GAME 3: HEAT @ Pacers (7PM)

[Miamis3rdRing]

It does feel like the Dallas series in so many ways.

The Pacers, like the Mavs, are punking us. Last year it was Stevenson, Marion, and Terry. This year it's Granger and West.

Vogel is cocky, Carlisle was cocky.

Last year we had one superstar disappear (LeBron), this year we have another missing (Wade).

F***. We were fine in the 1st half, I was feeling good. Then the 3rd quarter began and within 4 to 5 minutes you knew it was over.

How bad is it that we need Rio's production to survive? How much worse is it that he comes up biggest, and we still lose? I'm gonna carry the flag until we go down, but goddammit, this is my worst fear. We got no answers. Spo dug into the bench and didn't come up with a solution. Lebron looked like his tank emptied in the 1st half. Wade...is not Wade. Indiana flat-out looks like the better team right now. Better coaching and playing. That's not good.

I'm far from a Spo fan, but I can't put this loss on him or even the last one. Wade has been completely worthless, and none of the supporting guys can hit a shot. Battier had so many looks. Shots that he knocks down normally. Right now he can't throw the ball in the ocean. Numerous guys have gotten chances and nobody can deliver.

Last year's supporting cast >> This year's. I didn't think that was possible.

[DefenseWins]

we gonna win 3 in a row. COME ON GUYS HAVE FAITH

(even though I SWORE we'd win this convincingly..... I'm running out of optimism )

it is funny though I did expect Wade to come out, and this is probably the worst playoff game I have ever witnessed from him. We all rag on LeBron for the Finals but this is just as bad.... just wow. 5 points, 2-13? LOL. I really did not think he had it in him. He better have something broken or torn. No excuse for playing like that.

[Miamis3rdRing]

The non-homer in me says we're screwed.

The homer says we're taking Game 4.

It's only a one game deficit but the way things are unraveling makes it seem worse than it probably is. If we take Game 4 and thus HCA we have a good shot.

One game at a time.

*Just a warning, prepare for me to tear ruthlessly into any player(s) that doesn't play well next game.

[DefenseWins]

man, I'm just so distraught. Here I am thinking, PLAYOFF WADE AND LEBRON MAN!!! LETS GOO!!!!

and I see this crap. Ugh.

Miller hit 2-3 3's.

BATTIER WAS 0-6, TRASH!!! LOL they weren't even close.

Miller should be attempting more 3's lmao. WHAT HAPPENED TO 10 A GAME? He should have gotten all of Battier's touches ROFL.

Joel even scores more than Battier. I DID NOT THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!! Battier is the new winged Joel. lmao.

[BIRDMAN BIRDMAN]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--as-he ... lling.html

Looks who's back. He must be best friends with Skip.

And I see **** everywhere. Some Heat fans on Twitter are even considering quitting soon, it's cool at least we're starting to see who the bandwagons are. People are acting like this **** is over. Listen, I'm one of the most negative fans you'll ever see, but damn can we chill please. I know it sucks right now and it's bringing back memories of Dallas but last time I checked it's still 2-1. And believe me, I hate it when people say "it's just 2-1 tho we still cool we still gon win with or without Bosh" because there are obviously problems that need to be addressed, but it's just not gonna be that easy as some expected it to be. This is gonna be a grind. This is gonna be a battle. This is war.

To see LeBron do that XVI thing only to come up way too short with just V or VI, I just can't imagine that man, that would really suck if that happens. We gotta be stronger mentally. Stop folding when adversity comes. THIS IS OUR TIME! THIS IS OUR YEAR! With or without Bosh, THE TIME IS NOW!

Believe. 2012. Let's go Heat. REDEMPTION.

[iboxlefty]

Lol imagine doing this all over again next year, bulls, pacers, knicks, bucks, celtics... Yea, awesome

[HIF]

We lost because Bosh wasn't there hurting us in every area of our game, our 3 pt shooters couldn't hit open shots but mostly because my hero DWade was diabolical!!!! Did he even attack the basket more than twice tonight?

[OtW]

We need this production out of Rio every game just to stay in it...we simply cannot match them at the 5. Spo went through the bench. I think he realizes that now. We can't do anything to stop Roy Hibbert. Dude had 16 pts/16 rebounds when we started getting blown out.

Wade's performance was unacceptable....
Shane should not see the court longer than 10 minutes, at least Miller hit two three's.

Idk how we are doing this, but, let me say this: if we top this adversity, then let's say I really like our chances to go all the way...

[NoComparison]

The team who wins the next game, wins the series.

[HIF]

Shane shot badly but his D on West in the first half was good.

Spo knew the center position was wrecked if Bosh went down all season. fact is we couldn't get anybody.

We knew when we got the big 3 signed that we needed a center, we hoped to get one in FA last season but COULDN'T. Nothing has changed

[Ratchet_Rio]

The team who wins the next game, wins the series.

