"Whatever jersey I'm wearing, I'm still here," Wade said. "I'm still in the community, I think I'm doing something impactful and bigger than the game of basketball. It had nothing to do with Chicago. It had nothing to do with the Chicago Bulls. It had everything to do with Miami and what we had a chance to do down there."

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose, and the Chicago Bulls would've been nice; however, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and the Miami Heat is better -at least for Dwyane Wade.

So the superstar said thanks, but no thanks to his hometown. This is just another storyline in the developing rivalry between Chicago and Miami.

Both clubs competed for big-ticket free agents this summer. Miami won the battle landing the Three Kings, but Chicago with Carlos Boozer, Noah, and Rose could still win the war for Eastern Conference supremacy.

And Bulls fans will have plenty of chances to heckle Wade for picking Miami over his native Chicago.

--Oly Sandor.

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Chris Bosh has again insisted that he never quit on the Raptors during his time in Toronto. "Nobody wanted to make the playoffs more than me," Bosh told Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.

"Nobody else wanted to make it more than me, trust me. I put in the work to be successful. I had a turned ankle and I had a broken nose that I had to stay in the hospital for, and I played through it. I know what I put into that organization and what I put into it was everything I had every night."

"I don't think he (Dan Gilbert) ever cared about LeBron. My mother always told me: 'You will see the light of people when they hit adversity. You'll get a good sense of their character' Me and my family have seen the character of that man."

"It's not far, but it is far. And Clevelanders, because they were the bigger-city kids when we were growing up, looked down on us...So we didn't actually like Cleveland. We hated Cleveland growing up. There's a lot of people in Cleveland we still hate to this day."  

"If there was an opportunity for me to return (to Cleveland) and those fans welcome me back, that'd be a great story."

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Where do I begin?

1) There's no defending Dan Gilbert's web-letter slamming LeBron James after 'The Decision'. The Cleveland Cavaliers owner must model professionalism for players and employees to follow. 

However, it takes two sides to wreck a relationship. And James is acting like he did nothing wrong -like he didn't owe Gilbert and the Cleveland Cavaliers a heads up before taking the air and announcing he was heading to 'South Beach'.

2) I get the Akron-Cleveland rivalry. It's a common dynamic between a small and big city. Now isn't the time for James to confess his feelings for Ohio's big city.

3) James doesn't get it. Cavalier-nation is mad. Furious, in fact. There's so much water under the bridge, the river is overflowing and flooding.

Fans will never forgive-and-forget because they feel James deserted them and rubbed their nose in it with The Decision.

Bottom line: James needs new PR people. Recently, he's made several missteps: the one hour ESPN special, the pulled ESPN article in Las Vegas, and now the GQ interview.

James doesn't realize the public is tired of him. He needs to go underground until training camp. No interviews. No magazine covers.

The only way to quell The Backlash is to handle his business on-court and win an NBA Title in 2011. James must remind folks he's a great basketball player first, and everything else - brand, icon, entrepreneur - second.

With all the people whispering in his ear, with all the hoopla over free agency, with all the yes-men in the posse, this has been lost.

So James should get in the gym, put in work, and deliver next season and playoff for Miami.

--Oly Sandor.

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When speaking with the media, Rose was about a potential rivalry brewing with the Miami HEAT. ``I am not worried about the HEAT; I am just worried about the Bulls. I know that my team is ready.``

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The late John Wooden would have liked Derrick Rose.

Coach Wooden always told his UCLA teams not to worry about their opponents and to focus on playing, which is the approach Rose is taking with the Miami Heat.

Instead of worrying about Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade, instead of worrying about the attention the Heat are getting, Rose is punching the clock, putting in work, and extending his three-point shot.

Of course, this will make him unstoppable.

Rose has always been able to get to the basket. Defenders have such respect for his athleticism they back off him and concede the jumper.

If Rose can consistently knock down three-pointers, defenders won`t be able to back off him,  which will make it easier to penetrate and create scoring opportunities.

The third year point guard should head into 2011 as a pick-your-poison player. And it will be because he took a ‘Wooden’ approach to this summer. 

--Oly Sandor.

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Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem was arrested Sunday for possession of marijuana following a traffic stop in Miami-Dade County.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: This isn’t good for Udonis Haslem or the Miami Heat.

After all, Haslem is heavily connected to the area. He was born in Miami, attended Florida University, and has spent his entire career with the Heat.

This summer the club signed him to a five-year extension, in part, because of his positive standing in the community.

Now taking a toke on the whacky stuff doesn’t make Haslem a bad guy, but it does show poor judgement and must make Executive Pat Riley question his professionalism.

Of course, the Heat probably thought they were past these issues when they dealt troubled Michael Beasley to the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer.

Well, they’re not. The surprise is that Haslem is the player in trouble.

--Oly Sandor. 

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At the Hall of Fame on Friday, Karl Malone said he thinks the Lakers will win another title, and Scottie Pippen isn't even sure the Heat will make the NBA Finals.

