweep by Miami, it's back to Miami where the Heat will look to close the series. Watching the game itself, I saw a lot of disturbing things (aside from Baron Davis' injury) was how laxed Miami was when they had the lead. I watched the whole game wondering what had happened to Miami's aggressiveness and sat there just watching as each shot that the Knicks made, was almost like feeling your heart sink each time they made a point and what's worse was that how Miami didn't give the ball to LeBron in the end. I couldn't help but feel embarrassed yet foolish for making that last blog post but what could I do? With Game 5 now set for Wednesday on TNT, the Heat must try to focus on putting New York away for good. As a Heat fan, we should be optimistic, if not grateful that we have at least three wins in the series against New York. It could've been worse, we could've lost our key players before the playoffs began. This loss stings just as much as any but if anything Game 5 will hopefully make it up for the very tense nail biter that was Game 4. For homework, watch Game 5 Wednesday on TNT and see how focused both teams are after Game 4. Also, see how long you can wait until that time comes. I'm Deron Butler, heading back to the drawing board and anxiously waiting for Wednesday evening to close out the series. 

Bring Out The Brooms! Bring Out The Brooms! By Deron Butler

Game 4 between the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks is just around the corner or if you are watching Game 4, you must be doing some spring cleaning because it looks like there could be a sweep for Miami's next victory. It seemed not too long ago, that Miami always wanted to sweep New York and after watching how The Oklahoma City Thunder dispose of those little ponies, The Dallas Mavericks Asterisks. As a Miami Heat fan, I couldn't feel anything but happiness after seeing Dallas get swept by the team they beaten at last year's Western Conference Finals and also, like Miami back in the 2007 playoffs, were swept out of the first round. But enough about giving you a history lecturing in basketball, it's time for the here and now, and that means Miami must solely focus and pick apart New York. The Heat needs this victory just as much as New York needs to avoid a sweep. The Heat must employ defense from beginning to end, as the only line of defense the Knicks have right now is Defensive Player of the Year (and NBA Champion), Tyson Chandler. If Miami can expose New York's frail defense, then the Heat will punch their ticket into the semi-finals, where they may potentially face the Indiana Pacers. For homework, watch Game 4 between the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks on ABC at 3:30 pm eastern standard time, and see if you can find any Heat fans in Madison Square Garden holding up broom sticks, Heat players using technically sound defense, and of course, exploiting the weak defensive tactics that Carmelo Anthony and company possess, leaving Tyson Chandler to pick up the slack. I'm Deron Butler and today I feel like some Spring Cleaning. 

Glass Jaw, no, Glass Hands! by Deron Butler

The aftermath from Game 2 between Miami and New York is as memorable as the game itself. A'mare Stoudemire, the disgruntled and infuriated Center/Power Forward, has broken his hand after punching a glass case that was holding a fire extinguisher in the Knicks' locker room. Medical assistance was much needed as Stoudemire was escorted out of the American Airlines Arena. As of late, the Knicks have been dropping off like flies, first with Iman Shumpert hyperextending his knee in Game 1 and now Game 2's aftermath with Stoudemire taking his frustrations out on a glass case and a fire extinguisher. I understand that we can get frustrated and that our emotions get the better of us but there is no excuse for foolishly hitting an inanimate object that hasn't provoked you in any way but may inflict harm to yourself if you so take your anger out on it. Hitting a wall or a chair is also understandable but a glass case concealing your only means to stop a fire? No wonder the Knicks are unpredictable. New York's only hope right now (if any) now falls on Carmelo Anthony, should he rise to the occasion, and going on a limb...Jeremy Lin. For homework, watch Game 4 Thursday night on TNT and see how many Miami fans are holding up signs with A'mare Stoudemire getting owned by a fire extinguisher and a glass case or at least wear T-Shirts referring to the incident. I'm Deron Butler, reminding you when on offense or defense to crash the boards, not crash the glass.