If Indiana wins the next game, its curtains and another season goes down the drain.

If Miami wins the next game, then the winner of Game 5 will win the series.

[EscapoTHB]

Lol imagine doing this all over again next year, bulls, pacers, knicks, bucks, celtics... Yea, awesome

Yeah I'm getting exhausted. The national media have made this team absolutely miserable to follow. You can't enjoy any of our victories, and every defeat ends with someone needing to be traded. It's a lot to take on year after year.

No other team that's not won a title has ever had this kind of year to year scrutiny and hatred.

I dunno, this team is killing my love of basketball. I just want to watch a game and not think about what skip bayless or jon barry or charles barkley is going to say afterwards.

[Miamis3rdRing]

I'll start feeling a lot better about our chances if we can take Game 4.

Then it becomes a 3 games series, with potentially 2 games at home. That sounds do-able.

In the playoff's so far:
Mike Miller - 35.9% FG shooting, 39.4% from 3

Shane Battier - 26.3% FG shooting, 25.8% from 3

Udonis Haslem - 31% FG shooting

It gets worse...
vs. Indiana at this point -

Mike Miller is 3/9 in this series so far. He has a total of 8 points and 6 rebounds.

Shane Battier is 1/12 so far. He has totaled 5 points and 11 rebounds.

Udonis Haslem is 2/11 so far. He has a total of 6 points and 12 rebounds.

Arison should simply tell these guys, "I'm not paying you."

I'm pretty sure these 3 stooges are the offspring of Bibby's dad and JO's mom (Or is it Bibby's mom and JO's dad?). Either way, they are disgraceful.

[HIF]

The team who wins the next game, wins the series.

If Indiana wins the next game, its curtains and another season goes down the drain.

If Miami wins the next game, then the winner of Game 5 will win the series.

Is it the same for your beloved Philly?

We need Miami to win G4 but if they don't it's not over, It takes 4 losses to be eliminated. Until then I'll continue to support and believe.

[illmaticone]

I've been saying it since the end of the finals we had to make a change within the big 3, and the only guy that realistically fit the bill was Wade, he still played up to a superstar level, but it was clear his physical talent was deteriorating...Riley should've been on the phone with Orlando offering up Wade for Howard, Orlando wouldve salivated at the opportunity, seeing that they are losing Dwight for zilch, and we would've had the best inside-out tandem in the entire NBA...now we are getting owned by f'n Hibbert and Wade is helping along with all the other scrubs in sinking the ship...

[cb1]

I've been saying it since the end of the finals we had to make a change within the big 3, and the only guy that realistically fit the bill was Wade, he still played up to a superstar level, but it was clear his physical talent was deteriorating...Riley should've been on the phone with Orlando offering up Wade for Howard, Orlando wouldve salivated at the opportunity, seeing that they are losing Dwight for zilch, and we would've had the best inside-out tandem in the entire NBA...now we are getting owned by f'n Hibbert and Wade is helping along with all the other scrubs in sinking the ship...

Wade just has to improve his midrange game during the offseason whenever that offseason comes. He relies too much on getting into the paint to be effective.

[cb1]

One thing i know for sure is whether win or lose, the big 3 should not be broken up. Last thing we wonna do is give the hating losers the pleasure of seeing this experiment fail. Whichever of the big 3 gets moved also has to live with the epic fail for the rest of their careers. Riley just needs to get a true center and revamp the role player situation if we end up losing. He might have to evaluate the Spo situation as well. Bottomline is the big 3 are joined at the hip untill they win the damn championship together. PERIOD!

[illmaticone]

we have no money to revamp the role player situation, we used it all on the big 3 + haslem + miller...even if we amnesty miller it doesnt come off the cap in that way, and no one will take those guys on in a trade with the way theyve been playing...unless you cobble them up along with wade or bosh in a trade...

we've been saying Wade has to improve his midrange game for YEARS now, it hasnt happened, and it isnt going to...he is the player that he's going to be...his prime years are behind him...lets rebuild around our still effective and sometimes dominant league MVP and try to get a real big man in here...if we can somehow get howard, who is the best big man in the league, for anyone but Lebron, we should be jumping at the opportunity...I am grateful to Wade and all he has done, he's arguably the best player to ever put on a Heat uniform, but there are no loyalties in sports...Riley's only job is to improve the team, not placate everyone...

[HIF]

If you think Wade is so bad and declining why wouldn't REAL scouts think the same?

[Lord Hades]

Some of you all's attitudes stink worse than how we played in the second half.

I don't know what the hell was with that implosion, but obviously we need better focus and a better plan of attack. Attack being the operative word. Even with them stacking the paint, we need to go to the basket; staggered screens, cutters, anything. Midrange opportunities seems damn near inexistent. I'd rather dare them to be us from outside than having them go inside/outside as smoothly as they looked after the first quarter.