"I would say this: With the guys they got, they're going to be a hell of a team," Malone said of Miami. "I pick the Lakers."

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"If you think about how many times somebody asks you, 'How are you,' that's how many times I was asked, 'Where you going?'" Bosh told the Daily News on Wednesday.  "So it's like, well, in my case, I'm going to have fun with it. I'm going to play with people's emotions. I'm going to be high and low."

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: There's no doubt about it.

Chris Bosh had a plan for July 1st. He knew what he was doing.

When free agency hit, the All-Star power forward was bolting on the Toronto Raptors and signing with the Miami Heat, joining fellow superstars and friends LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

He executed his plan perfectly, using his rights as a free agent to sign with the team of his chosing. Fair enough. Just don't play 'with people's emotions' and don't brag about it afterwards.

Bosh should remember Karma is a mo-fu. For instance, Vince Carter kicked the Toronto Raptors after his trade to the New Jersey Nets, telling John Thompson he didn't always try and give a full effort.

Carter's career has never recovered. He stumbled with the Nets, and he struggled with the Orlando Magic in 2010.

If there's justice, Bosh will reap a touch of what he has recently sown.

--Oly Sandor.

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``If Lebron is taking mental notes of everyone who is taking shots at him this summer, put me on top of your list!  I thought the one hour decision was a punk move.   I thought the dance in Miami was a punk move and I was very disappointed that he left Cleveland to join D.Wade's team."  (quote from Mike Greenberg`s ESPN morning show)

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Charles Barkley, how do you really feel?

The TNT broadcaster and Hall of Fame power forward has been rather outspoken in his criticism of LeBron James. Barkley didn’t like that James left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. He also didn’t like how he left.

The Round Mound of Rebound’s latest comments came in response to James tweeting that he’s taking ‘mental notes’ on all his enemies, and wants revenge.

Two points are worth noting.

First, Barkley, a former regular season MVP, is wrong to knock James for joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in South beach.

James is at his best when facilitating instead of averaging 30 points per night. He’s more Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen, and Oscar Robertson than, say, Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan. As a facilitator, he needs great players like Wade and Bosh.

At least, James will sacrifice to win. Years ago, a certain four-man’s ego forced Pippen off Hakeem Olajuwon’s Houston squad, and compromised the Rockets’ chances of winning another NBA Title.

Sound familiar Chuck?

That said, there’s no excuse for how James left Cleveland. There’s no justification for him treating the folks who raised, loved, and supported him so badly.

Second, this again proves that The Decision created The Backlash. The ‘heat’ James is taking is self-induced. His tweet about ‘taking mental notes’ forced Barkley to comment.

Just like The Decision - his hour long ESPN special where he broke up with Cleveland for Miami - prompted the state of Ohio to burn his jerseys, while the rest of America named him public enemy number one.

If The Decision doesn’t happen, The Backlash doesn’t happen.

Perhaps James should take his mental notes silently. Perhaps Barkley should just be silent. Unfortunately, there’s zero chance of either happening.

--Oly Sandor.

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

Don't think for one min that I haven't been taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me this summer. And I mean everyone!

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: LeBron James is taking notes, keeping score, and wants revenge on those who spoke out against ‘The Decision’ to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.

Please. ‘The Backlash’ to ‘The Decision’ was avoidable.

Suppose James dispensed with the dog and pony show known as free agent wooing, privately broke up with Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, and signed with the Miami Heat on July 1st.

Suppose he held a presser in South Beach, where he respectfully explained his choice to join the Heat and not re-sign with the Cavaliers. Suppose he thanked Cleveland, Akron, and Ohio.

Of course, there’d be some backlash. There’d be some talk of his diminished legacy. There’d be some talk of his shortcomings as a player. And there’d be some talk of him turning his back on the state that raised him.

Life would eventually go on, though. And the backlash wouldn’t become ‘The Backlash’.

By going on ESPN, by hiring Jim Gray, by playing with the hearts and minds of Cavalier fans, James instigated and asked for the criticism. 

‘The Decision’ created ‘The Backlash’. The sooner James realizes this, the better off we’ll all be.

--Oly Sandor.

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

Hawks coach Larry Drew has told Al Horford that he wants him to spend more time at power forward this coming season. "[Coach] Larry Drew told me he wants me to play as a 'power forward' next season rather than at center," Horford said.

"I can agree on a lot as a player because that's what I've been all my life," he continued.

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"They will break the single-season win record [of 72]," Van Gundy said. "And I think they have a legit shot at the Lakers' 33-game [winning] streak [in 1971-72], as well. And only the Lakers have even a remote shot at beating them in a playoff series. They will never lose two games in a row this year.

"They have put together a much better roster than anybody could ever have expected," Van Gundy added. "There is now no good way to defend them. They are unguardable. They are indefensible. They are just too good and have added so much shooting and are so versatile that they will score at will.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call:  The only thing that matters is winning the NBA championship.

