Miami getting punk'd by OKC

[exodus]

JO and Chalmers are both playing but are getting owned by OKC. Miami has only 57 points through 3 quarters and are down 15. Wade almost looks like he is quiting in the middle of the game. Thabo Sefalosha has been all over him and Wade can't score.

[DjGrizz]

I think that is the same Wade that quit in game 7 against us. lol

[High5]

I hate when teams lose the night before they play us.

[exodus]

Miami needed a buzzer beating 3 by Wade to beat the Nets in their previous game and now this. i think the Hawks should handle them with no problem.

[DrReality]

It will be another good test for us. We have to own our home court. Bring them on.

[MaceCase]

Yet another home game? Crikey!

[Yubs]

I hate when teams lose the night before they play us.

I thought the same with Denver, when they lost to Miami in their back-to-back. But we thoroughly whupped their butts when they came to town, so I'm expecting a similar result with the Heat.

[capstone21]

Lets not take our record for granted. The worst thing you can do is get complacent. We can lose to any team at any time. Miami is a good team and if they are on their game tomorrow night they can beat us.

Remember we lost to Charlotte by 20. If we can keep the right attitude and play like we did against Boston then we can compete with anyone.

[TheTruth]

^Thank you. Complacency would be about this team's only kryptonite with the way they have been playing lately.

[Duff_Man]

Beasley got a whopping 23 minutes. They refuse to play him in any crunch time. He's got problems.

Good news is that I think Monday's game was a wake-up call for the Hawks. We're deeper and flat-out better than Miami.

[Atlantaholic]

We will kill them. I promise you the Hawks won't take this game lightly. Division opponent, and our foes from the playoffs last year... We better come out with some fire, and I think we will.

[Diesel]

There are some very bad assumptions made here..

Namely that OKC is a bad team. This is a team with Durant, Westbrook,and Green and Collison off the bench. They are a lot better than their record implicates. They have beaten San Antonio, Orlando, and have played the Lakers tight.

Secondly, that Miami doesn't cause some matchup difficulties for us. While I suspect Smoove to handle JO... there's still Wade and Beasley.

[bonethugz]

this happen in professional sports. the heat are still a good team, playoff team, not a great team.

[Gray Mule]

:thumbsdownsmileyanim:

On any given night - - - -

Hawks can be beat by any NBA team at any time - - And, don't you forget it.

No, not just the Bobcats - - - Any team.

On the other hand, Hawks can beat any NBA team on any night.

Last season's playoff opponent.

Playing at Phillips Arena.

Second of a back to back for our opponent.

They lost last night - - Bad.

GO HAWKS!!!

:dancing18:

[jerrywest]

Why didn't the experts notice that Miami got a very easy schedule so far. I doubt Miami can stay 5th in the East once the schedule catches up with them.

They have also used up their quota of uninjured games for O'Neil.

[DrReality]

I agree that we show up ready to play because there was so much flack about how they just pulled out the series last year. We beat them but it was not a moral victory. I think we come out loaded for bear.

[Atlantaholic]

I really feel that this years team will be coming for blood tonight... If we actually have a half decent crowd tonight I don't see how Miami has a chance.

[khaos7]

I actually hate that they lost to the Thunder last night. But I digress...

We'd better not sleep on MIA. Honestly, they've played good ball this year and Wade is still Wade. Keys to the game for me (aside from containing Wade):

1) Defend the 3pt line

2) Don't turn back the clock on Jermaine O'neil and allow him to have a good game.

3) Control the paint/glass

These things could offset any surge Wade gives them.

[Diesel]

I actually hate that they lost to the Thunder last night. But I digress...

We'd better not sleep on MIA. Honestly, they've played good ball this year and Wade is still Wade. Keys to the game for me (aside from containing Wade):

1) Defend the 3pt line

2) Don't turn back the clock on Jermaine O'neil and allow him to have a good game.

3) Control the paint/glass

These things could offset any surge Wade gives them.

I will do you one better..

The Diesel Points for the game:

1. Rebound, Rebound, Rebound. Over the last two years, we have lost only a few games when we have outrebounded the competition. Josh, Horf, and Zaza has gone after rebounds with a vengence this year... or at least it seems like it.

2. Make shots. Our offense depends on us being able to make shots. When we don't make shots, we look terrible. What that really means is take good shots.

3. Defend the perimeter. Wade is a pretty good 3 ball shooter. I know we're constantly worried about his drive... But he kills with the 3 pters.

[thefloydian]

There are some very bad assumptions made here..

Namely that OKC is a bad team. This is a team with Durant, Westbrook,and Green and Collison off the bench. They are a lot better than their record implicates. They have beaten San Antonio, Orlando, and have played the Lakers tight.

Secondly, that Miami doesn't cause some matchup difficulties for us. While I suspect Smoove to handle JO... there's still Wade and Beasley.

Didn't Beasley go crazy this summer? I thought he was getting like 20 minutes a game.