News

8 Aralık 2007

Heat keeps It Close

Shaq İsyan Etti

Miami Heat'in Süper Starı Shaquille O'Neal isyan etti. Sezona kötü başlayan takımlardan olan Heat'de Shaq'da eleştirilerden bıktı.

Özellikle Pat Riley'nin her fırsatta yerden yere vurduğu oyuncular arasında olan Shaq kendisini eleştirenlere ve yaşlı diyenlere sert çıktı.

Shaq yaptığı açıklamada doğru zamanda doğru bir şekilde topla buluşamadığını söylerken; Kendisinin şutları kötü kullanmadığını düşündüğünü söyledi ve takımın kendisini devreye sokmak için daha farklı yollar bulması gerektiğini belirti...

From Dwyane Wade's weak left knee, to Jason Williams' sore right foot, to the aging bodies of Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning, the Heat hardly seems equipped to keep pace with the high-scoring Jazz.

But all of those veterans appeared rejuvenated at the same time. Wade and Williams slashed, O'Neal and Mourning bashed, and the Heat stayed with the Jazz for more than three quarters before Utah pulled away to a 110-101 victory.

The loss dropped the Heat to 4-13 but, after a lethargic effort in a blowout loss to Denver, the Heat was spirited against the Jazz. The Heat fell behind by 20 at Denver and never recovered but kept going at Utah until succumbing in the final four minutes.

Utah led just 94-92 when center Mehmet Okur keyed an 11-4 run. The Heat couldn't finish but, after the embarrassment at Denver, at least it got started.

Wade had 26 points and 10 assists, O'Neal was effective in the post with 12 points and Williams, back in the lineup after leaving Sunday's game with a right foot injury, scored 15.

The Heat also got quality minutes from reserves Mourning, Ricky Davis and rookie Daequan Cook. Mourning had 13 points, Davis 15 and Cook, playing a large role in the fourth quarter, finished with 11.

It took all of that for the Heat, the league's second-worst offensive team coming in, to stay with the No. 3 scoring offense. Carlos Boozer (24 points, 15 rebounds) and Okur (25 points) excelled after one-game injury absences and point guard Deron Williams dominated with 24 points and 15 assists.

After the Heat took a 53-52 halftime lead, Utah looked like it would take control in the third quarter.

The Heat suffered through poor free throw shooting and an offensive drought as the Jazz reeled off a 13-0 run for a 74-63 lead, its largest of the game. But the Heat responded with an 8-0 run to get within 74-71 entering the fourth.

The Heat showed some positive signs in the loss, none more encouraging than Wade's play.

Wade hadn't dunked since returning from knee and shoulder injuries on Nov. 14. Each time he was asked about his health, Wade said dunking would signal he's regaining strength in his left knee and, thus, his attacking style.

So it was a big lift for the Heat when Wade looked more like his penetrating, playmaking and finishing self on Monday. He had five straight baskets in the first period, including three dunks, for 10 of the Heat's 32 points in the quarter.

kaynak : NBA