The Chicago Bulls' single-season mark of 72 games and the L.A. Lakers' 33-game winning streak are meaningless if the Miami Heat fail to win the Larry O'Brien trophy come June.

Nothing else matters. Nothing else will do. The Heat's Big Three were assembled to win it all; the blending pieces were specifically signed because they could help achieve this goal.

Jeff Van Gundy is right on one thing, though: the Heat are indefensible. However, their own defense will determine their playoff success.

After all, the Boston Celtics and Lakers have again shown that getting stops, specifically on the road, is the most important tool in winning a championship.

So regular season records are nice. Championships and defence are what matters for Miami.

--Oly Sandor.

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

Edgardo Defortuna, head of Fortune International Realty, says the LeBron effect is real but hard to quantify. He says 49 units at Icon Brickell have sold since LeBron's announcement, and July sales for downtown were nearly double the number in June. "I've had friends from South America call and tell me they'll buy an apartment," he says, "but only if I can find them Heat tickets first."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Cleveland hates him. Miami loves him. Just not for the obvious reason.

Sure LeBron James’ migration from Ohio to Florida will impact the Cavaliers and Heat’s on-court fortunes. The Cavs’ are now rebuilding; the Heat are now contenders.

Forget wins and losses. Forget the standings, playoffs, and quest to dethrone the two-time world champion Los Angeles Lakers.

James’ greatest impact may be on the Cleveland and Miami economies. After all, The King guarantees a sold-out building, which also means busy restaurants and pubs, full hotels, and, most importantly, the national spotlight.

Cleveland lost all of that. Their loss is Miami’s gain.

The Heat have already filled their building for the year. South Beach is buzzing. And now there are reports the struggling Florida real estate market is heating (pardon the pun) up.

All of this magnifies the poor manner in which James handled his free agency. Cleveland and Miami will be feeling the impact - good or bad - of The Decision for years to come.

--Oly Sandor.

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

Jason Williams and the Magic have agreed on a deal for the 10-11 season, according to a source with knowledge of the talks. Williams spent last season with the Magic after taking a year off for personal reasons.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: This is a pleasant surprise.

The Orlando Magic recently signed Chris Duhon to a multi-year deal to serve as Jameer Nelson's back-up. The thinking was Williams - who came out of retirement in 2009 to join the Magic - would call it a career or sign elsewhere.

However, Orlando wisely inked him to another cheap, one-year deal. And why not?

Williams is an excellent back-up, exciting teammates and fans with his razzle-dazzle 'White Chocolate' game, while still posting excellent assist-to-turnover numbers.

He's also expereienced. Williams, after all, was the starting table-setter for the 2006 World Champion Miami Heat.

Bottom line: the Magic want to win it all in 2011, so signing Williams was a necessity.

--Oly Sandor.

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TNT will televise the first return of LeBron James to Cleveland in the uniform of the Miami Heat. The game will take place on December 2nd. Miami will also travel to Cleveland on March 29th.

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“People have to realize something is wrong with that organization and nobody wants to go there anymore,” he said in a phone interview from Turkey. “It’s not just the players who see this.”

Bryan Colangelo recently accused Chris Bosh of quitting on the team during the second half of the 09-10 season.

"It’s funny that people will talk behind your back,” Turkoglu said of Colangelo. “If he was feeling this way, why not have the guts to say it during the season? Why not say it to Chris? Now that Chris has left, it’s not nice to say those things.

“Chris has been a franchise player and he did a lot of good things for the Raptors. I don’t think Chris is the type of player to quit on his teammates.

“I just don’t understand why you would say these things,” he added. “Like I said, that organization has problems.”

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With the arrival of Lebron James, the Miami Heat rapidly sold out all their season tickets. That turned out to be bad news for the ticket-sales staff, which was fired Friday. In a statement, the Heat confirmed the dismissals Friday afternoon, saying that with an ``exhausted'' inventory of season-tickets ``we no longer require a season ticket sales team to sell tickets.'' Stephen Weber, vice president of sales, delivered the news to about 30 ticket sales people Friday morning, according to one of the staffers who asked not to be named because he is seeking another job in sports.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: On the one hand, this hardly seems fair. The Miami Heat's sales staff gets rewarded for selling out the stadium with a pat on the back and a pink slip.

On the other hand, the fragile economy means teams must cut costs wherever possible, so extra staff - like the Heat’s sales team – is a thing of the past.

The optics of such a move isn’t good, though. The public will be disgusted.

They'll wonder how the Heat can afford max' contracts worth approximately $330 million for Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade, but can't afford $30 thousand without benefits for some dude trying to make ends meet.

Of course, the Heat is already public  enemy number one, and pulling an Ebenezer Scrooge on their sales staff won’t help.

Oly Sandor.

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Eddie House's agent says the veteran guard has agreed to terms on a $2.8 million, two-year contract with the Miami Heat. Agent Mark Bartelstein said Thursday that the second year is a player option.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Catch. Shoot. Pound chest.

