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Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:12 pm**

Here is an interesting story. As nice and exciting it was to watch our team run up and down the court, it apparently didn't please Riley that we turned the ball over WAY too much on those same fast break (easy points) situations. Wade had 9 turnovers (of the team's 18 TO's) and was as much of the problem as any other player on the roster.

What good is it to run and gun when we allow the opponent to capitalize from our many turnovers. This was the first game and chemistry between players might've played a role but it is a bit worrisome from the players that have been here a while (JWill, Wade, Davis etc)

Is playing this fast paced offense the way to go with the personnel we have? Could Riley pull reins a bit if this fast and exciting but sloppy play continues? Do we give some court time to the less talented but less turnover-prone Chris Quinn to run the team?

Thoughts?

STORY

Heat coach Pat Riley said after Sunday's loss to the Lakers that he looked forward to breaking down film of the team's first game with Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.

Turns out, he wasn't too pleased with the first impression of the Heat's new-look, up-tempo offense.

The Heat broke down 45 offensive transition plays from the 104-94 loss to the Lakers. Riley said the energy was good, but the Heat was not as effective as it should have been in fast-break situations.

''The fans got excited about the fact that there were a lot of athletes running up and down the court, but we were not really efficient in those 45 assaults,'' Riley said. ``We looked at every one of them. I said to them, `How can I allow you to play this [faster] game unless you can play it better? Otherwise, that's why we haven't played the game that way.''

The Heat outscored the Lakers in the paint (50-34), in fast-break points (15-14) and had a better field-goal percentage (.475 to .457). But the difference was in turnovers, where the Heat had 18 that led to 25 points.

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:27 pm**

On a side note, I can't wait until we throw the full MLE at Jose Calderon...

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:30 pm**

I wish I could seen the reaction by the coaching staff in the film room when JWon't launched a 4 on 1 fastbreak 3 pointer out of bounds. Must have been classic! At any rate yea the team was sloppy and they had too many turnovers, especially Wade. I hope they give it time though, its not like the team has been much better in a half court set all year. We've sucked both ways, might as well give it some time this way to see if it works at all.

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:36 pm**

HeatInOhio wrote:I wish I could seen the reaction by the coaching staff in the film room when JWon't launched a 4 on 1 fastbreak 3 pointer out of bounds.

Actually, it was a 5-on-1 break, as per the pause feature on my DVR.

But if you account for the talent and decision-making discrepancies of the players involved, we were at even strength.

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:40 pm**

IMO, JWill's best value is RIGHT NOW, before the trading deadline because of the amount of his expiring contract. I say we try to nab a late first round draft pick for him from a playoff team. The pick can be used over the summer in a S&T for a player like Calderon.

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:41 pm**

perhaps we should let them practice at least once or twice and implement it in the games before we call it a disaster after 1 effort on Marion's first day here, Riley

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:50 pm**

Riley's just looking for an excuse to dump the ball down to Alexander Johnson in the post and have Wade and Marion stand around watching.

In other words, he's a step ahead of us on the tanking plan. :nod:

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:55 pm**

The good news is we had 45 fast break opportunities. The bad news, out of the 45 we only scored 15pts off fast breaks (1 more than the Lakers). We are never going to win like that. But like Lane says, let them get some floor time together before we call it a disaster.

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:56 pm**

^ Actually might be a good plan. AJ FT Beasley!

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:59 pm**

I think Joel Anthony gives a better chance at winning................the lottery.

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:22 pm**

heat4life wrote:On a side note, I can't wait until we throw the full MLE at Jose Calderon...

Good luck; we have his full Bird Rights and can re-sign him without cap space. You won't get him.

On a side note, your title is grossly misleading. Very interesting article, though.

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:41 pm**

heat4life wrote:On a side note, I can't wait until we throw the full MLE at Jose Calderon...

I wish, but the Raptors would match that in a second. They're not letting him go...they know how special he is.

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:49 pm**

tsherkin wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Good luck; we have his full Bird Rights and can re-sign him without cap space. You won't get him.

On a side note, your title is grossly misleading. Very interesting article, though.

Riley could be a very persuasive man sometimes :wink:

Either way, the question is do the Raptors pay more than MLE money when TJ Ford is already on the books for $8mil per season for the next 3 years (He does have a player option)? IMO, I think they try to keep him by giving him a salary starting around $7mil but getting rid of TJ might become a priority.

Then, I am just wondering if Calderon would walk away from a 5yr deal for the MLE from Miami to sign for a couple more millions with Toronto. I think is a long shot but not impossible.

Maybe a couple of days dinning with Riles, The Matrix, Wade and Mr Arison on one of his Cruises surrounded by nothing more than the hottest women on earth, most of them speaking his language; it might draw Jose's interest and force Toronto to do a S&T. In that case, we need to find a way to get a 1st round pick for either Davis or JWill to put together a package that would make Toronto interested.

I know, too many if's but much better odds than daydreaming of Elton Brand.

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:56 pm**

Harry Heinous wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

I wish, but the Raptors would match that in a second. They're not letting him go...they know how special he is.

He will be an UFA so they can't literally match a Miami offer; however they do have his Full Bird Rights so they can offer more than MLE money. Same situation we were in with Mo Williams basically. Maybe this year we come out winners.

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:14 pm**

heat4life wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

He will be an UFA so they can't literally match a Miami offer; however they do have his Full Bird Rights so they can offer more than MLE money. Same situation we were in with Mo Williams basically. Maybe this year we come out winners.

Wrong, he will not be a UFA, he will be restricted. Dixon, Martion and Rasho will be unrestricted (though Rasho has a player's option rather than an ending contract, and he may choose to stick with us because no one else will pay him $8.4 million).

Calderon's not going anywhere.

heat4life wrote:Riley could be a very persuasive man sometimes

He's got nothing with which to persuade the Raptors and since Calderon's restricted, it doesn't matter.

Either way, the question is do the Raptors pay more than MLE money when TJ Ford is already on the books for $8mil per season for the next 3 years (He does have a player option)?

Absolutely.

Ford has a PO for the 10/11 season but he's guaranteed until then, yes. And we absolutely keep both.

Then, I am just wondering if Calderon would walk away from a 5yr deal for the MLE from Miami to sign for a couple more millions with Toronto. I think is a long shot but not impossible.

Raptors can offer him more years than Miami, not just more money.

I know, too many if's but much better odds than daydreaming of Elton Brand.

Actually, you have better odds with Brand because he's got a player's option and can just bug out and leave if he wants to, without even taking a S+T offer from the Clippers.

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:21 pm**

My bad, I forgot which website but they had him as UFA. I just verified with a couple of other sites and he is a RFA which throws everything I said to the trash. That is why they pay you the big bucks tsherk...

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:32 pm**

heat4life wrote:My bad, I forgot which website but they had him as UFA. I just verified with a couple of other sites and he is a RFA which throws everything I said to the trash. That is why they pay you the big bucks tsherk...

Hell yeah, baby.

It's all good; I LIVE just north of Toronto; it's like a requirement that, even if they aren't my favorite team, I know all there is to know about the Raptors. That and I have to root for them against anyone else, but I flub that one regularly.

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:48 pm**

That game was exhibit A why Wade needs to play at the 2 and not at the 1.

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:07 pm**

I've got a semi man crush on Calderon. I love the way he plays, so smart, so efficient, and he's got guts. His shot is straight butta.

I also love what he does for my fantasy team too

Posted: **Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:11 pm**

If Toronto offers Calderon big money, would any of you be interested in TJ Ford? The kid can ball but he is hurt more often than JWill.

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"Showtime" NOT that efficient

"Showtime" NOT that efficient