You’re coming off an NBA Finals where your team fell painfully short of its second world championship, and you have only three more years of guaranteed time with the LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade before their player options come up, giving all three the freedom to head elsewhere if this isn’t working out as planned.

Is this really the time for labor strife to potentially cost you a full season? Isn’t this the worst possible time to consider bonding with these newer, more desperate owners around the league for the sake of shared health? Wouldn’t a potential lost season put a huge dent into this perfect model you essentially have spent four years planning for and building?

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Like De La Soul said, The Stakes is High.

Right now, the Miami Heat has the most to lose if there’s a prolonged work stoppage and a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with a hard cap.

It starts with owner Micky Arison. The billionaire has invested hundreds of millions of dollars on the Three Kings -Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade.

The controversial trio is only signed for a guaranteed four years. 2010-11 is in the books. 2011-12 is at risk because of the lockout.

Of course, the entire Heat model is also at risk. Suppose the owners win negotiations. Suppose they implement a hard cap. Suppose they rollback salaries.

Despite what he said publicly, Heat executive Pat Riley may be forced to break up his star trio. And Bosh would be the one to go.

Upgrading the supporting cast will also be a problem. With a top-heavy salary structure, the Heat will have little money to sign a point guard or center. Especially if soft cap loop-holes like the veteran`s minimum and mid-level exception are eliminated. 

Whenever next year begins, the Eastern Conference champions could look different.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in comment box below. 

With the beginning of free agency just a few days away, its no surprise that there are little tidbits of rumors and information starting to find their way into the hands of the media.  The Sun-Sentinel reported on Monday that the Heat had been working with free-agent center Eddy Cury, who has barely played over the past three seasons.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: I don’t see it. I don’t see what Eddy Curry can offer the Miami Heat.

After all, Curry played a grand total of ten games in the last three seasons. He's several seasons removed from posting nice numbers for the New York Knicks.

Then there’s the fit. The Heat need an athlete. Someone to score, defend, and play both ends of the floor.

That’s not Curry. The Chicago native was once a skilled center, but he always struggled with defense. His skill will be gone after such a lengthy layoff, and his defense will be even worse becase of poor conditioning.

There were off-court issues, too. Curry, despite signing a massive contract, was in debt because of atrocious decisions. Then there was this.

Why is the Heat so interested in Curry? Three words: Bosh, LeBron, D-Wade.

Curry has the same management as the 'Three Kings'. So Executive Pat Riley may be tossing the people behind his superstars a bone.

If so, this isn’t basketball. This is business. And bad business at that.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Not long after LeBron James' Finals flameout, Miami president Pat Riley has sent word to other league execs: He's not breaking up his Big Three. That's too bad - for the rest of the NBA.

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I’m here to win,” James said. “That’s all it’s about. Individual accolades take care of itself. “I’ve got two MVP trophies sitting in my house back in Ohio and I haven’t won anything. It doesn’t matter to me. It’s all about a team game and this is the ultimate team prize right here, just trying to win the NBA championship.

“So I don’t really care. I could trade in my last two MVP trophies to have a ring. I don’t care about individual accolades to solidify myself in the NBA or whatever they’re talking about. It’s ridiculous.”

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HoopsVibe`s Very Quick Call: Forget Miami verses Chicago. Focus on the poster-jobs; specifically Chris Bosh`s battle against Taj Gibson.

Last night, Bosh threw down a thunderous dunk off a pick-on-roll, condemning Carlos Boozer to a life of snide comments and viral snickering on youtube.

However, Gibson, at a minimum, matched Bosh with an epic facial on a two-on-one, forcing Dwyane Wade to offer a little disclaimer to the media today.

Watch both videos below and get at us with thoughts in the comment box below. 

(Bosh on Boozer.) 

(Gibson's facial on D-Wade.)

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The Bulls center huddled with Chris Bosh inside Chicago's Trump International Hotel and Tower over the summer without any preconceived notions. He simply wanted the guy sitting across from him at Sixteen restaurant to show a fire and passion about joining the Bulls.

Bosh didn't. "He was a nice guy and all,'' Noah said of his recruitment of Bosh during the free-agent frenzy. "But Bosh was more into, 'Well it depends on what this guy does, what that guy does.'''

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Of course, Chris Bosh wasn’t serious about the Chicago Bulls.

The fix was in. It had been for years.

Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade knew they were signing with the Miami Heat last summer. They knew this since the Beijing Olympics, where they bonded as teammates.

Free agency was a charade. James and Wade’s recent comments about coming to Chicago should be taken with a grain of salt.

If James was serious about Chicago he’d have responded to Derrick Rose’s texts, where the table-setter tried welcoming him.

He didn’t, though. James knew what he was going to do: he was `taking his talent to South Beach’.

Fair enough. This was James` right as free agent. Same with Bosh and Wade.

They could pick where they played and with who. The problem was how –as in how they, specifically Bosh and James, handled the situation.

Bottom line: this is old news. The Heat has their Three Kings. The Bulls have Rose and a superb supporting cast.

As a result, fans should get an excellent Eastern Conference Finals.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade admitted they strongly considered signing with the Bulls. "It was two mornings," Wade said at Friday's practice of waking up during the summer of 2010 envisioning himself with Chicago. "I definitely had one or two mornings where I woke up thinking I'd be a Bull too, but ultimately I decided to come here," James said.