This will be Eddie House's official job description with the Miami Heat in 2011. And for his ability as a sharpshooter, for his ability to punish opposing defenses that double-team the Three Kings, House will earn in excess of a million dollars.

However, the journeyman also brings certain intangibles.

In 07 Seconds Or Less - the best seller by CNNSI's Jack McCallum that covers the Phoenix Suns' 2006 season - House was universally loved by teammates and coaches. Same thing with the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. 

Once again, the Heat did well with the House signing. He'll do more than 'catch, shoot, and pound chest'. He'll provide some much needed moments of laughter and entertainment.

This will be his unofficial job description.

--Oly Sandor.

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LeBron will hear worse, but Chris Bosh earned an earful Wednesday while at the New York Stock Exchange to ring the opening bell. Bosh, 26, who signed a six-year, $110 million deal with the Heat, rang the bell to promote his work with After-School All-Stars, which provides after-school activities to children across the US. ... But as Bosh toured the floor, one trader heckled him, "It would have been a madhouse in here had you signed with the Knicks." Another said, "Come back in 2016." Even a security guard got into the act, telling him: "Forget Miami, New York is where it's at." Bosh, who's finishing a week's visit here that included a trip to the Hamptons, told us, "About 600 people have told me I should have signed with the Knicks."

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call:  While visiting the New York Stock Exchange, Chris Bosh was expecting a pass on his decision to sign in South Beach instead of The Big Apple. After all, CB4 was promoting his charity.

As they say in New York: 'forget about it'.

Brokers and traders took a moment off from robbing third world nations and/or selling financial instruments that could ruin markets to heckle Bosh.

This shows the heat (pun intended) The Three Kings and Miami will face in 2011. They'll be public enemy number one. They'll be the bad guys. And they'll be targets.

Night-in, night-out, the opposition will get amped to face Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade. There will be no passes from anyone.

--Oly Sandor.

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

“It would already have to be an unbelievable situation to go somewhere, for instance with LeBron or Wade just to play in Miami,” Dirk said (in the Gooogle-translated version). “I would only be changed if it was an incredible situation that would have been offered. (Had LeBron and Wade asked), that would have been a situation where I would have to consider.”

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Suppose LeBron James and Dwyane Wade call. Suppose they suggest becoming teammates. Suppose they suggest doing this in the tropical and exotic location of South Beach.

What would you say?

Credit Dirk Nowitzki for being honest and admitting he’d have had interest. However, the German MVP would have likely stayed with the Dallas Mavericks.

Nowitzki is loyal. He wouldn’t turn his back on friend and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. He wouldn’t have left Dallas, where he has played his entire career.

Miami would have been an awkward fit, too. In the 2006 NBA Finals, Nowitzki and the Mavericks lost to Wade and the Heat -despite leading the series 2-0.

There’s no guarantee Nowitzki, a natural scorer, would gel with James and Wade. Chris Bosh, Miami’s third superstar, will be a better fit on-and-off court with The King and Flash.

Expect Nowitzki to continue leading a competitive Dallas squad. Perhaps his loyalty to the Mavericks will eventually be rewarded with an NBA championship.

--Oly Sandor.

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When it came to a Monday radio interview, Bryan Colangelo "chose his words carefully," but didn't leave many bullets left in his pistol. Colangelo intoned that Bosh took a long time to return from injury even though he had been medically cleared and that he started thinking ahead to his future at the expense of the Raptors. "Despite limited swelling and any excessive damage on an MRI, he felt like he needed to sit for six more games ... I'm not even questioning Chris' injury. I'm telling you he was cleared to play subject to tolerance on his part, and the tolerance just apparently wasn't there and he chose not to play," Colangelo said. ... Colangelo went on to elaborate: "Whether he was mentally checked out or just wasn't quite into it down the stretch, he wasn't the same guy. I think everybody saw that, but no one wanted to acknowledge it."

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Toronto Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo may be right.

Perhaps Chris Bosh checked out on the club during the second half of the 2010 season. Perhaps he had already decided to partner with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in South Beach. And perhaps, he should have played through the pain.

Colangelo, however, was wrong to trash Bosh. Dead wrong.

Good organizations don't insult former players who left three weeks ago. They move on. They replace them. They sell fans on the coming season.

The two-time Executive of the Year knows better. He was schooled by his father, a well tenured NBA executive and minority owner who now runs USA Basketball.

Colangelo's perspective was understandable, though. Bosh showed Toronto no respect during free agency. His constant tweets and film making alienated Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the wealthy holding company that owns the Raptors.

His confidence and self-assured smirk must have had Raptor fans wondering what happened to the humble kid they embraced seven years ago.

So Colangelo may have been right. He should have resisted temptation and continued with the high road.

--Oly Sandor.

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Stephon Marbury told the New York Post on Sunday that he didn't turn down a chance to play for the Heat. In fact, Marbury still hasn't given up hope on playing for Miami.

