New York Knicks @ Miami Heat - Wednesday, January 6th, 7:00 PM

[dancing2thabeet]

This was tweeted during game, but his point still stands

[tweet]https://twitter.com/mymikecheck/status/684919206253559808[/tweet]

That's a 5 game swing - and you know there will be at least 3 more of those games until the season ends. In the improved east, that very well may be the difference between homecourt advantage or first round exit against the Cavs ... Hell, with how easy our schedule has been so far we're one injury or a mild losing streak from missing the playoffs altogether.

[contract]

5 letters word better strike Riley's mind right now and happen asap. Trade is the wrong word of choice, it's more of a magic that we need to fix this mediocre squad. I know it's just one game but we might not even make the playoff this season.

We need to make a trade just to avoid the repeater tax.

[DWadeno3]

This was tweeted during game, but his point still stands

[tweet]https://twitter.com/mymikecheck/status/684919206253559808[/tweet]

That's a 5 game swing - and you know there will be at least 3 more of those games until the season ends. In the improved east, that very well may be the difference between homecourt advantage or first round exit against the Cavs ... Hell, with how easy our schedule has been so far we're one injury or a mild losing streak from missing the playoffs altogether.

As I've pointed out several weeks ago, the main problem with this team is consistency. We can beat great teams one night and then lose to a very average Knicks team the other. There was nothing special about that Knicks team, we just defended poorly and weren't aggressive enough offensively.

[eddieheatfan]

wait we're still 3rd in the East?

guess this wasn't too bad then... thought we dropped to 6th or some crap again

just wait to see after this six road trip do to the heat

[eddieheatfan]

January 14th will be a very interesting date. Most if not all players will be availible to be dealt. Hoping we can find a way to get some real three point shooters on this team. Feel like we are a tweak or two from making some serious noise.

do you have anybody in mind,specifically?i mean,i'm afraid that whoever we get that player is going to regress under this system because to me is just antiquated and players often than not become unmotivated to play

You mean to say Whiteside, who was just 'chillin' and his local YMCA doing nothing and waiting for opportunities, did not thrive in that same system you are highly criticizing? Or you mean to also say a player such as Gerald Green, who has never been known for his defense and is now being trusted to finish off games in the 4th because of his improved defense did not benefit from that same system you say does not motivate players? & not to forget to mention Tyler Johnson, whom, because of our organization and our system has made great strides and is highly improved - he is no longer erratic but far more controlled, disciplined and plays his role well within this system.

If this is a knock on coaching staff and Spo it is not warranted here since all of the above have all thrived as being a part of our culture, system and organization. We have been on average a top 5 team in the East and top 10 team in the league. I would give props to our system instead - that same system that has us as one of the top defense in the league. A system that i am certain nobody will be talking about once we address our 3pt shooting, back up center issues. and especially won't be talking about once and if we land a big name free agent in the offseason.

Did i fail to mention that we are also currently 3rd in the East? wich is very much highly improved and very competitive. I understand we could fall to 6th-8th with any given loss but fact is we are an average top 5 team in the East. We have alot to be thankful for. We are still building chemistry, consistency and continuity. We are only really starting to figure things out now. Let's wait until at least after the ASG, then fans criticism can be justified.

i dont see it that way,the east has improved some thats true but if this team were in the west i really doubt that it would haven in the top 3 by now.but yeah the east though better or improved is still weak.that's the reason why we are right now.but the way i see it there are times in which players seems not motivated enough to play and this system relies too much on bosh and wade iso's....well, you saw it yesterday night that both went for their points despite having a terrible shot selection and overall (Please Use More Appropriate Word) offensive schemes.and lets not talk about the defense which get porous at times as well.this team as is seems most of the times doing well in some quarters while in others they will struggle to buy a basket.and that's clearly the system and lack of player motivation to win the game,man


how many times did the heat penetrated in to the basket yesterday night? how many missed fts and 3 point shooting they missed? how much hero ball/iso's did you saw last night?by the way this is not the first time that the heat play this way nor be the last time because like i said the system is broken.but hey its just my opinion and i could be wrong

[dancing2thabeet]

This was tweeted during game, but his point still stands

[tweet]https://twitter.com/mymikecheck/status/684919206253559808[/tweet]

That's a 5 game swing - and you know there will be at least 3 more of those games until the season ends. In the improved east, that very well may be the difference between homecourt advantage or first round exit against the Cavs ... Hell, with how easy our schedule has been so far we're one injury or a mild losing streak from missing the playoffs altogether.

As I've pointed out several weeks ago, the main problem with this team is consistency. We can beat great teams one night and then lose to a very average Knicks team the other. There was nothing special about that Knicks team, we just defended poorly and weren't aggressive enough offensively.

