Well, just ask the Orlando Magic after last weekend: there’s no question the Miami Heat can be dominant. But a week later, and we’re back to where we began—can the Heat survive against a team with a dominant big man?
NBA Scores And More: The Heat Get Exposed This Time, And The Hornets Are For Real
Another weekend of hoops is in the books, and once again, we’re left wondering about the Miami Heat. The Hornets are for real this year, but let’s ask ourselves: is Emeka Okafor the new Shaq, or do the Heat have some issues on D?
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That’s where we begin after another weekend of NBA action.
Miami Heat 93, New Orleans Hornets 96, Friday Night
How else do you explain Emeka Okafor on Friday night? He was 12-13 for 26 points and added 13 rebounds on the way to a huge win for the New Orleans Hornets. And we’ll get to the Hornets, but... When did Emeka Okafor turn into Shaquille O’Neal? Oh, right.
When he played the Miami Heat.
And it’s not to take away from what the Hornets did on Friday night, hanging in there against one of the two best teams in the entire league and winning a dogfight down the stretch. But the Heat’s two biggest weaknesses were exposed in this one, and that makes it a story about them. Chris Bosh had one rebound all night—one!—and Miami was helpless against a serviceable big man with a guard (Chris Paul) that could get him the ball.
Then, when the battled back and had a shot to tie the game and send things to overtime, they turned to... Eddie House? Seriously? All summer long, we’ve wondered who would take the big shots for Miami. And... Eddie House? I mean... SERIOUSLY?
It’s early, and surely the self-conscious Heat will evolve, but it was kind of perfect for everything to crystallize Friday night. Can the Heat guard big men? Do the Heat have someone to take the last shot? Can the Heat battle the Lakers if they can’t handle the Hornets?
Who knows what’ll happen in June, but on November 6, Lil Wayne was courtside, and he thought these questions were hilarious.
New Orleans Hornets 87, Milwaukee Bucks 81, Saturday Night
As for New Orleans, they are sitting at 6-0 and look like the surprise team of the NBA in 2010. Not only has Okafor looked better than ever, but David West is chipping in, and Chris Paul is back to being the most dominant point guard on the planet.
It’s amazing how quickly we all forgot about CP3 last season. Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, and Deron Williams will do that, of course. But there’s really no question now that he’s back and healthy and weaving through defenses: Chris Paul is a cut above everyone.
The Hornets may not have what it takes to go very far in the postseason, but at this point, would you bet against CP3 carrying them to say, a sixth seed? Trevor Ariza, David West, Okafor... It’s not a championship supporting cast, but Chris Paul can lift all of them to a different place. And as for, Paul, himself, our Hornets blog describes the following sequence at the end of Saturday night’s win:
CP comes off the pick and is faced with two Buck defenders. What he does next- that subtle flick of his shoulders- is what makes the play. Luc Richard freezes, Andrew Bogut freezes, and while everybody’s busy freezing, Chris Paul is still going. A second later, the ball is in the net, Luc Richard is on the ground, and the Hornets are on their way.
He’s covered, and then less than a nanosecond later, he isn’t. That, in the world’s tiniest nutshell, is Chris Paul.
Time to start taking New Orleans seriously.
Portland Trail Blazers 96, Los Angeles Lakers 121, Sunday Night
And while everyone frets over the Heat (guilty), the L.A. Lakers look pretty much invincible. It’s not quite as sexy a story, but Pau is playing better than ever—he had a triple double yesterday—Lamar Odom is dialed in, and Kobe Bryant is still Kobe Bryant.
What more do you need to know?
The Blazers are probably the fourth best team in the Western Conference, and the Lakers blew them off the court on Sunday night. Where are the people wondering whether they can win 72 games?
Chicago Bulls 105, Boston Celtics 110 (OT), Friday Night
The Bulls have been “a year away” for like the past five years, but watching them on Friday night, you got the feeling that they’re more like “a few months away.” They battled back against one of the best defensive teams in the league, outscoring the Celtics by 11 points on the road in the second half.