Marbury said a Chinese reporter mixed up the translation of his remarks and that it was falsely reported he had rejected an offer from the Heat. He told the Post that Miami contacted him in early July before LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined forces. The Heat told him they would get back to him after "they handled all the things they had to handle."

"It's total nonsense, why would I turn down a chance to play for the Miami Heat?" Marbury said. "The report was a fabrication."

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Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo doesn't agree with those that are already handing the 2011 NBA Title to the Heat. "They should be good, but they ain't done nothing yet," Rondo said recently. "They ain't done nothing."

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: He's right.

While training with USA Basketball in Las Vegas, Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo wondered why the Miami Heat has been handed the 2011 NBA championship.

Miami will be good, very good.

Rondo correctly points out that the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers are still the team to beat. The Lakers have balance, chemistry, and defense. The Heat does not. It will take time to establish these components.

On-paper, South Beach does look good. They have their Three Kings: Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade. They have their supporting pieces: Joel Anthony, Udonis Haslem, Juwan Howard, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Mike Miller.

But Haslem and Wade are the only strong defensive players on the roster, so the Heat may struggle to advance out the Eastern Conference.

For instance: how will Miami's star-studded roster match-up against Boston`s tough guys?

The Heat will take those meaningless games in the regular season. The outcome could be different in the playoffs when the best defensive team wins. Bottom line: the Heat isn’t a better defensive squad than the Celtics.

Last year, the green-and-white used their get-stops mentality to take out the highly favoured Cavaliers and Magic in the playoffs. And their grinding style nearly beat the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

Rondo is right. For now, we should hold off anointing the Heat NBA champions.

--Oly Sandor.

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Timberwolves president David Kahn is confident that young forward Michael Beasley has matured. Kahn said Beasley used "too much marijuana" during his time with the Heat.Miami drafted Beasley with the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

"He's a very young and immature kid who smoked too much marijuana and has told me that he's not smoking anymore," team president David Kahn said in an interview on 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, "and I told him that I would trust him as long as that was the case."

Stephon Marbury said Friday that he is looking for a place to play in China, but the Heat have showed interest in signing him.

"I'll wait and see what'll happen," Marbury said during an interview with the Chinese media.

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Carlos Arroyo has told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that he will fly back from his native Puerto Rico on Thursday to sign a deal with the Heat. Arroyo started Miami's final 21 regular-season games and all five playoff contests at point guard.

"Looking forward to a championship!!!" Arroyo wrote in an email to the Sun-Sentinel. "Excited!!!!"

He will join Mario Chalmers as Miami's second point and become the team's 13th player under contract.

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HoopsVibe`s Very Quick Call: Dub him All-State because Carlos Arroyo will serve as insurance for the Miami Heat.

Of course, the veteran table-setter filled in nicely down the stretch in 2010 when young starter Mario Chalmers struggled. More of the same is expected in 2011.

Arroyo could start or come off the bench; however, he'll likely be the third point guard behind LeBron James and Chalmers.

The native of Puerto Rico will handle whatever role he's given like a professional. This is another solid move by executive Pat Riley and the Heat.

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

Free-agent forward Jerry Stackhouse is interested in playing for the Heat.  Stackhouse played well for the Bucks last season.

"When you look at a situation with Miami now and having to try and fill their roster with minimum-type contracts," he said recently on NBA TV, "I would take one of those minimum contracts if they're available."

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent forward Juwan Howard.

“This is a great addition for us,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “We feel that Juwan’s ability to play both the four and five spot will be complimentary to what we have put together. He also gives us incredible professionalism and is a perfect fit behind Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: History is repeating itself with Juwan Howard and the Miami Heat.

Only this time, they`ll be a happy ending.

In 1996, Pat Riley nearly signed Howard to a massive seven-year, $100 million contract, hoping he would star in South Beach. However, the deal fell through, and the power forward re-signed with the Washington Bullets/Wizards.

Today, Riley and the Heat officially landed Howard, except the circumstances and context are very different. The former All-Star inked a minimum contract and will back-up starters Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem.

Howard is well equipped for a supporting role. Last year, he filled in admirably for the Portland Trail Blazers after Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla went down with injuries.

Expect him to defend, rebound, and practice hard in Miami. He’ll also provide a veteran sounding board for the Three Kings of Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade when things get rocky.

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

--Oly Sandor.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: They are the villains. No doubt about it.

Naturally, wrestling fans are comparing the Miami Heat’s Three Kings of Chris Bosh, LeBron James, or Dwyane Wade to WWE’s New World Order of Scott Hall, Hulk Hogan, and Kevin Nash. 

In fact, in this video, James/Hogan is body slamming the Cleveland Cavaliers mascot, former teammate Delonte West, and former owner turned foe Dan Gilbert.

Of course, Commissioner David Stern assumes the role of corrupt referee, which NBA fans - especially supporters of the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings - will find slightly ironic.

Watch the video below and get at us with thoughts on the Three Kings/NWO.

--Oly Sandor.

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

Wade said he will soon take time to thank the teams that interviewed him during free agency. "I'll send them all gift baskets or something," he said.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: He still has his sense of humour.