The Celtics have never been down 2-0 in a playoff series in the Kevin Garnett era, and they are well aware of the situation.

“The urgency is there,” Garnett said on Friday before the team took the practice floor. “This is it. We’ve used all of our lifelines. This is it. I hate to say it like that, but it’s true. There’s not a: Cool, keep your composure. Nah, this is: You’ve got to get the next game.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: I have no idea if Kevin Garnett is a Michael Jackson fan.

Maybe he is. Maybe he isn’t. But like the gloved one’s so-so biopic, the Celtic believes his squad must put all their chips into game three against the Miami Heat because 'this is it'. Literally.

After all, the Heat is up 2-0. Their confidence is soaring; their game is peaking; and they're comfortable.

The same can’t be said for the Celtics. Their confidence is lagging, and has been since the Kendrick Perkins for Jeff Green trade; their game is floundering; and they're tensing up.

Garnett believes game three is do-or-die. If they lose, the Heat advance to the Eastern Conference championship, and the Celtics' recent run is all but over.

The good news is they'll be at home, where they typically succeed. Look for them to key on Miami’s Chris Bosh, as neutralizing the lanky post takes the Heat out their rhythm.

So ‘this is it’ for Boston. Win and live. Lose and it’s essentially over. Expect fireworks on Saturday. Too much is at stake for there not to be.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below. 

It was never a show of disrespect toward Bosh, but a way for James and Wade to display the friendship they had built over the years. For Bosh, it was an easier way to distinguish his preference of standing alone. "With me, I've always just been different," Bosh said. "I've never tried to fit in. I'm one of the fellas, great. I get along with everybody, great. But if I'm going to read my book, I'm going to read my book and this is what I'm doing."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The Miami Heat doesn’t care if Chris Bosh is his own man. They don’t care if he’s one of the ‘fellas’ -or not. And they don’t care if he conducts interviews with LeBron James and/or Dwyane Wade.

They care about one thing: his play. That is all.

If Bosh produces, the Heat will be tough. They’ll likely win the Eastern Conference and stand a good chance at capturing the NBA Title.

If Bosh falters, the Heat is beatable. Their half-court sets become predictable. Opposing defences will cheat on James and/or Wade with little or no repercussions.

Bosh is that all-important third scorer. His skill keeps opposing defenses honest, and his length makes him a solid rebounder.

When Bosh is at his best, the Heat can turn to an undersized unit of The Three Kings with two shooters. The most interesting feature of this line-up is when James and Wade runs pick-and-rolls.

All of this hinges on Bosh playing his best. And nothing else matters.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.          

Our big brothers at CraveOnline caught up with the always interesting Mark Cuban at SXSW recently, and naturally it didn't take long before the conversation turned to hoops. Among other topics covering the NBA and more, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks dropped his thoughts on Miami Heat's acquisition of LeBron James and Chris Bosh over the summer.

Mark Cuban weighs in on the Miami Heat “Three Kings” fiasco:

Mark Cuban: I’m a believer in karma. You’ve just opened yourself to a big old whack across the head like they did, you typically get it. It was a unique opportunity. There was a lot of excitement. They were smart to try to extend the excitement throughout the community, but I just think they went a little overboard. They tried to make it like a rock concert. They tried to make it like the biggest event, the Super Bowl of player signings. It becomes very anticlimactic. That’s the challenge. You don’t want to shoot your wad before you even get in business. That’s basically what they might have done. So you’ve got to be careful. You’ve got to understand, particularly in sports, at the start of the season, everybody’s undefeated, everybody’s excited about their team and you want to try to have a crescendo that builds through the season to hopefully something good at the end. It actually worked to the benefit of the league because instead of the Beatles, they were The Knack. They were the knockoff that so far hasn’t quite worked. Maybe it will but they became the villain. They were like the Oakland Raiders so that’s actually helped the league because people go watch them to boo ‘em. You always want a villain.

Head over to CraveOnline to read the rest of the interview.

“LeBron and Wade are going to be LeBron and Wade,” Doc Rivers said. “They were great before the series, they’ll be great during it and they’ll be great after it and this summer when you’re talking about it you’ll say LeBron and Wade are great players. That’s not going to chance. But when Bosh plays great, then their team plays great. He’s a key guy for them.”

He's changed his tune thus far in the postseason. Because of Philadelphia's speed at the position, Bosh has played extended minutes at center. His role is expected to remain the same throughout the series. "It just took some time to get comfortable to it," Bosh said." At first, I was kind of frightened. I didn't really want to play the five. I know I've said that a bunch of times."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: There’s a saying. Winning changes everything, especially if there’s a chance to win a championship.

Case in point: Chris Bosh.

At the start of the season, Bosh wasn’t into playing center for the Miami Heat. After all, he labored at the position for the Toronto Raptors, even though he fancied himself a power forward with skills and a face-up game.

When he signed with the Heat as part of The Great Free Agent Chase of 2010, he was under the impression his days at the five were over.

Permanently.

Now Bosh is open to playing center. A playoff run and the possibility of hoisting a championship will do this.

The Heat is at their best with Bosh at center. This allows them to spread the floor with two shooters, and lets LeBron James and Dwyane Wade isolate against their man or run a pick-and-roll.

Only time will tell if Bosh playing out of position will pay off with a championship, though.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

James scored 29 points, Bosh had his second straight double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Miami took a 2-0 series lead with a 94-73 victory over the abysmally shooting 76ers -- who managed their second-lowest playoff scoring total in the last 56 years -- on Monday night.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: All season, we’ve focused on what they aren’t. Perhaps we should focus on what they are: a defensive juggernaut –especially, on the perimeter.

