Washington Wizards at Miami Heat: Regular Season Game 16 Open Thread

The Essentials:

Wizards (5-10) at Heat (9-8 HAHAHAHAHHAHA)
7:30 p.m.
American Airlines Center (FAN UP!)
TV: CSN
Radio: 106.7 The Fan

Notable early Heat numbers this season

5th in expected winning percentage (.700)
21st in pace factor (91.3 possessions per game
6th in offensive efficiency (109.3 points/100 possessions)
7th in defensive efficiency (102.9 points/100 possessions

UPDATE: Wall is out, and JaVale is active, but not starting.

We know about the Wizards' injury issues: no John Wall, possibly no JaVale McGee, definitely no Al Thornton or Yi Jianlian. So let's instead talk about the Heat's issues.

First things first: the players have their scapegoat, and it's Erik Spoelstra. Apparently, he's being too hard on them.

In contrast to the popular view that Spoelstra has been hesitant to jump on Wade, LeBron James andChris Bosh, sources say the Heat coach has shown no fear in criticizing them.

Exhibit A was a recent shootaround in which Spoelstra told James that he had to get more serious. The source said Spoelstra called James out in front of the entire team, telling him, "I can't tell when you're serious."

James' response, apparently, was to bump Spoelstra on his way to the bench after a timeout. YOUR MOVE, ERIK!

Then, after practice today, noted hoops thinker Dwyane Wade provided his unique take on what's wrong with Miami's offense. Via Kevin Arnovitz:

I think, at times, we get into a space where we let the whole team guard us because we run a lot of pick-and-roll. And we are letting guys off the hook. I want to see someone guard LeBron [James] one-on-one three or four times in a row down the court, because I know what they are thinking: "Somebody please help."

I want to see them do that to Chris. I want to see them do that to me. So it's about how we do it in spots in games, if all of us can be involved together. And it's about how you do it where we are getting other guys involved as well.

So, basically, call more isolations. Brilliant, Dwyane! SB Nation's Andrew Sharp had the definitive Wade takedown earlier today.

After the Heat's loss on opening night, Wade shifted the focus to skeptics, saying, "Sorry if everyone thought we were going 82-0." After a second loss to Boston: "We're the best 5-4 team in the league."

Then after the Orlando loss: "Orlando's supposed to win this game." Now this: "We have a great coaching staff; I'm sure they'll look at things and see how to utilize us a little better."

He's been whiny, indignant, dismissive, and-above all-pretty much terrible on both ends of the court for the first month of the season. Doesn't it sound like D-Wade needs to get kicked in the ass?

And here's more Wade hate, with numbers, from the always great Tom Haberstroh.

Alas, without Wall and possibly McGee, beating them will be a tall order. It would be absolutely amazing, though.

GO WIZARDS!