Clearly, Dwyane Wade isn’t troubled by the criticism, backlash, and negative publicity about how he handled free agency, or the conspiracy theorists claims that Bosh, James, and Wade had planned for years to play together with the Miami Heat.

Bottom line: this trio will have a giant bulls-eyes on their backs. They will be public enemy number one. They will be the team everybody loves to hate.

Instead of shying away from this, instead of downplaying, instead of worrying, Wade is embracing the situation.

Of course, he’ll be booed by fans of the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks. They’ll reign down their frustration on Wade when Miami comes to the United Center or Madison Square Gardens.

Why worry about being the villain? Why not enjoy the situation and just win games?

Heck, send the damn gift baskets.

--Oly Sandor.

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

Michael Jordan talked about the decision made by LeBron James to sign with the Heat, joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

"There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry (Bird), called up Magic (Johnson) and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team,'" Jordan said on Sunday. "But that's ... things are different. I can't say that's a bad thing. It's an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys."

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: He put it out there.

Second year point guard Brandon Jennings believes his Milwaukee Bucks could finish in the top four in the Eastern Conference.

Jennings – also known as The Gremlin for rocking his, well, unique ‘do – may be overlooking the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, and that other team in the state of Florida.

Still, Jennings’ optimism is always appreciated, but is it misdirected?

Watch the clip by clicking the link courtesy of HoopsHype. Then get at us in the comment box on how Milwaukee will do in 2011.

--Oly Sandor.

I can’t tell you how ugly it got in Shaq’s final weeks in South Florida. You can’t un-burn those types of bridges. Now, if the Heat was desperate for a man in the middle, it might have been a different story. But, clearly, Pat Riley sees plenty of workable non-Shaq options.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Sometimes, you can’t go home.

Shaquille O’Neal –the free agent Hall of Fame center – is learning this the hard way. The larger than life five-man burned his bridges with the Miami Heat halfway through the 2008 season, which led to him being traded to the Phoenix Suns.

On his way out the door, O’Neal insulted Heat coach and legend Pat Riley. There were also reports of a dispute with resident superstar Dwyane Wade.

So it’s no surprise ‘Riles’ went in a different direction this summer, signing four centers – Joel Anthony, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Jamaal Magloire, and Dexter Pittman – not named O’Neal.

After all, Miami has enough leaders: Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Wade. They don’t need a fading veteran, O’Neal, who will demand first option touches, spotlight, and treatment.

--Oly Sandor.

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

Penny Hardaway, the man who inspired original Nike puppet in the late 90s "Lil Penny," announced he is interested in competing for a role with the Miami Heat Thursday on an internet radio show called "The Bottom Line Sports Show."

"Mentally I was retired and physically I was retired. I was playing recreational ball," Hardaway said. "But when the decision happened with Chris Bosh and LeBron, I felt like I could really be good in that system."

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: At 39, what does he have left?

Reports indicate Anfernee Hardaway - a former All-Star with the Orlando Magic - is angling for a comeback with Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the revamped Miami Heat.

Sure, 'Penny' could fill a role as a practice player, and assume a permanent seat on Erik Spoelstra/Pat Riley's bench 82 nights a year.

Landing a spot in the rotation will be a challenge, though. After all, Hardaway had his struggles during a short comeback with the Heat in 2007.

And despite working out regularly and running in competitive pick-up games, playing consistent minutes in the NBA after a three year layoff will be tough, especially since he's middle-aged.

Best wishes to Hardaway on his comeback. He'll need it.

--Oly Sandor.

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

Dwyane Wade isn't ready to buy into all the hype about the Heat, who added LeBron James and Chris Bosh last week.

Wade says the Lakers, who have won the NBA's last two championships, are the team to beat.

The Lakers are the champions and we know the Lakers are very good," Wade said Wednesday. "That's the team that everyone's shooting for and they should be. Not the Miami Heat. The Los Angeles Lakers."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Call: You can’t fault Dwyane Wade for trying.

In fact, you have to admire the superstar’s failed attempts at running a little smokescreen interference and deferring public enemy number one status to the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Yes, the purple-and-gold is still the team to beat. After all, to be the champs, you have to beat the champs.

No, the Miami Heat – with the controversial way The Big Three of Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade were assembled - is the team everyone will be shooting for.

No doubt about it.

Everyone - your granny, pastor, milkman, and even dog - has an opinion on The Great Free Agent Chase of 2010, culminating in LeBron James breaking up with Dan Gilbert, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and state of Ohio on national television.

Very quickly, the Heat has become the NBA’s undisputed villain in a plot that’s part Shakespeare, part Vince McMahon WWE. 

If Wade thought the attention was bad in 2007 following their NBA Title win, then he hasn’t seen anything yet.

--Oly Sandor.

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

Zyrdunas Ilgauskas is following LeBron James to the Miami Heat.