On Monday night, the Miami Heat easily defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in game two of their first round series. They did this by playing airtight, stingy defense.

Consider the numbers:

•    The 76ers made one half-court basket in the opening quarter, and shot just 26% from the floor in the first half.

•    Only one starter reached double-figures, Jrue Holiday had 12 points.

•    Doug Collins’ squad ended up with a paltry 74 points.

The Heat’s ability to get-stops shouldn't surprise. Even when they were struggling with a 9-8 mark early on, the Heat had the makings of a fabulous defensive squad.

There are two keys to their success. First, the Heat is athletic on the perimeter. See LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Both can lock-up their checks, while playing the passing lanes.Second, Coach Erik Spoelstra rewards his players with offensive freedom -if they follow his scheme in their own end.

And this formula will be the key to the Heat advancing deep into the playoffs.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Never say Thaddeus Young doesn’t have a zest for defense.

In a league were some players treat their own end like a contagious disease, the Philadelphia 76ers forward did an admirable job ‘D-ing’ up with one shoe.

While leading an incredible comeback in game one of the 76ers' playoff series against the Miami Heat, Young’s shoe came off on a fast break.

He carried his shoe the length of the floor and tossed it to the 76ers' bench, thinking he’d put it on during the next stoppage in play.

All that mattered was defence. And Young, with one shoe, even rotated over to help on Chris Bosh.

However, like Charlie Sheen in Major League, his throw missed the target and fell into the lap of a puzzled Heat fan, who, surprisingly, returned it.

Young quietly slipped his shoe on during the first break in play –much to the chagrin of ABC broadcaster and former coach Jeff Van Gundy, who complained that the fan should've helped his hometown Heat by not giving back the shoe.

Watch Young’s unusual shoe saga and get at HoopsVibe News with thought in the comment box below. 

--Oly Sandor.

Hoops Hype: You had only attempted 46 three-pointers in the first 78 games. Is that the next part of your game that you want to expand?

Demar DeRozan: Oh yes, definitely. It will come through time. I really don’t stress about it. Because once it comes, that is another part of my game that will develop. Will work on that this summer a lot and come back ready next year.

Do you think Miami trades bosh next year too improve overall? Ric Bucher: I've heard it's already been discussed.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Could ‘The Three Kings’ lose a member this summer?

According to ESPN’s Rich Bucher, the Miami Heat has already held discussions about trading Chris Bosh.

Of course, Bosh signed in South Beach last July as a free agent for two reasons: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. And the trio expected to waltz its way to multiple championships.

While the early returns weren’t awful, ‘The Three Kings’ first regular season together produced mostly mixed results. At times, they were brilliant. At times, they were mediocre.

The key is that it was the regular season. All will be forgotten -if the Heat captures the NBA championship, and then there'd be no major changes.

So Bosh will stay put provided the Heat win and his salary remains manageable under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The pressure is on. What did Bosh, James, and Wade expect when they joined forces?

Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below. 

Wade is controlling the ball late in games, which lets LeBron James be used in a simple pick-and-roll. James has been accustomed to playing with the ball in his hands in crunch time, but it appears Wade and Erik Spoelstra have convinced him to try something new. “I think he's starting to see that this can open up his overall game, and he's going to want to do it more," Wade said last week.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Talent isn’t enough in the NBA. Teams must also have chemistry.

Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat learned this the hard way, with their up-and-down year.

So have the New York Knicks, who broke up a squad with established chemistry to acquire the talented but sometimes difficult Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets.

Credit the Heat for trying new things, though. Against the Philadelphia 76ers, James acted as a screener and ran several pick-and-rolls with Wade.

This is a welcome change from the Heat’s steady diet of predictable ‘iso’ plays and one-on-one attempts at the basket.

Doug Collins, the coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, is right: this option will work. James as a four-man setting picks will be tough to prevent from rolling to the basket or slipping the screen.

Opposing defenses will be helpless. If defenders try to switch on the screen, James and/or Wade will have a clear mismatch, which should lead to a scoring opportunity.

If defenders try to show and adjust to the screen, James and/or Wade will have an advantage, which should also lead to a scoring opportunity.

The Heat would be wise to run more of these sets. Variety is important in basketball, and a two-man game involving their best players will upgrade their mediocre half-court offense.

After all, chemistry, not talent, is the key to winning in the NBA. It seems James and Wade are learning.

--Oly Sandor.

LeBron James: ‘We envisioned us playing at a high level and that’s what we’re doing right now.’   

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Five consecutive losses do not make a season. Neither do two wins -even if they come against the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.

So the Miami Heat should take a deep breath. They should avoid crying after tough losses on national television, and they should avoid over-enjoying their victories.

Bottom line: the Heat shouldn’t get too up or too down. Instead, they should focus on achieving a few things:

First, superstars Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade must continue setting the pace on defense. Getting stops will give them a chance to win every game, and it takes pressure off their mediocre half-court offense.

Second, they must keep Bosh involved on offense. One frustrated superstar can contaminate an entire team.

Finally, no team wins a championship with three superstars, so the Heat’s role players must start contributing on a consistent basis.

Mike Bibby, Eddie House, and Mike Miller must start making shots. This will help Coach Erik Spoelstra settle on a more permanent rotation.

