Thursday Jan 19 - Lakers @ Heat 8 PM EST on TNT

[Miamis3rdRing]

BACK IN BLACK





We're off, on another Miami HEAT adventure!



Time: 8 PM Eastern
Television: TNT
Place: The HEAT's House - American Airlines Arena

Ladies and gentlemen, we ask that you please rise for the presentation of our national anthem.


Now the starting line-up's for both teams. . .

Starting with the visiting Los Angeles Lakers -


Depth Chart:
PG: Fisher/Morris/Goudelock
SG: Bryant/Kapono
SF: Barnes/World Peace/Ebanks/Walton
PF: Gasol/McRoberts/Murphy/Caracter
C: Bynum

Injuries: Steve Blake - rib injury out for approximately 1 month.

And now STAND UP, and MAKE SOME NOISE, for your MIAMI HEAT!


Depth Chart:
PG: Chalmers/Cole
SG: Jones/Battier/Harris
SF: James/Miller
PF: Bosh/Haslem/Howard/Gladness
C: Anthony/Pittman/Curry

Injuries: Dwyane Wade - listed as day to day.

[Miamis3rdRing]

A couple thoughts...

- Contrary to popular belief of the Heat being unable to defend size on the inside, Bynum and Gasol (Odom too for that matter) did NOT kill us during either game last season.

- Bosh played very well in both games.

- James Jones starting on Kobe? I don't like it (Funny considering my sig). Start Battier.

- Not having Wade hurts, because if you look at his head-to-head against Kobe they essentially cancel each other out. Last season, neither of the two shot over 40% in the two games we played.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... 2=wadedw01

More to come...

[WD]

EDDIE MIGHT PLAY

"That was the word that Erik Spoelstra used, when asked whether Eddy Curry would make his Heat debut tomorrow against the Lakers.

That word is a lot stronger than any Spoelstra has chosen before.

Thursday would seem like a good time to get him some action, even in a short stint against Lakers center Andrew Bynum.

Curry spent 45 minutes after Wednesday’s practice working with Terrel Harris and assistant Keith Askins, who pushed Curry to run up and down the floor, post and dunk. The center, who has weighed well over 400 pounds in the past, looks considerably lighter now."

[Kerosene]

Working tomorrow night is going to feel like a prison sentence

Then again, it's the regular season and nothing really matters til' June (That's what i'll haVe to keep telling myself).

[Pimpwerx]

I'm interested to see Curry make his return tomorrow. It would be interesting to see him matchup against Bynum, even for a few minutes.

I don't want JJ to start on Kobe. Kobe has been chucking, and will no doubt take every opportunity to abuse JJ's matador defense. I like the idea of giving Shane the start there, or Miller. Actually, start Miller since he can be hidden on Ebanks. Bosh can get his against Pau, and I'd personally love to see Lebron erase Kobe from a game. Not sure if that'll happen, but he could definitely stay in front of Kobe. Down the stretch, we should see that matchup.

I don't think the Lakers matchup well against us. They aren't great at ball movement when Kobe's in chucker mode, and they don't have any speed or athleticism to penetrate our defense. They have length down low, but I think we defended them well last year. I can see use forcing a lot of turnovers and running a lot against them. PEACE.

[Kobeoverrated]

Kobe's going to shoot about 35 times and make 10 shots.

Shane Battier has Kobe's # expect him to guard kobe.


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4aDM5d27_w[/youtube]

[Miamis3rdRing]

EthanJSkolnick Ethan J. Skolnick
The Eddy Curry workout is finally over. Curry says he will be winded in first appearance, but "my game will come out."

Curry: "It's gonna feel great. It will feel any better if I can pull a Mike Miller & go 6-for-6. But I'm not expecting that."

Curry on his weight: "It's a great number, but it's not where I want to be. When it is, I'll put a sticker on."

https://twitter.com/EthanJSkolnick

I have a feeling he will play (Can't wait!). If not, expect Pittman to get some minutes behind Joel.

Here's an interesting stat -
Mike Miller made more 3 pointers last night (6) than any Laker player has totaled all season outside of Steve Blake (17) and Kobe Bryant (16). Barnes and Fisher have both made 5 on the season, while Kapono is at 4.

*Chalmers and LeBron chipped in 4 3-pointers a piece.

If the trend continues, our defensive scheme(s) should pay off. Heat did a great job harassing them on the interior, forcing turnovers last season.

Edit -
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAfPQCVyHp4[/youtube]

The camera guy should have zoomed out, he's getting too close.

[Chosen01]

I know Wade play probably wants to play really bad against Kobe.Not looking forward to Bynum crushing Joel on the boards and overall but hopefully LeBosh can seal the win.

[LikeABosh]

I'm curious but would any of you consider starting Battier at the 2 position to guard Kobe?

Also, isn't this the debut of those black jerseys?

[Pimpwerx]

I'm curious but would any of you consider starting Battier at the 2 position to guard Kobe?

Also, isn't this the debut of those black jerseys?

Yes and Yes. JJ shouldn't start. I'd start Battier or Miller. Also, we get a new intro video with the new black-on-black jerseys. PEACE.