Luol Deng and Joakim Noah combined for 46 points on 50% shooting. Derrick Rose struggled a little bit, and Chicago’s still playing without Carlos Boozer, but when you think about Deng and Noah as third and fourth contributors, respectively, you begin to see the future in Chicago. Imagine what this team will look like with Boozer as a second scorer and Rose hitting on all cylinders. Better than the Celtics?
(dramatic pause)
Maybe not, but even short-handed and on the road Friday, they were almost as good. And looking at the Eastern Conference, you have to wonder whether Boston can stay healthy. Or whether Orlando can beat elite teams with the Rashard-VC-Jameer pu-pu platter orbiting around Dwight Howard. Or whether Miami can guard big men. Or whether Hawks can magically make the leap. Or...
Every team in the Eastern Conference has nagging questions nipping at their case for supremacy in the long term. But with Chicago, at least for now, their questions are all positive. Instead of what they can’t do, we’re talking about a team that’s already solid enough to compete with the elite. And when they get healthy and comfortable with Tom Thibodeau’s system... What can they do?
It’s a scary thought in an already-loaded Eastern Conference, but Friday was a good reminder.
Don’t forget about the Bulls.
Boston Celtics 93, Oklahoma City 82, Sunday Night
As for Boston... They look better than ever at this point. They blitzed OKC right out of the gate Sunday night, and despite a run from Oklahoma City during the third quarter, there was never any doubt about who was the superior team. And if they stay healthy, there’s no doubt about the favorite in the Eastern Conference.
My only worry is that the Celtics are too old to sustain this pace for the next seven or eight months. It’s one thing to dominate in November, but keeping this going all year would take a lot out of any team, let alone for a group as weathered as Boston. So keep that in mind while the Celtics run roughshod over everyone.
In 2008, Boston started 27-2 before meeting L.A. on Christmas Day. They looked better than ever and primed to defend their title in memorable fashion. But KG got hurt, and before long, it all unraveled. So to those jumping on the Celtics bandwagon: proceed with caution.
Utah Jazz 77, Golden State Warriors 85, Friday Night
L.A. Clippers 107, Utah Jazz 109 (2OT), Saturday Night
What is the deal with Utah? Everyone’s favorite sleeper in the West appears to asleep at the wheel in the Western Conference. They got blitzed by Steph Curry in the fourth quarter on Friday night, and nearly fell victim to the Eric Gordon attack at home on Saturday night.
They won that game, and it’s still too early to press the panic button on one of the most talented teams in the entire league. Jerry Sloan will get it figured out. But it bares mentioning, at least for now, that even when they win, Utah hasn’t looked like the aggressors we expected this season. Meanwhile, Eric Gordon...
...His performance this summer was not an accident.
Cleveland Cavaliers 107, Washington Wizards 102
Thankfully, I didn’t have to watch this game. But a friend of mine that’s a season-ticket holder called and left me the following message in response to the Wizards’ performance.
“Dude, it is so hard to watch these guys play basketball sometimes. Javale McGee literally doesn’t know the offense OR the defense, and he just cost us the game. And Flip’s offensive sets... He’s got Gil, Hinrich, and Wall on the floor, and his offense is to pass it to Blatche and let Blatche go 1-on-5. It’s just ridiculous.”
(long pause)
(deep sigh)
“Lottery pick is what we need, and you’re right, man. We need to get rid of everyone, because... We’re not going annnnywhere with Andray Blatche. Hope you’re well, bye.”
So, yeah... The Wizards have John Wall, but they still have a ways to go.
Houston Rockets 121, San Antonio 124 (OT), Saturday Night
Poor Houston. Not only do they lose a close game against an in-state rival to remain winless in 2010, but they lose Aaron Brooks for six weeks, to make them... Hopeless for 2010?
Minnesota Timberwolves 94, Houston Rockets 120, Sunday Night
No, no... The Timberwolves. They are the hopeless ones.
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