Heat Vs. Wizards (Fake) Recap: Five Things We Should Be Talking About

by Jake Whitacre on Nov 7, 2011 8:09 AM EST in Recaps

In a parallel universe somewhere, the Miami Heat rolled to a convincing win in their first non-nationally televised game of the season. In our universe, this game never happened because of the NBA lockout. The parallel universe sounds more fun, so let's discuss five topics from this game based on that.

The bench has some growing up to do: The game really got out of hand in the second quarter when Wizards trotted out Rashard Lewis with Shelvin Mack, Jordan Crawford, Jan Vesely and Kevin Seraphin. There were a lot of shell-shocked faces on the court near the end of that 18-0 run. When Crawford is on, a unit like that can hold the fort for a few minutes, but when he can't get open looks, these types of runs will happen.

Wall vs. Wade? Interesting call by Flip Saunders to have John Wall cover Dwyane Wade on defense for the majority of the first quarter. Wall came through with a nice block as well as a steal, but looked a little more hesitant than normal on offense. You could tell Wall was making a concentrated effort to slow him down, but it came at the expense of exposing Miami's weakness at the point guard position.

Encouraging garbage time returns from Jan Vesely: Vesely's 6 point, 6 rebound, 3 block performance in the fourth quarter came completely against Miami's second unit, but it was encouraging to see him recover after that disastrous 2nd quarter that made this one a snoozer early.

Incomplete grade on our defensive stopper: Chris Singleton came off the bench to try and guard LeBron in the 3rd quarter, but it's hard to read too much into his performance. The Heat were already in cruise control at that point. Offensively, it was nice to see him connect on two three-pointers from the corner late in the game. Sure, Miami's defense was a little lax at that point, but give him credit for getting in spots where he needs to be effective. If he can develop into that niche, it becomes that much easier to justify playing time.

Where was that in 2009? Why couldn't Mike Miller go 6 for 6 from downtown when he was a Wizard?

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Crawford's play has me concerned

Hopefully He’ll settle down as the fake season progresses. Wall played a good all around game. Where was Blatche all game? UGH.

by Janber on Nov 7, 2011 10:34 AM EST via mobile reply actions

AND McGee!!

He must have tripped like 5 times over himself and then when he took off his to flex after a uncontested dunk…I thought that was a little too much. I hope gets Vesely feels better….he just can’t seem to shake that flu. Is it just me or did Rashard Lewis gain like 15lbs over the break? He is moving so slow out there, but at least he got that one 3 pointer in Wade’s face to drop the deficit to 20. It’s been a really rough year and here’s to getting Harrison Barnes next year!

by DaGribb on Nov 7, 2011 10:47 AM EST reply actions

Either Harrison Barnes

or Jared Sullinger….

and truth be told – I’m hoping for Sullinger…l because if they draft Barnes (a Small Forward), then it’s an admission that the 2011 draft was not as good as projected… (2 Small Forwards)…

But if Vesely and Singleton look like legit NBA players – they should target Sullinger.

I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.

by Rook6980 on Nov 7, 2011 11:09 AM EST up reply actions

couldn't you make the same argument

with Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin. The Wiz have to take the best player regardless imo.

by DaGribb on Nov 7, 2011 1:57 PM EST up reply actions

Best player?

Sure – take the best player is one of the players shows a considerable advantage over the other… However, based on last year’s performances, either Sullinger or Barnes could have been considered for the #1 spot in the 2011 draft… In my opinion, they were better than both Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams.

So when you have two players rated the same – you take the player that fills the most “needs”… The Wizards desperately need defensive rebounding. They also need long range shooting (NBA 3-Point shooting), low post scoring, low post defense, play makers and bigs that can set screens.

Sullinger fills multiple needs… more than Barnes.

Besides, Booker was (and still is) projected to be a “role player” – as is Seraphin; But drafted #5, Vesely is supposed to be a starting quality player – and Singleton was a top 10 talent that fell… There’s should to be more talent in a Vesely/Singleton duo than in Booker/Seraphin.

I’ve seen Booker play almost an entire season… Same with Seraphin. Both of them are role players in my estimation… I still hold out hope that either Vesely or Singleton can become a starter.

I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.

by Rook6980 on Nov 7, 2011 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

The Wiz have to take the best player regardless imo.

That’s what Kahn said….

"My logic fails all the time...especially when talking to females" Rook6980

by Dutch Hoopfan on Nov 7, 2011 6:18 PM EST up reply actions

One question regarding this series...

These games aren’t available to watch in this universe, right? And any comments we’re making on the parallel games are our imaginings of how these games played out? I’m just trying to make sure that we aren’t all gathering ‘round a simulated season on 2k12 or anything like that that would be available to watch somewhere. And after typing that, I realize how pathetic such an effort would be, yet I still wouldn’t put it beyond what any one of us would do just for a fix…

by jakenbake on Nov 7, 2011 11:30 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Nah just from our imaginations

Toyed with the idea of a 2k12 season but I don’t have the game so figured it’d be weird.

SB Nation DC | Bullets Forever | SBNation.com | Twitter.

by Mike Prada on Nov 7, 2011 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

I have one running (guess I'm pathetic then lol)

but I don’t have the video equipment to put it online….
Plus, I suck because I’m 1-3 after playing the first 4 games this weekend.

"My logic fails all the time...especially when talking to females" Rook6980

by Dutch Hoopfan on Nov 7, 2011 6:20 PM EST up reply actions

Same, steady Nick Young

Nick is averaging 18 points a game while shooting 46% from the field (50% from 3) – meanwhile he has only 1 assist and 5 rebounds in 3 games and his defense looks shaky at times… Against the Nets, he allowed Morrow a couple open 3-point looks – and again against Orlando he look over-matched by Jason Richardson at times.

Flip’s insistence in going zone seems to confuse most of the Wizard’s younger players – and Young in particular seems lost in Flip’s hyperbolic, paraboloid, transitional floating zone. Hey Flip – if your defensive scheme is difficult to SAY - perhaps it’s too difficult to actually perform too.

Anyway – when they did play man-to-man, I thought Young did fine.

I thought he did a good job for the few minutes he was matched against Dwyane Wade – but Flip decided to put John Wall on Wade for most of the game….. still , Young was able to hold Mike Bibby and Mario Chalmers to 1-5 shooting (not exactly world beaters on Offense, but still a nice defensive effort).

I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.

by Rook6980 on Nov 7, 2011 1:02 PM EST reply actions