[This IsMy House]

Not having Wade for this game is going to be tough. Hopefully LeBron and Bosh can have a repeat of last nights performance and keep the team in it. Two interesting things for me are; James Jones on Kobe is just a recipe for disaster, and seeing if Curry gets some minutes. I know the Heat have said he might play tomorrow, and theres been a lot of videos of him practicing. Tomorrow would be a great opportunity for him since well need some size down low with the work Bynum has been doing. Hopefully Cole, Miller, and Battier are good to go, well need the scoring of Miller and Cole, and the defense of Battier off the bench.

[Leor_77]

Lakers fan here...I think the Heat probably win it. Lebron seems to have Kobe's number lately. Kobe hasn't been as assertive defensively the past year or so. He used to take the challenge of guarding the other teams best player, and usually did a decent job, but has since let Artest/Barnes do it, which very rarely works out well with elite players.

Unfortunately for me, I have a feeling Kobe will take it as a Kobe vs Lebron type thing and try to take over the game himself, shot jack, etc. If Kobe gets Gasol and Bynum involved and they dominate the paint and boards like they're supposed to do, I really like the Lakers' chances.

[StepBack3]

Working tomorrow night is going to feel like a prison sentence

Then again, it's the regular season and nothing really matters til' June (That's what i'll haVe to keep telling myself).

Ino right, do you feel that too?

Whenever I got a long shift and I know a good Miami game is on that night, it's all I can think about and is what keeps me going through the day lol

[salqaddoumi]

Bad timing for the Wade injury. Always enjoy the Kobe-Wade matchups.

[Heej]

Best thing about Battier is that he doesn't try and go for highlight reel blocks. Him, Kidd, and Artest have great large hands and inhuman hand-eye coordination that lets them strip the ball on a regular basis when players go up with it. Lebron and Wade can't really do it, that's just something you can't really teach and Battier's amazing at it.

[DefenseWins]

Andrew Bynum is the one that worries me, and Gasol vs Bosh

Last year Bosh had an edge, but who knows how they'll both play tomorrow

But if DeJuan Blair, a shorter Center than Joel Anthony, can wreak havoc in the paint, Bynum will destroy...

ugh.


Bench gotta step up, I don't see anyone stopping LBJ. Artest and Barnes? LOL

I think our bench is better, if they make their shots.

If Curry is activated and Spo sees us getting eaten in the paint, he might appear, or Pittman.

Joel vs Bynum is going to be hilarious. You'll see this guy is not even 6'9 as he's listed.

I also think Battier should start.

[OtW]

Joel vs. Bynum sounds scary...last year, we had Dampier and Z on him during the Heat/Laker match ups...so we don't know what to expect. I hope not another 20/20 game for Drew :-/.

Also, Battier should start over Jones. I'm all for free JJ, but it's Kobe, we can't have him dropping 40 in our house. He can do so with James Jones guarding him. Battier should give him trouble, like he has in the past.

[Miamis3rdRing]

Lost in all the discussion -

EthanJSkolnick Ethan J. Skolnick
Zydrunas Ilgauskas has taken job as special assistant to Cavs GM. A bit surprised, since he said he would never live in cold weather again.

Big-Z did a VERY good job on Gasol last season. His length bothered him IMO. Other fans mentioned the same thing dating back to Big-Z's Cleveland days.

We'll need Bosh and UD to step it up on the defensive end.

Like I've mentioned, Bynum is not that good at handling double teams. It's new to him, since this is the first year that he's a big part of their offensive attack. If we can double him quickly that could slow him down some.

Rebounding will be big this game though. I think the Lakers are #1 or #2 in rebounding this season.

---

@LakersReporter Mike Trudell
Lakers are crossing the bridge to South Beach

Phil Jackson had them stay in Coconut Grove, but Brown is taking them to the beach. Release the groupies!

I've blamed players more than I have blamed Spoelstra this season, but if he starts JJ on Kobe I'm going to go off.

[This IsMy House]

With the way Spo likes to keep things "consistent" I really do see JJ starting and Kobe just having a free for all. JJ can't do anything really to stop Kobe. Maybe have JJ guard Barnes at the start and put LeBron on Kobe until Miller or Battier come in? I don't know what Spo is going to do about that. But JJ on Kobe, and Joel on Bynum isn't a great solution to stopping LA. Hopefully Bosh steps up like he did last year on X-mas and had a great game. But LeBron always seems to do work against LA so my fingers are crossed.

[sooie92]

Joel vs. Bynum sounds scary...last year, we had Dampier and Z on him during the Heat/Laker match ups...so we don't know what to expect. I hope not another 20/20 game for Drew :-/.

Also, Battier should start over Jones. I'm all for free JJ, but it's Kobe, we can't have him dropping 40 in our house. He can do so with James Jones guarding him. Battier should give him trouble, like he has in the past.

Lol is that picture legit..? omg.. this game is treated like its the finals.. im so nervous about this game.. we can't lose to them... i REALLLY would like D-Wade to play... but he prolly wont be able to.. and yes Joel vs Bynum does sound scary. At least last year we had Big Z to add height to our team against the Lakers and alter Bynum shots.. but not this year.. Curry better show up, his presence itself could save us from Bynum and Gasol getting offensive rebounds.