The Heat has been through a lot this year and the real action, the playoffs, haven't even started.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The most obvious candidate for subtraction from the Big Three is Chris Bosh, who hasn't been able to produce the kind of impact Miami could have gotten from two or three cheaper role players. Bosh also has complained recently about not getting the ball in the post enough. Whether he has a point, this sort of griping at a time when the Heat were in crisis mode won't make Riley any more eager to pay him $16 million next season -- especially if Miami falls far short of its championship goal in Year 1.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: So far, it hasn’t worked. Not like it was supposed to, at least.

Remember, the Miami Heat’s Three Kings of Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade came together to win multiple championships. They were expected to waltz through the regular season and playoffs.

Will the Heat pull the plug and possibly deal Bosh this off-season, as reported by Ken Berger of CBSSportsline?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Much depends on how the Heat performs going forward. Say they win the majority of their last regular season games. Say they advance to the Eastern Conference or NBA Finals.

Oil slick executive Pat Riley would then be hesitant to break up his superstar trio. Instead, he’d look for ways to upgrade and improve their supporting cast.

However, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement will factor into his decision. For instance, the Heat may not be able to afford three max salaries if the owners succeed in achieving their hard cap.

Or, the Heat may be able to keep three max salaries on their books, but can’t afford role players because loopholes like the mid level exception and veteran’s minimum no longer exist.

Then Riley has to contemplate changing his Three Kings formula. And Bosh, because of his up-and-down play, would be the first to go.

Last summer was interesting in South Beach. However, next summer could be almost as entertaining.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

“I love Orlando. The city has been very good to me and I would love to finish my career here. I want to win a championship and I want to win it in Orlando,” Howard said on the Dan Patrick Show Monday morning. “That’s all I’ve been thinking about.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: You’ve heard rumors Dwight Howard will leave the Orlando Magic as a free agent and sign with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012.

Well, not so fast. According to the massive five-man, this isn’t so.

Howard recently told scribes he wants to finish his career in Orlando, and bring an NBA Title to Disney World. There are a few reasons for these comments:

• Clearly, the Magic aren’t trading Howard, so he and the team want to avoid the publicity that plagued Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and, most recently, Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets.
• He may choose to stay in Orlando. Howard is comfortable, the Magic are competitive, and Executive Otis Smith is committed to providing him with a top flight supporting cast.
• Of course, he may have to stay in Orlando. The league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement expires July 1st, and owners may prevent superstars from building super squads by allowing teams to apply a ‘franchise’ tag to top players.Translation: Orlando could keep Howard. It may not matter whether he wants to stay or go.

So Howard has to keep all options open. And that’s exactly what he’s doing with his comments.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

When asked about the team mood, he said, "there's a couple guys crying in the locker room right now."  "We stay together," James said. "Spo is the captain of the ship and we're going to stay behind whatever Spo says. It doesn't matter. Spo can go out there and say whatever he wants about the team. We're going to stand by him."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: They made their bed. Now they must lie in it.

Last summer the Miami Heat irked the NBA’s 29 other franchises by winning The Great Free Agent Chase of 2010 and signing superstars Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade.  

Then they rubbed their nose in it by parading their ‘Three Kings’ in front of screaming of fans before playing a single game together.

Why would there be sympathy for the Heat?

Nobody cares if a few players were crying after a tough loss on Sunday to the Chicago Bulls. And nobody cares that they dropped four consecutive games.

These are the big, bad Heat. They are the team most fans love to hate. And they are the team most fans love to watch lose.

So James is right to declare that the players and coaching staff must stick together. But he has to say this. In fact, he has no choice.

It's the Heat and their fans against the world.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

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“We’re going through these growing pains, and it sucks,” Wade said. “Of our 18 losses, I think 13, 14 of them we’ve had leads. “It’s mind-boggling.” This game meant something. Something awful? Yes. Something positive? Possibly, eventually, yes.But it doesn’t get much more painful than this. So it might be a while before that wears off entirely and we get the actual answer to that last question.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Well, that’s one way to describe the Miami Heat’s struggles.

Clearly, Dwayne Wade is putting as positive a spin as possible on the Heat blowing a 24 point lead to the New York Knicks and getting routed by the San Antonio Spurs.

Are these defeats more worrying than ‘growing pains’? Is team South Beach starting to doubt itself?

Consider the numbers: the Heat is 27-2 against teams with losing records, and 14-17 against teams with winning records. More troubling, they allow all teams -those with winning and losing records- back into games when ahead by a large margin.

Part of this could be about getting distracted. The Heat possesses three top flight superstars, and often get bored and lose focus with opponents.

Part of this could be about chemistry. With so many new faces, the Heat is still getting used to each other, especially on the offensive end where they run simple, basic sets.

For instance, Wade and James are still adjusting to each other. And both are learning to play with superstar post Chris Bosh.

Fortunately, they have some time to iron out the kinks. Unfortunately, they don’t have much time and today they face MVP candidate Derrick Rose and the upstart Chicago Bulls.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The Heat would like to sign Mike Bibby if the Wizards give him a buyout; Washington called it unlikely but hasn’t ruled it out. The Heat will explore Troy Murphy if he gets a buyout from Golden State (one report has Boston as the front-runner) and perhaps Indiana’s T.J. Ford, but he’s a poor three-point shooter.