The veteran center, who started playing for Cleveland in 1997 and has never suited up for another NBA team, expects to sign a two-year contract with the Heat later this week, agent Herb Rudoy said Tuesday. The two-year deal would come with a player option for the second season, Rudoy said.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Today, the Miami Heat added an additional piece around The Big Three of Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade, signing long-time Cleveland Cavaliers centre Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

(No word on whether Cavalier owner Dan Gilbert will write a letter about Ilgauskas swapping the cold of Ohio for the sun of Florida.) 

This move makes sense for a few reasons:

1) Ilgauskas can still play. He’s massive. He’s skilled. And he can take opposing fives out on the perimeter with his range.

2) With a true centre like ‘Big Z’, Bosh will get significant minutes at the four-spot, his natural position. This will surely please ‘CB4’, who doesn’t want to battle the beasts of the Eastern Conference.

3) Ilgauskas has chemistry with James on-and-off-court. The veteran Euro will help ease the transition to Miami for his younger friend, especially with all the hoopla surrounding his free agency.

--Oly Sandor.

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

"The gritty power forward told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Monday that he is spurning more lucrative offers to stay with the only team he has played for in a seven-year career.

Haslem loyalty is understandable: he was raised in Florida, attended the University of Florida, and has spent his entire career with the Heat.

Derek Fisher received an offer of the veteran's minimum from the Heat over the weekend, but he is likely to re-sign with the Lakers.

Fisher reportedly received a $2.5 million offer for next season from the Lakers. He has been seeking a two-year contract with a starting salary closer to the $5 million he made last season.

The Bulls have extended an offer sheet to restricted free agent J.J. Redick. A league source said "it would be painful for the Magic to match."

Yahoo! is reporting that Redick's offer sheet would be worth $19 million over three seasons.

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Each player took $15 million less over the life of the contract to sign with Miami, but they have an opt out after the fourth year to all potentially become free agents in 2014.

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HoopsVibe`s Very Quick Call: Not everybody is writing Caps Locked letters or burning jerseys. Some are, in fact, cheering.

Yesterday, the Miami Heat officially welcomed LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh by having a little celebration in American Airlines Arena.

Below is video of the Three Kings joking and laughing in front of thousands of Heat fans.

--Oly Sandor.

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

Lakers free agent point guard Derek Fisher has a meeting scheduled with Miami Heat president Pat Riley on Saturday, according to a source close to the situation.

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HoopsVibe`s Very Quick Call:  Does he join Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the upstart Miami Heat or does he re-sign with Kobe Bryant and the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers?

Yes, Derek Fisher has a dilemma.

However, negotiations between the veteran point guard and the Lakers are progressing because the club raised their initial offer of one-year at $2.5 million.

And Fisher, at 36 years of age, would be hesitant to uproot his young family from LA and bolt on the purple-and-gold.

Of course, Heat GM Pat Riley, also known as the walking oil slick in the front office, is on a roll with his ‘Three Kings’ line-up of Bosh, James, and Wade.

Seriously, it’s like ‘Riles’ has jumped in the Hot Tub Time Machine and turned back the clock to the mid-eighties when he was, coincidentally, the famous coach of the purple-and-gold.

So what would seem a courtesy meeting between Riley and Fisher on Saturday could easily become something more.

--Oly Sandor.

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

He has gotten a free pass," Gilbert said in a phone interview with The AP. "People have covered up for [James] for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is."

"He quit," Gilbert said. "Not just in Game 5, but in Games 2, 4 and 6. Watch the tape. The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar."

"It's not about him leaving," Gilbert said. "It's the disrespect. It's time for people to hold these athletes accountable for their actions. Is this the way you raise your children? I've been holding this all in for a long time."

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HoopsVibe`s Very Quick Call: I’m certain Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert will be receiving a phone call from Commissioner David Stern telling him to cool it.

Sure, LeBron James showed zero class by announcing he was leaving Cleveland for Miami on national television, embarrassing an owner, organization, city, and, state that has showered him with adulation and love for seven years.

And sure, James mailed it in against the Boston Celtics in the 2010 playoffs and was pretty mediocre against the Orlando Magic in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals.

So Gilbert has a point, a very good one, in fact.

However, owners don’t do this. Owners don’t act like jilted lovers when things don’t go their way. Owners don’t write nasty letters to fans, essentially hexing the face of the league –even if it’s totally justified.

Owners are supposed to model professionalism for fans, players, front office staff and, heck, even the guy pouring pints at Quicken Loans Arena.

By doing this, by stooping to James and Maverick Carter’s level of nonsense, Gilbert has made it harder to attract a star(s) to replace The King.

After all, players talk. And James and his posse will put out the word to the fraternity of ballers that Gilbert is a micromanager, tyrant, and jerk.

This may or may not be true. The NBA is like life, though. Perception is reality. And the gossip will overshadow Gilbert’s desire to win championships and his willingness to write multi-million dollar luxury tax cheques to achieve this end.

Right now, Gilbert, an Alpha Male billionaire, must do something out of character. He must turn the other cheek. He must take the high road.

