When the Heat becomes cold

Miami Heat's projection for this season is easy. Overwhelm the league and win the championship. Never seemed so easy specially if you got 1/4 of team USA on your team. That was the promise these new Heat trio promised it's fans... Championships. But as they stand now the Heat are only 2 games above .500. What happened? What went wrong?

While other writers pan James out. I will point out what's obvious. This team lacks chemistry. "Him and D-Wade don't complement each other. They're somewhat the same type of players, 'Bron and D-Wade. ... Both of those guys need the ball, and they don't shoot the ball like Ray Allen. That's why they're having trouble scoring in the halfcourt, because they can't get a rhythm, because one of them is dominating the ball. That guy might be getting off, but the other guy [isn't]. That's why when they're on the court together, they're terrible. They're rhythm players that need the ball. I'm like that. I can't stand out there and catch and shoot. I've never been a guy that sits out there waiting for the ball to come to me." says T-Mac.

Nice observation because I predicted the same when this team was first assembled.


I remember questioning how Wade and LeBron can co-exist because they basically have the same skill set. They are not consistent jump shooters like Allen and they mostly attack the basket than take the jump. Compared to Boston who basically had a diverse big three (Garnett mans the post, Allen takes the jumpers, and Pierce is their main penetrator) the Heat have two guys playing the same game and they demand the ball in their hands big time. That's one problem I foresaw 5 months ago.

I also noticed the general make-up of this team. They have no steady point guards, and their centers are not the kind of bigs that wins championships (Well if you say Jordan did it even without a credible center then obviously these players ARE NOT Michael Jordan). Point guard can be easy to answer as both Wade and LeBron are no strangers in bringing in the ball and distributing, but the center thing is a different monster all together. Championships are mostly won by great big men (Again don't raise Chicago here because Jordan is a different beast). Lakers prove it in their long history. Celts did it in their dynasty days, recently on Garnett's steady intensity. Spurs obviously banked on Tim Duncan's exploits. Philly had one thanks to Moses. You don't expect to win with Zydrunas and Juwan, known softies, manning your post. Most credible threat Udonis is done for, Chris Bosh is uber-soft and will likely rely on his jumpshots than bang bodies inside. Obviously the Heat needs more than Jamaal Magloire and Joel Anthony and I doubt Dampier fits the role perfectly.

A few days ago I was analyzing what went wrong for this team when it struck me that the Miami thrice never played with another all-star player in their prime. Bosh had Marion on his downside. James and Wade had Shaq on his downside. James had Mo but Mo isn't in the same level of a Wade, an elite all-star. Mo Williams is just an actor on the LeBron direction in Cleveland. They had Antawn but he came in too late to really blend with his new team. Miami Thrice are prized players on their respective clubs and they run the show... All of the sudden you bend the tradition and try to share the spotlight. Knowing how big the egos are that's a tough spot to cover.

As I said media is panning-out James but not with lack of reason. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports did a great job of the story: "Meticulous in his preparation, Spoelstra spoke with several past coaches, and league sources said a clear and unequivocal picture appeared on how to proceed: End the cycle of enabling with James and hold him accountable. And surprise, surprise: LeBron James has responded with a test of his own organizational strength, pushing to see how far the Heat will bend to his will. This season, James is hearing a word seldom uttered to him in Cleveland: “No.” And it keeps coming out of the coach’s mouth, keeps getting between the King and what he wants. Can I stay overnight to party in New Orleans after a preseason game? Can I play the clown in practice? Can I get out of playing point guard? No. No. No. Wait, what? No, LeBron. No. Even within a month of the season’s sideways 9-8 start, the NBA witnessed a predictable play out of the James-Maverick Carter playbook on Monday morning. They planted a story and exposed themselves again as jokers of the highest order. They care so little about anyone but themselves. Still, no one’s surprised that they’d stoop so low, so fast into this supposed historic 73-victory season and NBA Finals sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers. They want Spoelstra – and Pat Riley – to bend to them, to bow to the King the way everyone has before them." full story. Such machinations don't work out in the professional level. Larry Brown always says "Play the right Way". If this Heat wants to win they have to let people do their jobs like Spoelstra is doing. Interestingly, instead of righting this insane wrong Wade joins team LeBron: “I’m not going to say he’s ‘my guy,’ but he’s my coach,” Wade said. Well done tuning your coach out is another page for disaster.