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Jazz CEO Greg Miller said he made the move because of a "gut feeling" that he wouldn't be able to sign Williams to a long-term deal after next season. "If you look at what happened with Phoenix, Toronto and Cleveland ... they all lost their marquee player and had very little if anything to show for it," Miller said. "This trade allows us to be competitive now and beyond the 2012 season."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Could this be the trigger that pushes the NBA’s small market owners to demand wholesale changes to the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement and financial system?

Consider the Utah Jazz’s predicament. Their superstar and best player, Deron Williams, longed for bright lights, a big city, and a chance at a championship.

That wasn’t happening in Utah, so Williams likely informed management he was opting-out of his contract in July of 2012.

Translation: he was gone.

The Jazz could’ve spent the next sixteen months convincing Williams to stay. Of course, the end result wouldn’t have changed and the Jazz would’ve lost their prime asset without compensation.

Just like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors with LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

Or, the Jazz could’ve spent the next sixteen months negotiating a trade. They’d be daily fodder for pundits and fans on-line and on-air. Maybe Conan O’Brien would get in on the act.

Just like the Denver Nuggets with Carmelo Anthony.

Neither situation was appealing, which led to the Jazz suddenly shipping Williams to the Nets for Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, and a pair of first round draft picks.

The Jazz did well, especially when considering Williams held all the cards, possessed all the leverage, and was hell-bent on using it. They were also lucky, though, because the Nets were willing to trade after losing out on Carmelo Anthony.

In four months, they –and the other small market owners- will get revenge. Much to the chagrin of the players, they’ll demand a hard cap, revenue sharing, and franchise player tags.

No more Anthony, Bosh, James, and Williams holding them hostage. And the looming lockout will be nasty, bitter, and long.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

“I’m not stressed,” Bosh said in Indianapolis on Tuesday. “At the end of the day, it’s a game (and) when I get out there, that’s going to take over. I don’t stress about too many things. It is what it is and whatever will be, will be.”

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According to two league sources, Perkins has already turned down a Celtics offer that is bound by the CBA’s current restrictions — a contract extension worth slightly less than $30 million over four years, which reflects the currently mandated contract limits of a 20-percent increase and a four-year maximum. Perkins, represented by agent Arn Tellem, has opted to wait until he is an unrestricted free agent, when even in an unpredictable market he has a chance of commanding far more.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: On the one hand, Kendrick Perkins is making a business decision. On the other hand, that business decision could take him from the Boston Celtics and put him with, say, the Miami Heat.

Reports indicate the rugged five-man rejected the Celtics four-year, $30 million contract offer because it reflected the standard 20% raise as mandated by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Even with the league’s financial landscape bound to change with a new CBA and a potential work stoppage looming, Perkins stands to earn more as an unrestricted free agent.

Will he be making that extra paper with the Celtics, though?

Every team needs a defensive anchor, including the star-studded Heat. Perkins would clog the middle for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, while relieving Chris Bosh of his defensive anchor duties.

However, the tipping point could be Coach Doc Rivers. Rivers and Perkins have a good relationship, which could continue down south.

Rivers has always wanted to return to Florida to be near family. In fact, he nearly quit the green-and-white after the 2010 Finals and essentially operates on a series of one year contracts.

If the Heat fails to win the 2011 championship, Coach Erik Spoelstra will be replaced, and the personable Rivers would be the top candidate for the gig. And he could use his relationship with Perkins to lure him to South Beach.

Yes, the business of basketball works in funny ways. And it could see Perkins and Rivers together with the rival Heat next season.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"I was talking to my teammate and he decided he wanted to put his 2 cents into it. I'm a quiet guy, a laid-back guy, but I'm not going to let nobody talk trash to me. He's on a good team now, so he thinks he can talk a little bit," Durant said. "There's a lot of fake tough guys in this league and he's one of them," Durant added.

The Heat's schedule is easing at a good time for recovery, which Chris Bosh could now use after colliding with Bulls forward Omer Asik. Asik took out Bosh's legs while diving for a loose ball. Bosh then questioned Asik's tactic after the game, saying the play could have caused serious harm. "That is how guys get hurt," Bosh said. "That is how serious injuries happen ... You've got to watch people's legs. I know guys want to hustle and everything but we all want to play and provide for our families and have a job." While expressing anger in Asik's hustle play, Bosh realized things could have been worse. He called the injury "mild" and considered himself fortunate.

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 Mark Cuban did enjoy the Heat's early struggles, but he may be changing his tune. During a visit to San Antonio this past weekend, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said the Mavericks were probably the best team in the league right now. ... Surely, [Cuban] has to be pleased with the progress of the hottest team in the NBA, one that battling San Antonio for the league's best record. But are the Mavs, in Cuban's biased opinion, the best around? "Miami is the best team in the league right now," Cuban said simply.

 HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: They’re better but not the best.

After some early struggles, the Miami Heat have found their form and won six straight games to push their record to 15-8.

There are still issues. For instance, the Heat can’t go all season with Carlos Arroyo and Mario Chalmers at point guard. It remains to be seen if Erik Dampier can provide a physical presence down low.

Most importantly, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade need time to get comfortable with each other on both ends of the floor.