If he can’t stay somewhat silent, if he can’t stay mum, then the businessman must immediately tone down the rhetoric and describe his frustration in a more appropriate and reasonable manner.

Gilbert is right: the people of Cleveland and Ohio deserved far better from James. Those same people also deserve far better from Gilbert, too.

-- Oly Sandor.

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

LeBron James put the NBA on notice Thursday night, joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.

Ending weeks of silence and drama, the two-time MVP said on his ESPN special from Greenwich, Conn. on Thursday night that he's decided to join the Miami Heat and leave the Cleveland Cavaliers after an unsuccessful seven-year quest for the championship he covets.

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Got thoughts? Hit us up with your reaction in the comment box below and come back to HoopsVibe for more on this story.

The Heat have offered Mike Miller a five-year deal, worth approximately $27 million-$30 million. Miami has given Miller a deadline of Thursday night to decide. Miller has been told by the Heat that they are 'confident' LeBron James will be joining the Heat.

The Raptors have signed Nuggets restricted free agent forward Linas Kleiza to a four-year, $20 million offer sheet, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

LeBron James has decided to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, according to multiple sources that spoke with Newsday.

"Multiple sources are telling Newsday that LeBron James has decided to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami," wrote Hahn on his original Tweet, posted shortly after midnight Eastern. "The new Big Three is here."

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s official. Dwyane Wade has re-signed with the Miami Heat, and he’s bringing a friend: Chris Bosh.

--Oly Sandor.

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

Wade and Bosh are expected to announce their decision on Wednesday, according to the source, and continue to lobby James, along with Heat president Pat Riley, to join them in Miami, despite the financial complexities involved for the Heat to make room for all three.

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HoopsVibe`s Very Quick Call: I know it. You know it. Most importantly, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade know it, too.

LeBron James probably isn’t leaving his home of Cleveland, Ohio to join the NBA’s newest dynamic duo, Bosh and Wade, in Miami.

Simply put, James is The King. While he’s a rule-by-consensus, constitutional monarchy type of king, he still has to be the undisputed first option.

He’s the lead dog. He’s the Alpha Male. And he’s the Michael Jackson of whatever group he`s in -minus the white glove, interviews with Martin Banshear, and threats of dropping a child over the balcony.

It’s always been this way. Always will be, too. So James probably won`t ink a deal with the Heat, where he would have to share the rock with another ball dominating guard in Wade.

Bosh and Wade knew this, but still, reportedly, signed in Miami. Now they must win with a limited supporting cast, which isn`t easy in a competitive Eastern Conference.

Instead of gambling on James, they should have, perhaps, hedged their bets and signed with the Chicago Bulls.

After all, young Derrick Rose is one of the NBA’s best point guards, while Joakim Noah is a nasty, blue-collar post. And Taj Gibson had a promising rookie campaign.

Best of all, the parts –unlike a Miami team with or without James – would fit together. So why didn`t Bosh and Wade give greater consideration to The Windy City?

And it may be a decision they regret.

-- Oly Sandor.

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

The Hawks have offered Shaquille O'Neal a two-year contract that starts at $5.8 million per season, according to NBA sources close to both the team and the player.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Is The Big Aristotle about to become The Big ATL?

Reports indicate Shaquille O'Neal is considering the Hawks' multi-year deal; however, it remains to be seen if this would be a fit for both player and team.

Shaq is desperate for another NBA Title. Unfortunately, good but not great Atlanta is hardly the spot for him to taste championship glory for the fifth time in his illustrious career.

Even if the Hawks signed the massive post, they wouldn't be better than the past two Eastern Conference champions: the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic. And they'd struggle with the Cleveland Cavaliers -provided Lebron James does the expected and re-signs later this week.

Meanwhile, Atlanta needs bench help, and not an aging five-man who spends a minimum of twenty games per season on the bench rocking designer suits.

When O'Neal is fit, he would demand minutes and touches, which would likely alienate a young, talented, and temperamental frontline of Al Horford, Josh Smith, and Marvin Williams.

However, the biggest potential issue would be with rookie coach Larry Drew because O'Neal has clashed with almost every sideline boss he ever had.

For instance, after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, he publicly slammed Phil Jackson and Pat Riley -both of whom are in the Hall of Fame.

This brings us back to Drew. The former back-up point guard is a career assistant, who got the head gig in Atlanta for one reason: he was cheap.  

So Drew has less credibility than former Phoenix Suns head coach Terry Porter, who O'Neal sabotaged, undercut, and compromised before he was replaced at mid-season by Alvin Gentry.

What would happen when Drew tells O'Neal to lose weight or defend the pick-and-roll?

Simply put, he can't. Frankly, Drew lacks the pedigree to truly hold O'Neal accountable. And this would surely become a problem for an impressionable team.

On the surface, this partnership sounds nice. Both O'Neal and Atlanta should take a pass, though. It's for the best.

--Oly Sandor.

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