Miami Heat @ Washington Wizards - Game Thread - 8:30 PM

[Time4War]

Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat 4 minutes ago
The Heat will start their championship-winning starting five for first time this preseason: Bosh, Battier, LeBron, Wade and Chalmers.



Udonis Haslem also will play for the first time this preseason.

April 26, 2012 Wizards 104 - Heat 70

[Mars]

"Udonis will harm me physically if I don't let him play tomorrow (vs. Wizards)." © Spo

[Heat fan06]

I imagine Wade is back tonight.

[This IsMy House]

"Udonis will harm me physically if I don't let him play tomorrow (vs. Wizards)." © Spo

Hahaha love UD.

[toodles23]

Is Lebron playing?

The one thing I'm hoping for is that he starts making jumpers, so far in the preseason his jumper has looked no different than it did in the Finals when he was shooting like 18% on them. Everything about his form looks uncomfortable right now, he's struggling with all the basic things.

[This IsMy House]

I read online that they are hoping to use their typical starting line up of Chalmers-Wade-LeBron-Battier-Bosh. If so the Wiz are in for a long night.

[SmushedPennies]

Not expecting major minutes for regulars tonight, since Spo said he won't play those who got 20+ last night many minutes, but hoping to finally see our regulars all together again.

And I'm not too worried about LeBron's J. Pretty sure he took basketball off after the Olympics until training camp, except for the toned down "Hell Week II" with Durant. He looked really frustrated with it last night, shaking his hand, slapping his hip, air-shooting, etc. after every miss, most of which were short. He's the kind of guy that can roll out of bed and be great at anything when he really wants/needs to. Game 7 was evidence of that. He never shot that well at any other point before or after in the playoffs. When he's ready he can hit the gym at 1AM a la Wade (when he's motivated) and get his jumper going again.

Would be really nice if those two could get their J's back to peak levels again. They'd be so much more unstoppable. I think people forget how solid a shooter Dwyane was from 2006-2009, particularly that last season. He was reliable from outside. Hopefully Ray's influence gets them to be solid again. We've heard over and over about Ray helping Rashard join him in the top 10 all time in makes, and Avery Bradley credits Ray for getting him from a liability from 3 to a money corner shooter. I predicted during the summer that we'd see Cole become a much better shooter because of this, but apparently that's already taken place. Surely their daily shootouts that Norris was beating Ray in have helped.

[ReturnofMVP3]

GOOO WIZARDS!!! Oh wait I mean heat!!!

[Massimo]

Any final news for who is playing for Miami Heat tonight?

[Pimpwerx]

I wanna see Rio and UD back out there. PEACE.

[SmushedPennies]

No news on the lineup tonight, but Spo assured us UD will play, though that obviously doesn't affect the starting lineup.

I expect Rio to play, and Dwyane should be likely, so hopefully we'll be partying like its June 21st, 2012...and that means Miller will "Let It Fly," too.

[TheDon008]

Any final news for who is playing for Miami Heat tonight?

Why the hell do you care?

[Ratchet_Rio]

Any final news for who is playing for Miami Heat tonight?

Why the hell do you care?

[SmushedPennies]

‏@MiamiHeraldHeat

Mario Chalmers is starting. Udonis and Joel Anthony coming off the bench.

YES! Hopefully Dwyane plays too.

[SmushedPennies]

@MiamiHeraldHeat

Check that last tweet. Joel Anthony still not available. First game back for Chalmers and Haslem.

amended

[MiaFLSurf]

THE HEAT IS BACK!

I LOVE THIS BOARD

[Heat fan06]

offical

heat to start their championship starting 5 tonight

[Shv3d]

I was really looking forward to watching Joel play.

[SmushedPennies]

@IraHeatBeat

Erik Spoelstra said his technical foul for arguing LeBron's since-rescinded technical has yet to be rescinded, "Not yet, but hopefully."

Stu Jackson is one stupid ****.

[betterdayz02]

Should be good to get all of our guys some playing time.