When this happens, the Heat will legitimately challenge the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs as the league’s best team.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

But they couldn’t get along, and Colangelo moved Jack to New Orleans last month. Very rarely are general managers so brutally frank about player relationships. We credit Colangelo for detailing why he wanted to trade the productive Jack — because he was the most marketable commodity. Calderon is a liability defensively and is a better 3- point shooter than 2-point shooter. “We came to the conclusion last year that one of either Jose or Jarrett had to go,’’ Colangelo said. “And I made that proclamation that I would trade one of the two, if not both.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Give Bryan Colangelo his due. If something doesn’t work, he moves on.

For instance, Jose Calderon and Jarrett Jack couldn’t share point guard duties for his Toronto Raptors, so he dealt Jack.

It didn’t matter that Colangelo signed Jack to a four year, $20 million contract in July of 2009. And it didn’t matter that The Former Golden Boy of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment hailed Calderon and Jack as a formidable combo at the one-spot.

It wasn’t working. And Jack was recently dealt to the New Orleans Hornets.

Fair enough. However, Colangelo discussing the situation with reporters isn’t good.

Why open up about Calderon and Jack’s relationship weeks after cutting ties with his former back-up point guard?

Last summer Colangelo exchanged public barbs with Chris Bosh and Hedo Turkoglu, even though both had left the Raptors.

Part of this is doing business in a media center like Toronto. There are three national sports carriers, talk radio stations, and five major newspapers in the city.

Part of this is loose lips. Colangelo would be wise to remember the NBA is small. Players talk. And he doesn’t want to give the talent another reason not to sign in Toronto.

Colangelo should move players. And then keep quiet.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

It was a well-needed team meeting where everybody got an opportunity to get off what they had in their chest or what they had in their head about us figuring things out,” James said. “Right now we are a 9-8 team and we have to own up to that. Does our record speak of what team we can become? No, I don’t think so. We’re 9-8 because we’ve been playing like that and we have to figure things out, which we will.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Finally.

In holding a players only meeting, the Miami Heat admitted the flaws and kinks of their Three Kings system.

Right now, there’s too much sizzle, not enough steak in The MIA.

Sure Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade are superstars, but the Heat lack blue-collar muscle, a reliable point guard, and, most importantly, an identity.

Pundits have the answer: fire Coach Erick Spoelstra. Then take Pat Riley out of the executive suite and put him on the bench.

But turning South Beach into Showtime won’t fix things. Spoelstra may be the problem. There’s no guarantee Riley is the answer.

After winning the championship in 2006, the Heat imploded. `Riles` irked players with five-hour practices and demands that were simply unreasonable.

His club sputtered through a pair of disastrous seasons, ending up in Secaucus, New Jersey for the NBA draft lottery.

Back then, Riley was a short-term fix. The game had passed him by. His message wore thin and he couldn’t relate to the modern player.

The other knock against Riley is age. At 65, could he commit to coaching the Heat for the long-term? The answer: probably not.

For now, the players need space to right the ship. Instead of thinking he’s the answer on the sideline, Riley should hire a championship calibre bench boss who can relate to players.

Whoever he hires, Riley can’t undercut him. No taking notes at games. No more hanging around. And no more cryptic answers about his future. It creates an unstable environment.

Yesterday, Bosh, James, and Wade were honest about their role in the Heat’s 9-8 start. Riley should do the same.

--Oly Sandor.

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below. 

Bosh scored a season-high 35 points before sitting out the fourth quarter, LeBron James finished with 20 points and the Miami Heat ran away from the Suns 123-96 on Wednesday.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Maybe it was a coincidence. Maybe not.

However, Chris Bosh had his best game with the Heat – he tallied 35 points in Miami’s 123-96 win over Phoenix – on the same day a video called ‘Like A Bosh’ was released.

‘Like A Bosh’ was created by the boys at The Basketball Jones. This viral gem raises two points. First, Bosh has struggled since seeking the Miami spotlight. And second, perhaps we’re overreacting.

Only time will tell.

Watch ‘Like A Bosh’ and get at us in the comment box below with thoughts. 

TBJ exclusive: Like A Bosh from The Basketball Jones on Vimeo.

--Oly Sandor.

Ah...I miss Toronto. We always joke and laugh about the good times we had there, me and my friends. It’s good to miss something. If I didn’t miss it, that mean I didn’t have a good time.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Memo to Chris Bosh. Just stop. Stop talking to the Toronto media because it won’t change a thing.

Bosh, who ditched Toronto for Miami as a free agent last July, won’t change fans’ opinions by giving feature interviews. In fact, he’s making things worse.

The city’s five daily newspapers, three national television stations, and loyal fans are dissecting each word of every quote. Each time Bosh opens his mouth he adds fuel to the fire.

They won’t forget, let go, or move on, either. Take Tracy McGrady. He bolted Toronto years ago, but remains public enemy number one each and every time he plays in the Air Canada Centre. 

Then there’s Vince Carter. His jersey has been burnt. Radio stations have pranked his hotel room. And fans shower him with boos whenever he suits up in Toronto.

Bosh should expect the same treatment. The way he left neutralizes the seven years he spent in The Big Smoke.

His best course of action is to stop talking about the past in Toronto and win big in Miami.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"It's been a pleasure to bring my talents to south beach now on to Memphis''.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Can you say rivalry?

The Boston Celtics do not like the Miami Heat. Not one bit.

The Celtics, who were a quarter away from winning the NBA Title, are miffed the Heat was picked to win the Eastern Conference, even though The Holy Trinity had yet to play a game together.

After manhandling the Heat for the second time in two weeks, Pierce, the Celtics’ closer and leading scorer, felt obligated to talk a little viral trash. His tweet is spoofing James’ (in)famous line during The Decision. 