Exactly. Are we consistent enough to win 4 games out of 7 in playoffs? I don't think so - at least not at the moment.

[QUIZ]

Exactly. Are we consistent enough to win 4 games out of 7 in playoffs? I don't think so - at least not at the moment.

Why not? A lot of our inconsistency is because of our defense which is effort based. There won't be any lack of effort come playoff time.

The season is a grind and scrambling the way we do on defense is tough for a vet to convince himself to do for 82 pointless games. But in a seven game series? Theres nothing to hold back.

[dancing2thabeet]

Exactly. Are we consistent enough to win 4 games out of 7 in playoffs? I don't think so - at least not at the moment.

Why not? A lot of our inconsistency is because of our defense which is effort based. There won't be any lack of effort come playoff time.

The season is a grind and scrambling the way we do on defense is tough for a vet to convince himself to do for 82 pointless games. But in a seven game series? Theres nothing to hold back.

Our defense will be fine for the most part, it's the offense that worries me. No amount of stops matter if we can score the basketball. Spacing is horrible more often than not and our offball movement is nothing to brag about. Bosh and Wade will not iso us out of 4 games in multiple playoff series.

[QUIZ]

Exactly. Are we consistent enough to win 4 games out of 7 in playoffs? I don't think so - at least not at the moment.

Why not? A lot of our inconsistency is because of our defense which is effort based. There won't be any lack of effort come playoff time.

The season is a grind and scrambling the way we do on defense is tough for a vet to convince himself to do for 82 pointless games. But in a seven game series? Theres nothing to hold back.

Our defense will be fine for the most part, it's the offense that worries me. No amount of stops matter if we can score the basketball. Spacing is horrible more often than not and our offball movement is nothing to brag about. Bosh and Wade will not iso us out of 4 games in multiple playoff series.

I'm pretty sure we're in the bottom of the league in terms of iso attempts.

Whenever we lose our offense gets more focus placed on it then our defense. Our 3pt shooting will never be great but that wasn't the problem yesterday. We are a defensive minded team, that is our identity and we have too play to it. We didn't do that yesterday and it showed.

Our defense fuels our offense.

[eddieheatfan]

sh*t, too long. nobody's gonna read that

nope,it was a nice well thought out post

[dancing2thabeet]

Why not? A lot of our inconsistency is because of our defense which is effort based. There won't be any lack of effort come playoff time.

The season is a grind and scrambling the way we do on defense is tough for a vet to convince himself to do for 82 pointless games. But in a seven game series? Theres nothing to hold back.

Our defense will be fine for the most part, it's the offense that worries me. No amount of stops matter if we can score the basketball. Spacing is horrible more often than not and our offball movement is nothing to brag about. Bosh and Wade will not iso us out of 4 games in multiple playoff series.

I'm pretty sure we're in the bottom of the league in terms of iso attempts.

Whenever we lose our offense gets more focus placed on it then our defense. Our 3pt shooting will never be great but that wasn't the problem yesterday. We are a defensive minded team, that is our identity and we have too play to it. We didn't do that yesterday and it showed.

Our defense fuels our offense.

Well, maybe it isn't iso per se, but it's PNR with one of them ending up with the shot in pretty much all situations. They can't hit everything and even if they do, defenses can focus on them. I think that our scoring draughts will be our doom in the postseason.

It's cool though, you think we can do with elite defense whereas I would preffer having a tad more fluid offense even if defense suffers slightly because of it. Doesn't mean any of us is wrong or right, but I think we both agree playing like we did against the Knicks won't cut it. And there have been too many of those kind of games for my liking already.

[kidco2]

5 letters word better strike Riley's mind right now and happen asap. Trade is the wrong word of choice, it's more of a magic that we need to fix this mediocre squad. I know it's just one game but we might not even make the playoff this season.

Wouldn't say its Mediocre bro, that was last season lol. We just aren't consistent, some nights we look elite, others, terrible. We need to find our niche, that's all. And we will make the post-season. However I do agree on moving some pieces say; Deng/McBob for a good reliable shooter(s?)

I'm uncertain about the roster but the 5 letters word that haunt my mind is coach, as long as Riley is in charge Spo and his cheerleader girlfriend are safe.

[HIF]

poor.

TJ was the only bright spot and Winslow's defence.

Whiteside had a poor game and if I wasn't too late would have got my wario vote.

[HIF]

We don't know our identity yet.

We have players who need to play fast, we have players who can't play fast.

We have players that need small ball and others than need bigball.

Spo needs to decide WHO we are and then work them.

The thing he has got right is that we are a team that wins through defence.