And that's where the Heat finds themselves in: A disaster.


References:
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=5862624
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Al35JePYcJn8QxtW_wuRKeO8vLYF?slug=aw-lebronspoelstra112910

Bad omen: Pacquiao beginning to believe his hype

"I've been under pressure and tough conditions before, The training is going good..." so declared Manny Pacquiao. It's time to wake up, unlike my other half-crazy Filipino brothers I'd say read between the lines and notice that Pac is on a danger zone.

This is the first time that I've read Freddie Roach really concerned about the training camp. The "worst-ever" training camp as he further alludes to it. Too many bumps along the way for this one, Pacquiao skipping his customary roadwork for basketball then injuring his heel that further derailed the practices... The supposed to be closed door practices which inexplicably, became open to the press and various other friends and acquaintances. Pacquiao holding some small concert for Michael Koncz. Manny skipping practice for a rendezvous with the President (Philippines). Him skipping practice anew to guest in a show (video embed above) and raise some politicians hands in another. It seems his recent domination of his earlier opponents have gotten to his head, no longer focused as his earlier versions have been. This is no longer the Pacquiao that is bent on getting higher. This is Pacquiao the rockstar.

As a fan I'm concerned with this happy-go-lucky attitude. Boxing has been a punishing sport. It is not basketball where in you can relax for three quarters and mount a big comeback. Punches make a toll on your body and if your not trained well enough could knock you out or damage you forever and worst kill you. I remember this same kind of laid back attitude in Lennox Lewis when he skipped training in favor of a movie. The result? An embarrassing KO to 15-to-1 underdog Hashim Rahman in the fifth round. I've read of a similar incident when Muhammad Ali KO'd Sonny Liston in the very first round. Sonny Liston was very much out of shape after the first schedule of their rematch was postponed six months when Ali needed emergency surgery for a strangulated hernia.

One thing that bothers me is the report that sparring against the lumbering Medina, Pacquiao looked anything but sharp. The report adds: "On several occasions he allowed Medina to pound him against the ropes. Pacquiao showed flashes of his lightning quickness, but either he was just getting warmed up or he wasn’t taking this too seriously."

Michael Medina was on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Clottey fight. He was totally outclassed by John Duddy. A 100% focused Pacquiao could have easily smoked the guy out instead he allowes the guy to pound him? Manny wasn't any sharper on his next sparring partner Amir Khan as reported: "On numerous occasions, Khan beat Pacquiao to the punch with blistering combinations. At times, Pacquiao held his hands down and he kept trying to adjust his protective headgear. He clearly didn’t look 100 percent. Midway in their third round, the two went at each other for about 40 seconds of pure, scintillating action. But when the four rounds were up, it was clear that Khan got the better of the exchanges". Khan have been Manny's understudy for a long time. So further puts doubt on Manny's abilities it's either Khan is fast gaining on Manny or it's Pac on the decline. The last part scares me more. Manny on the decline against a fighter that has nothing to lose and every thing to gain. A fighter who is the biggest that Pac will ever face in his career. Margarito gains everything with a win and Manny loses so much with a loss to the underdog.

A 100% Pacquiao could win easily. A well-trained Pacquiao wouldn't leave any doubt on his fans mind. A focused Pacquiao makes impossible odds possible. Let's hope he doesn't make anymore monkey business out of this. On Nov. 13 (14 in Manila) judgement will come. Let's cross our fingers and hope for the best for Manny.

Pacquiao needs to get back to his old self and focus, not believe in his own hype that he can win all his fights. Boxing is a different animal one punch could very well end everything he's build for.


Sources:
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/204533/roach-pacquiao-having-worst-ever-training-camp
http://www.ringtv.com/blog/2450/pacquiao_sluggish_for_final_day_of_training_in_philippines/