Fair enough. Pierce has good reason to be confident.

Kevin Garnett has turned back the clock; Rajon Rondo is the NBA’s top all-around table-setter; Ray Allen’s stroke is still silky; the bench will be productive, especially when Kendrick Perkins and Delonte West get healthy.

Garnett and Rondo, in particular, should please Pierce and worry the Heat

The Big Ticket is one of many physical Boston posts who will give Miami’s smaller frontline trouble. Also, Rondo will have his way with the underwhelming Carlos Arroyo.

A rivalry is brewing between the Celtics and Heat. Right now, it’s one way, though.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.  

"Two different team executives said they expect the Heat to dangle $3 million and second-year PG Mario Chalmers to a lotteryy-bound team looking to shed the long-term contract of a mid-priced spot-up shooting PG. Riley's objective is to find another shooter to space the floor, a la BJ Armstrong or John Paxson in their Chicago days playing alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: He’d be a point guard in name only.

Reports indicate the Miami Heat is scouring the earth for a ball handler with a jump shot. Think B.J. Armstrong and Steve Kerr next to Michael Jordan in Chicago. Think Kenny Smith alongside Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston.

His role would be simple: dribble up-court, get open, catch, and shoot.

Sound simple enough, right?

The belief is Heat executive Pat Riley will acquire such a player after the December 15th deadline by offering a lottery-bound team some combination of money, draft picks and, possibly Mario Chalmers.
 
The names most commonly mentioned: the Cleveland Cavaliers’ ‘Boobie’ Gibson and Toronto Raptors’ Jarrett Jack.

Hopefully, Riles has something better up his aging sleeve. It’s unlikely Gibson or Jack call South Beach home.

Perhaps Riley missed it. After The Decision came The Reaction. Cavaliers’ owner Daniel Gilbert declared war on LeBron James in an internet letter to fans.

Gilbert called his former franchise face everything imaginable: immature, narcissistic, and the so-called king.

It’s safe to say Gilbert felt betrayed by James announcing his decision on national television, so he won’t trade him his former sidekick in Gibson.

Meanwhile, Jack isn’t exactly a spot-up shooter. Sure, he can knock down open looks, but he’s more comfortable shooting off-the-dribble.

Expect Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo to keep Jack because he competes, provides leadership, and makes reasonable money.

They’ll instead try to move Jose Calderon, who - because of his stand-still defense, big-ticket contract, and injury prone nature – wouldn’t fit in Miami.

The Heat wants a shooting point guard.  Wanting and getting are two different things, though.

Chances are, Gibson or Jack won’t be re-enacting Armstrong with Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwayne Wade in the south Florida sun.

--Oly Sandor.   

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Ray Allen and Paul Pierce scored 20 and 19 points, respectively, as the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics held off the new-look Miami Heat, 88-80, in arguably the most anticipated regular season opener in NBA history.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It was supposed to be perfection. It was supposed to be poetry in motion. It was supposed to be unstoppable.

It is a work in progress.

This is the only way to describe the Miami Heat’s opening night loss against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday evening at TD Banknorth Garden.

The Heat, by their own admission, had an atrocious opening half, scoring 30 points. The second half was better; however, the Three Kings couldn’t complete the 19-point comeback because they ran out of energy against the well polished Celtics.

A few observations from game one:

•    The Heat ran too many high pick-and-rolls, a set that depends on chemistry and timing. Of course, the Heat haven’t played together long enough to develop chemistry and timing.

Conversely, the Celtics are an elite defensive squad. They’ve played together for years. And they have defensive chemistry and timing –especially when guarding the pick-and-roll.

•    The Heat need to improve spacing. Too often, they crowded each other. And too often, players were colliding.

•    Dwyane Wade looked off. To be fair, he’s injured. But his on-going custody battle has, understandably, taken a toll.

•    Eddie House, James Jones, and Mike Miller (when healthy) are living The Shooter’s Dream. With James and Wade, they only need to get open, catch the ball, and sink shots.

•    James was rolling in the second half, so why did Coach Erik Spoelstra pull him in the fourth quarter? This, along with a late Ray Allen three-pointer, allowed the Celtics to seal the game.

Game one for The Three Kings is in the books. It’s too early to draw conclusions, but every game, quarter, and possession will be under the microscope.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The Cavaliers offered the Clippers guard Maurice Williams and forward Jamario Moon in exchange for guard Baron Davis earlier this offseason, according to a league source.

Cleveland, at the time, was desperate to please LeBron James, who eventually left for Miami as a free agent.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Desperate times, desperate measures.

This is the only way to describe reports the Cleveland Cavaliers tried to convince LeBron James to sign an extension by acquiring Baron Davis from the Los Angeles Clippers.

Davis wouldn’t have been enough. Not even close. Miami would still have won out for James' services.

After all, Davis - an overrated and overweight point guard - can’t compete with Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and the lure of South Beach.

If the Cavaliers had acquired Davis, they’d be on the hook for the remaining three years and $43 million of his contract. 

This, of course, would be problematic. James would be long gone. Davis would be bored, angry, and hibernating through the Ohio winter.

Davis is a sad story. He has such potential.

A few years ago, he was the toast of the NBA –leading his ‘We Believe’ Golden State Warriors to a playoff upset over the league-leading Dallas Mavericks.

And TNT Broadcaster Kenny Smith has gone on record saying Davis has the game to be a first team all-NBA player each year.

While this may be hyperbole, Davis should be better than he is.

Right now, he’s the problem for the Clippers -a team he picked as a free agent. And he’d have been a bigger problem for the Cavaliers, especially without James.

--Oly Sandor.

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.    

The Miami Heat are looking into adding another veteran to their experience-laden roster. Jerry Stackhouse, who will turn 36 years-old next month, worked out for the Heat in Atlanta on Thursday, a source close to the team said.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The MIA and The Stack?

Reports indicate the Miami Heat could sign veteran Jerry Stackhouse as a fill-in for hard luck Mike Miller, who is out with a broken thumb until January.

Stackhouse, even in his mid-thirties, can play. Last year, he was an off-the-bench game changer for the upstart Milwaukee Bucks, averaging close to 9 points in 20 minutes of action.

The concern will be chemistry, not talent.

Miller is a shooter. When healthy, his stroke will punish opposing defenses for double and triple-teaming Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade. 

Stackhouse is a scorer, getting points in a multitude of ways. However,  his shot, while good, probably isn’t deadly enough to deter opponents from helping on The Three Kings.

--Oly Sandor.

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"He wants a place he can win," Boeheim told the Daily News Friday. "And I hope he can do that. He's in the prime of his career. He'd be a great foundation to build a franchise on."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Of course, Carmelo Anthony wants a place he can win.

He just wants to win on his terms. This means playing out east, preferably for a sexy franchise, and with a superstar pal or two.
 
If winning was the be all and end all, Anthony would give greater consideration to staying put. After all, the Denver Nuggets qualified for the 2009 Western Conference Finals.

In Denver, he’d steer clear of Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, the Miami Heat, and the revamped Eastern Conference. In Denver, he has table-setter and former NBA Finals MVP in Chauncey Billups. 

Separating fact from fiction is impossible with ‘Melo. On media day, he publicly stated he never asked the Nuggets for a trade -despite well-placed and reliable sources saying otherwise.

Anthony has also told reporters this is a ‘basketball decision’. MTV reporter and semi-celebrity LaLa Vasquez, Anthony's better-half, has a different take. She'd prefer a major market like New York or Los Angeles over Denver or Houston.

One conclusion can be made: Anthony gets it. He understands this is a public relations exercise. While he hasn’t handled things perfectly, he has been better than fellow superstar LeBron James.

So expect Anthony and his people to continue talking about 'winning' and 'basketball', even if it’s one part of where he ends up.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Popular opinion may be decidedly against LeBron James and his decision to hook up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in some kind of Super Friends situation in Miami. Not Oakley.

“I love it. I think in the old days, you don’t win unless you get some right players to win with. You can say this and that about LeBron but Magic had Kareem, James Worthy, he had three or four hall of famers. Bird had three or four hall of famers. M.J. probably just had him and Scottie but when it was all said and done, you had great players around you to win.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: They don’t make them like Charles Oakley anymore.

He was an original; a one of a kind tough guy at the four-spot, who handled his business on-and-off court.

No modern player would slap their ‘union brother’ to collect a gambling debt or stake out another team’s practice to confront a certain point guard about disrespecting his lady friend. (Isn’t that right Tyrone Hill and Jeff McInnis?)

That’s old school. That’s Oak’.

He also speaks the truth. For instance, LeBron James deserved criticism for how he handled free agency. The Decision was disgusting.

However, King James did not deserve criticism for leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to sign with Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat, especially from past greats like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan.

These Hall of Famers conveniently forgot about their supporting casts. Reading their condemnation of James, you’d think Larry-Legend, Magic, and Mike won all fourteen 
NBA Titles by themselves.

As Oakley points out, they had help. Lots of it.

Bird played with three Hall of Famers: Denis Johnson, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish. He also had Danny Ainge, Cedric Maxwell, and Bill Walton made a one season cameo as sixth-man.

Johnson teamed with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the game’s all-time leading scorer. ‘Big Game’ James Worthy is in the Hall of Fame. Michael Cooper, Kurt Rambis, Byron Scott, and Mychal Thompson didn’t hurt.    

This, of course, brings us to Jordan.

Jordan’s partner in crime was only Scottie Pippen, arguably the greatest wing-man in the history of pro basketball and a top fifty player of all time.

Then there was the dude with the bad hair, tattoos, and wedding dress. Dennis Rodman - despite his run on Dr. Drew's Celebrity Rehab - is regarded as the most prolific rebounder to ever put on a pair of high tops.

Throughout his career, ‘His Airness’ also played with useful pieces like BJ Armstrong, Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant, Steve Kerr, and John Paxson.

The Celtics, Lakers, and Bulls weren’t one-man bands. Bird, Magic, and Jordan had stacked supporting cast.

Who did James have in Cleveland?

Well, there was Candace Parker’s brother. Don’t forget Daniel Gibson –better known as Keyshia Cole’s baby daddy. Jamario Moon was once a Harlem Globetrotter.

Veterans Antwan Jamison and Shaquille O’Neal were past their prime, while Mo Williams is undersized, streaky, and 'emo-tional'.

In South Beach, he has a once-in-a-generation talent in Wade. When The King and Flash get bored, they’ll toss the ball inside to CB4.   

Credit Oakley for speaking the truth: James made a smart basketball decision by signing with Miami. And he’ll likely get rewarded with championships. 

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.